This post is for the Mac users.
When it comes to Mac OS X, the number of freeware plugins is very low, compared to the Windows world.
The popular “Save as VST” softwares (Synthedit and Synthmaker) are Windows only.
The “upgrade” politic of Apple is a sort of nightmare for developers (and sometimes users!), so many old free plugins don’t work anymore…
I have searched for free MAC plugins over the web and then tested !
– only free synth (not effects), in VST and or AudioUnit (AU) format
– the OS used is Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
– i tested the plugins in Ableton Live 9 / Renoise / some free VST & AudioUnit host softwares (Pedalboard, the JUCE open source plugin host, VSTLord, AULab, Ugly VSTi Interface…)
It’s a selection with free virtual analog synths, organ emulations, epiano emulations, drum synth, bass synth, FM synth, emulation of Oberheim / NordLead / DX 7 synth, chip synth, guitar emulation…
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and here a list of 25 free synth plugins for Mac OS X :
1. Synth1 AU/ VST
The must-have free synth plugin is available for Mac since one or two years, it is in beta state, it still have some minor bugs with the UI, but it’s usable and you can benefit from the incredible amount of presets created for Synth1, including these 😀
=>
https://blog.wavosaur.com/synth1-presets-chris-bank-volume-2/ &
https://blog.wavosaur.com/chris-bank-synth1-reup/
I had some problems for saving preset in Ableton Live.
Synth1 can do an incredible variety of sounds.
The most versatile Synth in this list
2. OBXD AU / VST
OBXD AU
The free Oberheim OB-X OB-Xa OB-8 emulation !
work without any problem in my AudioUnit / VST hosts on Mac.
3. Tyrell N6 AU / VST
http://www.u-he.com/cms/tyrelln6
DL here : http://www.amazona.de/amazona-de-freeware-synthesizer-tyrell-n6-v3/
U-He loves the Mac, don’t hesitate to have a look at the other freeware on the Website, all are working without problems in VST or AudioUnit format. I have also selected Triple Cheeze and Zebralette from the same developer. These plugins are good and full featured.
TyrellN6 plugin comes with a big amount of presets, and a deep variety of sounds. It’s powerful and easy to program. It’s rock solid stable and have a nice UI too!
4. FreeAlpha AU / VST
FreeAlpha AU
This freeware from LinPlug sounds very good, it has punch and is easy to tweak. It can do punchy bass, but also nice pads and clean leads. Despite its simple look, it’s powerful and funky!
5. Crystal AU / VST
The old Crystal Synth is still top, and one of the best synth for complex / evolving PADS, with its multipoint envelopes, and the complete modulation matrix.
One of the best virtual synth, for more than 10 years!
6. TAL NoiseMaker AU / VST
TAL Noisemaker
Like U-He, TAL has many freebees for Mac OS X.
I have selected Noize M4k3r and Elek7tro but you also have other interesting plugins.
The “Noise Maker” plugin has two osc + sub, a good filter and the famous Chorus “a la Roland”, so you have all you need for your fat bass/lead. Certainly more agressive than Crystal, it completes well the sonic arsenal.
7. Dexed FM VST
The famous free Yamaha DX7 emulation ! It’s VST only (no AU for the moment).
Use the cart / load / save button to browse or import presets.
It can read / write sysex files for and from the DX7.
Now all your FM needs are fullfilled: you can do pop ballad or Detroit techno, vive la FM !
8. MiniSpillage AU (Drum Synth)
MiniSpillage AU
Now that we have the FM synth, the Pad synth, the Bass synth and Lead capable synths, we need a DRUM synth. The Minispillage plugin has three dedicated algo for bass drum, wood drum and hihat.
I tend to prefer “Drumatic” but Drumatic is Windows only.
9. ComboF organ AU / VST
After all these synths, we now need an emulation of our prefered organ : the Farfisa combo organ!
ComboF gives you the sound of the Italian electric organ we all love. Available for Mac and windows, in AudioUnit and VST!
10. MrTramp 2 e-piano AU / VST
MrTramp2
After the organ emulation, we need the electric piano! MrTramp 2 is the best (free or not) emulation of the Wurlitzer electric piano. It’s raining again ! Now you can sound like Supertramp ! Breakfast in America !! There are not so much controls but you don’t need more, and the sound is excellent.
11. Cheeze Machine AU
A dedicated string synth plugin for Mac ! The Cheeze machine from Big Tick is a kind of Arp Solina emulation. It has this phaser / chorus creamy sound.
it’s AU only and should work with your favorite Mac host software.
12. TripleCheese AU / VST
TripleCheeze plugin
Cheese again !
