List of the best software synths & virtual pianos (free & paid) 🎶

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Posted March 9Mar 9

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Below is a list of some of the best software synths & virtual pianos (free & paid). Please reply to this post if you recommended any others

There are a huge number of plugins available, here are some other lists I've created for products I recommend

Synths (Free)

Vendor	Plugin Name	Key Features
Blamsoft	VK-1 Viking Synthesizer	Moog Voyager emulation, strong basses
Digital Suburban	Dexed	Yamaha DX7 emulation, FM synthesis
discoDSP	OB-Xd	Oberheim OB-X emulation, analog sounds
Matt Tytel	Vital	Wavetable synthesis, visual interface, deep modulation
Max for Cats	Syndtsphere	Circular patch blending, unique workflow
Spitfire Audio	Spitfire Audio LABS	Sampled instruments, synth-like pads and textures
Surge Synth Team	Surge XT	Open-source, versatile, multiple synthesis methods
TAL	TAL-NoiseMaker	User-friendly, warm analog tones
u-he	TyrellN6	Roland Juno emulation, classic sounds
u-he	Zebralette	Single-oscillator Zebra, sound design focus

Synths (Paid)

Vendor	Plugin Name	Key Features	Typical Use Cases
Applied Acoustics Systems	Chromaphone 3	Acoustic object synthesis, percussion and mallet sounds, unique sound design.	Percussive sounds, unique textures, sound design for film and games.
Arturia	Pigments	Wavetable, virtual analog, granular, and sample synthesis, visual interface, powerful modulation.	Experimental sound design, modern synth sounds, hybrid textures.
FXpansion (now ROLI)	Strobe2	Analog-modeled polysynth, versatile modulation, unique "transmodulation" feature.	Analog-style synth sounds, experimental sound design, flexible modulation.
KV331 Audio	SynthMaster 2	Hybrid synth, multiple synthesis types, extensive modulation, large preset library.	Diverse synth sounds, complex sound design, versatile for many genres.
LennarDigital	Sylenth1	Analog-modeled architecture, low CPU usage, warm and punchy sound.	EDM, house, general purpose synth for many genres.
Native Instruments	Massive X	Advanced wavetable synthesis, flexible routing, deep modulation, innovative sound shaping.	Modern bass music, complex synth sounds, evolving textures.
Reveal Sound	Spire	Hybrid synth, powerful oscillators, flexible modulation, trance and EDM focused.	Trance, EDM, high-energy synth leads and pads.
Spectrasonics	Omnisphere	Massive sound library, hybrid synthesis, granular synthesis, extensive modulation.	Cinematic scoring, ambient music, complex soundscapes, diverse instrument sounds.
u-he	Diva	Accurate analog emulation, multiple oscillator and filter models, rich sound.	Vintage synth sounds, analog-style pads, leads, and basses.
Xfer Records	Serum	Advanced wavetable synthesis, custom wavetable creation, deep modulation.	Modern electronic music, sound design, complex synth leads and basses.

Virtual Pianos (Paid)

Vendor	Plugin Name	Key Features	Typical Use Cases
Arturia	Piano V3	Physically modeled pianos, multiple piano models, customizable parameters, unique sound.	Classical, jazz, pop, experimental, highly customizable piano sounds.
Garritan	Garritan CFX Concert Grand	Yamaha CFX concert grand sampling, multiple microphone perspectives, sympathetic resonance.	Classical, orchestral, concert grand sound.
Kepler Instruments	Monument Piano	Steinway D Concert Grand, detailed sampling, multiple mic positions.	Classical, cinematic, powerful concert grand sound.
Native Instruments	Noire	Nils Frahm's personal grand piano, felt piano sounds, unique sonic character.	Ambient, cinematic, intimate piano performances, modern composition.
Pianoteq	Pianoteq 8	Physically modeled pianos, customizable parameters, small footprint, unique sound.	Classical, jazz, experimental, highly customizable piano sounds.
Production Voices	Production Grand 2 Gold	Yamaha C7 sampling, detailed recording, multiple microphone perspectives.	Pop, rock, jazz, versatile and powerful grand piano sound.
Spitfire Audio	Ólafur Arnalds Chamber Evolutions	Evolving piano textures, unique articulations, atmospheric soundscapes.	Cinematic scoring, ambient music, experimental piano compositions.
Synthogy	Ivory II Grand Pianos	Multiple grand piano models (Steinway, Bösendorfer, Yamaha), detailed sampling, sympathetic resonance.	Classical, jazz, pop, wide range of grand piano sounds.
VI Labs	True Keys American Grand	Detailed Yamaha C7 sampling, multiple microphone positions, realistic response.	Classical, jazz, pop, versatile grand piano sound.
Vienna Symphonic Library	Synchron Pianos	Multiple high-end grand pianos, extensive microphone positions, advanced engine.	Classical, orchestral, detailed and realistic piano performances.
Wavesfactory	Grand Rhapsody Piano	Fazioli F228 Grand Piano, 3 microphone positions, warm and detailed sound.	Jazz, pop, general purpose grand piano.

