A curated selection of the best free 64 bit emulations of analog synths in VST or Audio Unit format for Mac OS X or PC Windows. These VSTi can be used in Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Bitwig and all other daw and hosts that support VST plugins and AU. Soundfonts are free, can contain hundreds of sounds from orchestral to drums and evoke the past. We’ve collected an ultimate list of some of the best we could find from around the web so you don’t have to. You need a VST SoundFont player but most software like FL Studio and Ableton Live already come with one. I've heard what this VST is capable of, and it's impressive. I'd love to try it out, but I use a Mac and my main program is Logic Pro X and not ones compatible with VST such as FL Studio. I can only hope there's a version that can work with it, but until then it's great to hear the songs people come up with. I've heard what this VST is capable of, and it's impressive. I'd love to try it out, but I use a Mac and my main program is Logic Pro X and not ones compatible with VST such as FL Studio. I can only hope there's a version that can work with it, but until then it's great to hear the songs people come up with. PC, Mac/VST, AU, Free A decent virtual analogue can help you to make great chip sounds, TAL‑Noisemaker is one of the best free virtual analogue synths available. It’s a classic, subtractive chiptune VST synth with seven waveforms - 12.5% pulse, 25% pulse, square, saw, triangle, sine, and noise. Because of its simplicity, most computers should be able to run Retro Boy easily enough making that one of the key highlights of this VST.
As promised, this follow-up to the 10 Best Free VST Plugins list (that is, just effects and processors) is all about synths.
Some of these synths are early projects from designers who have gone on to work for larger companies making some of the most high-profile VST instruments; others are passion projects from solo sonic adventurers who simply want to share their skills with the music-making community. And some are simply streamlined versions of commercial synths.
But what these VST synths have in common, other than price, is that they all have a fantastic sound and great tone-shaping features. You can load them up in your DAW right now and give any of them a spin in your next production. You won’t be disappointed!
1. u-he TyrellN6
Similar design to the classic Roland Juno 60, and awesomely named after the rogue replicants in Blade Runner…
Available for PC and Mac. More info and download link here.
2. Green Oak Crystal
Created by Glenn Olander, who went on to design Spectrasonics Omnisphere and Stylus RMX. No slouch then…
Available for PC and Mac. More info and downloads here. There’s also an iPad/iPhone version, available here.
3. Togu Audio Line TAL-NoiseMaker
A great synth from the guys who brought us the TAL-Effects bundle I mentioned previously. Well worth a look.
Available for PC and Mac. More info and download here.
64 Bit Chiptune Vst
4. Ichiro Toda Synth1
This synth is modelled on the modern classic Clavia Nord Lead 2 Red Synth… Nuff said really :)
Available for PC and Mac. More info (translated from the Japanese) and download here.
5. de la Mancha FMMF
This FM synth, with 4 operators, is especially good for pads and sound design-y noises and effects.
Available for Windows VST only. More info and download here.
6. Ohm Force Symtohm:Melohman Performer Edition
A slimmed-down version of the original Symptohm:Melohman, the only actual difference being that you’re limited to presets from the Symptohm sound library.
But there are 1200 sounds there, enough to keep anybody busy for a while…
Available for PC and Mac. More info and download here.
7. u-he Zebralette
Again, this synth is a slimmed-down version of a commercial soft synth – in this case, the u-he Zebra2. But the Zebralette is very popular in it’s own right, as it’s capable of making some pretty great sounds of it’s own.
Available for PC and Mac. More info and download here.
8. Tonebytes Bleep’
Recreating the legendary sound of the Commodore 64 SID sound chip, this synth is an absolute must for chiptune makers and anyone who’s into retro / 8-bit game style sounds and FX.
It’s available for Windows VST only I’m afraid. More info and download at tonebytes.com.
9. Kairatune
A bass and lead synth with an inspiring interface, designed specifically with EDM in mind.
Chiptune Software
Windows VST only. More info and download here.
10. E-MU Proteus VX
A free synth sound module from the legendary hardware sampler makers. It’s a slimmed-down version of their Emulator X3, and can load any sounds from the Emulator X library.
Fl Studio Chiptune
Windows VST only. More info and download here.
Which other free synths are you using that I might have missed? Leave a comment below, cheers!
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