The U-He contribution to the first KVR Developer Challenge. It’s an original synth with unusual sound generation. Nice for plucked sounds. Works well on my Mac OS X Mountain Lion. Thanks to the comb filter, you can generate very original sounds.
13. Zr3 organ VST
We have ComboF for the Farfisa emulation, and for the Hammond B3 organ lovers, there’s Zr3.
It’s VST only and works nice in Ableton Live 9.
The only good free Hammond B3 emulation for Mac OS X.
14. TAL Elek7ro AU / VST
TAL Elektro
A perfect free synth for bass and perc sounds.
Don’t forget to check the other TAL plugins !
15. VST Speek AU / VST
Coming from here ! the funkiest text to speech in plugin format !
The best C64 Sam oldskool text to speech emulator, for all your techno voices.
Available in 32 & 64 bit, VST & AU
16. Zebralette AU / VST
Zebralette plugin
Coming with the demo of Zebra, the famous synth by u-He, Zebralette is a nice synth, with unusual sound, and powerful possibilities and plenty of special waveforms to play with.
17. Model – E VST
The antic VST from Steinberg, now free, and now available in VST format for Mac OSX.
It has been surpassed in all domain by many other synth (freeware included). But it can be useful and you can get some nice sounds out of it if you tweak it with love.
18. VB-1 virtual bass VST
VB1 bass
Another prehistoric virtual synth from Steinberg, this virtual bass plugin is free and available with Model E in the same package (see link above). Very simple sound, can be useful.
Freeware for Mac are rare so we take it!
19. MDA Piano ePiano DX10 & JX10 VST
NO GUI
These free VST work for Mac OS X, they don’t have UI, you’ll have to use the default interface supplied by your host.
– Piano & ePiano are sample based synth, the ePiano is very good, it’s a kind of Rhodes emulation.
– DX10 is a FM Synth, it has only two operators, but you can still get nice bell sounds out of it.
– JX10 is a very nice virtual analog synth, despite some bugs (the Windows version has the same), it can do some very nice leads.
20. 4Front R-Piano AU / VST
Another free electric piano emulation for your Mac!
It’s simple and has a nice clean sound. Perfect for deep house chords.
21. Chip32 AU
Chip 32 AU
This is the URL where you can also find the Cheeze Machine VST, and also the very good Clavinet emulation by Big Tick (TickyClav). Chip32 is a very simple plugin, perfect for your chip tune needs.
22. Spicy Guitar AU / VST
A free Audio Unit / VST emulation of an acoustic guitar ! It’s use a physical modelled synthesis, and is a great emulation. Here are coming the ukulele / banjo / Flamenco guitar !
23. Scythe VST
Scythe VST
A very simple VA Synth (VST only), with two oscillators, a filter, modulation envelope & some embedded effects : bitcrusher / phaser / chorus / delay.
It’s simple but efficient.
You can also generate random presets!
24. Automat AU
A virtual substractive synth with 3 osc, and filter for each osc, + many effects and modulations.
It’s audiounit only, and like Scythe, it has a random preset generator.
25. VOPM VST
VOPM VST synth
A VST emulation of the Yamaha YM2151 Chip that was used in many arcade games, and is similar to the chip in the Sega Megadrive. It’s a 4 operator FM synth, with 8 algorithm.
here’s a lot of preset for VOPM : http://truechiptilldeath.com/blog/2010/05/04/opm-patches-out-of-most-genesis-games/
26. Bonus tracks ?
1) there’s also kickmaker, a free kick drum synthesizer in VST and AU format : http://teragonaudio.com/KickMaker.html
and C700, that can load sample in aiff and wav format :
http://picopicose.com/software.html
2) I also tried other free VST plugins for MAC , but with no luck (no one working in any host on my Mac OS X Mountain Lion), i think these are too old plugins, or maybe ppc plugins (even if they were said to work on Mac OS X).
For example :
the Delay Lama ! http://www.audionerdz.nl/download.htm
AU303 & AirySynth : http://airy.andre.online.fr/AU/index.html#au303
3) I’m working on a port of Rave Generator VST for MAC, here you can find a beta (x64 only, VST only) :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/149376535107031/835302689847742/
3) I’m also working on a port of CreakBox (the TB303 plugin) for MAC OS X (i already have converted it to VST2.4 then to 64 bit), see link ( @ 6. and in the comments) :
https://blog.wavosaur.com/best-free-tb-303-emulation-sotware-vst-plugins-standalone/
4) i’ll do another posts with the free effect plugins for MAC ! It seems there are more effects available for free than synths.
Music Box
Music Box is an handy database for your music files. If you have a large collection of them, you surely will have felt the need for an intuitive yet powerful tool to organise and keep them in order: now you have found it.