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Quote

Vendor	Plugin Name	Key Features
Blamsoft	VK-1 Viking Synthesizer	Moog Voyager emulation, strong basses
Digital Suburban	Dexed	Yamaha DX7 emulation, FM synthesis
discoDSP	OB-Xd	Oberheim OB-X emulation, analog sounds
Matt Tytel	Vital	Wavetable synthesis, visual interface, deep modulation
Max for Cats	Syndtsphere	Circular patch blending, unique workflow
Spitfire Audio	Spitfire Audio LABS	Sampled instruments, synth-like pads and textures
Surge Synth Team	Surge XT	Open-source, versatile, multiple synthesis methods
TAL	TAL-NoiseMaker	User-friendly, warm analog tones
u-he	TyrellN6	Roland Juno emulation, classic sounds
u-he	Zebralette	Single-oscillator Zebra, sound design focus

Vendor	Plugin Name	Key Features	Typical Use Cases
Applied Acoustics Systems	Chromaphone 3	Acoustic object synthesis, percussion and mallet sounds, unique sound design.	Percussive sounds, unique textures, sound design for film and games.
Arturia	Pigments	Wavetable, virtual analog, granular, and sample synthesis, visual interface, powerful modulation.	Experimental sound design, modern synth sounds, hybrid textures.
FXpansion (now ROLI)	Strobe2	Analog-modeled polysynth, versatile modulation, unique "transmodulation" feature.	Analog-style synth sounds, experimental sound design, flexible modulation.
KV331 Audio	SynthMaster 2	Hybrid synth, multiple synthesis types, extensive modulation, large preset library.	Diverse synth sounds, complex sound design, versatile for many genres.
LennarDigital	Sylenth1	Analog-modeled architecture, low CPU usage, warm and punchy sound.	EDM, house, general purpose synth for many genres.
Native Instruments	Massive X	Advanced wavetable synthesis, flexible routing, deep modulation, innovative sound shaping.	Modern bass music, complex synth sounds, evolving textures.
Reveal Sound	Spire	Hybrid synth, powerful oscillators, flexible modulation, trance and EDM focused.	Trance, EDM, high-energy synth leads and pads.
Spectrasonics	Omnisphere	Massive sound library, hybrid synthesis, granular synthesis, extensive modulation.	Cinematic scoring, ambient music, complex soundscapes, diverse instrument sounds.
u-he	Diva	Accurate analog emulation, multiple oscillator and filter models, rich sound.	Vintage synth sounds, analog-style pads, leads, and basses.
Xfer Records	Serum	Advanced wavetable synthesis, custom wavetable creation, deep modulation.	Modern electronic music, sound design, complex synth leads and basses.

Vendor	Plugin Name	Key Features	Typical Use Cases
Arturia	Piano V3	Physically modeled pianos, multiple piano models, customizable parameters, unique sound.	Classical, jazz, pop, experimental, highly customizable piano sounds.
Garritan	Garritan CFX Concert Grand	Yamaha CFX concert grand sampling, multiple microphone perspectives, sympathetic resonance.	Classical, orchestral, concert grand sound.
Kepler Instruments	Monument Piano	Steinway D Concert Grand, detailed sampling, multiple mic positions.	Classical, cinematic, powerful concert grand sound.
Native Instruments	Noire	Nils Frahm's personal grand piano, felt piano sounds, unique sonic character.	Ambient, cinematic, intimate piano performances, modern composition.
Pianoteq	Pianoteq 8	Physically modeled pianos, customizable parameters, small footprint, unique sound.	Classical, jazz, experimental, highly customizable piano sounds.
Production Voices	Production Grand 2 Gold	Yamaha C7 sampling, detailed recording, multiple microphone perspectives.	Pop, rock, jazz, versatile and powerful grand piano sound.
Spitfire Audio	Ólafur Arnalds Chamber Evolutions	Evolving piano textures, unique articulations, atmospheric soundscapes.	Cinematic scoring, ambient music, experimental piano compositions.
Synthogy	Ivory II Grand Pianos	Multiple grand piano models (Steinway, Bösendorfer, Yamaha), detailed sampling, sympathetic resonance.	Classical, jazz, pop, wide range of grand piano sounds.
VI Labs	True Keys American Grand	Detailed Yamaha C7 sampling, multiple microphone positions, realistic response.	Classical, jazz, pop, versatile grand piano sound.
Vienna Symphonic Library	Synchron Pianos	Multiple high-end grand pianos, extensive microphone positions, advanced engine.	Classical, orchestral, detailed and realistic piano performances.
Wavesfactory	Grand Rhapsody Piano	Fazioli F228 Grand Piano, 3 microphone positions, warm and detailed sound.	Jazz, pop, general purpose grand piano.

Mar 9Mar 9 James changed the title to List of the best software synths & virtual pianos (free & paid) 🎶
Mar 9Mar 9 James pinned this topic

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