- Publisher: Simone Tellini
- Last updated: September 9th, 2010
Freemake Music Box
Freemake Music Box is a program that allows you to play audio files. In addition, it helps you search and stream the songs you want to listen. You can add to the playlist online songs, as well as audio files stored in your computer. You can create as many playlists as you want.
- Publisher: Ellora Assets Corporation
- Home page:www.freemake.com
- Last updated: October 23rd, 2020
Arcade Music Box
This is a simple Virtual Jukebox, Music Video and a Karaoke player with your digital music collection for your game room.Features:-Arcade Music Box is fully skinable.-Arcade Music Box act like a MS Explorer.-Arcade Music Box support both Horizontal and vertical.-Arcade Music Box are Inspirated by MAMEWAH.-Arcade Music Box only need 3 inputs to operate.
- Publisher: Space Fractal
- Last updated: May 28th, 2012
Browser99 32-Bit
Christmas Browser is a fun way to browse the Web during the holidays. You get holiday scenes, falling snow, and cheery Christmas music. Plus, a cool interface. And the Microsoft Agent adds to your 'snow surfing' experience!Christmas Browser 99 also comes with a range of seasonal songs in MIDI format. You can turn the music on and off with a simple click on the Music Box.
Free 64 Bit Vst Instruments
- Publisher: Maximized Software.
- Home page:www.maximized.com
- Last updated: November 23rd, 2011
Rustic Lodge Screensaver
This screensaver shows a lovely image of a house by a lake - a rustic white house with lots of vegetation around and an overcast sky. Everything is reflected in the water of the lake, which shows a little bit of movement, making the scene much more realistic. The scene is really beautiful and inspiring, and it is accompanied by pleasant water sounds, but, sadly, no music.
- Publisher: Box2k.com
- Last updated: May 24th, 2011
Orange Bridge Screensaver
Orange Bridge Screensaver is a nice screensaver which shows the image of a small bridge. The scene shows a tranquil river with a few rocks and small orange bridge. The image was taken during a sunrise or sunset, and the sun on the bridge creates a nice effect. The water has a bit of movement, which together with the realistic sounds of water flowing, creates a more relaxing atmosphere.
- Publisher: ScreenSaversList.com
- Home page:screensaverslist.com
- Last updated: April 19th, 2011
Island Village Screensaver
Island Village Screensaver is a nice screensaver which shows a village by the beach. The scene shows a little village near the green tranquil ocean with lots of vegetation around. There's a small wooden jetty that helps the villagers get fish or cross the water. The water is animated and it has some movement, which together with the realistic water sounds, create a very relaxing atmosphere.
- Publisher: Freesavers2k.com
- Last updated: February 21st, 2011
Frosty Stream Screensaver
Frosty Stream Screensaver is a nice screensaver which shows a beautiful landscape. The scene shows a frosty stream with snow and even ice all around it. There's also a line of tall pine trees and mountains behind the stream. The stream is animated and it offers some movement, which together with the pleasant sound of water flowing, creates a very relaxing atmosphere.
- Publisher: ScreenSaversList.com
- Home page:screensaverslist.com
- Last updated: March 3rd, 2011
MAGIX Music Studio 2
MAGIX Music Studio 2 is a powerful solution for music production that enables you to create professional songs on your computer. The program allows you to record, mix and compose music. It contains a mixer with up to 64 channels for audio and MIDI, it has VST support for extra instruments and effects.
- Publisher: MAGIX Software GmbH
- Home page:www.magix.com
- Last updated: November 9th, 2015
PianoFX STUDIO
PianoFX STUDIO 4.0 is a great application to practice your piano skills. With this software, you can play the piano as if it were a real one. Each key on your keyboard will play a different sound. With this nice application you are going to be able to add different effects such as bass drum, snare, high tom, cymbal, bongo, timbale, agogo, tamborine, conga and claves.
- Publisher: Tanseon Systems
- Home page:www.tanseon.com
- Last updated: March 1st, 2008
Roxio Creator 2012 Pro
Roxio Creator 2012 Pro is an application that lets you enhance, capture & share your digital life like a professional. With this tool, you cam remove unwanted noise from soundtracks, convert most digital video files into DivX videos, compose your own music soundtracks with professional soundtrack titles, and spice up your videos with 14 amazing video effects found in nature and beyond.
- Publisher: Roxio
- Home page:www.roxio.com
- Last updated: August 25th, 2011
MadTracker
MadTracker bridges the gap between trackers and commercial sequencing software with its professional high-quality sound and enhanced features such as track effects, automation, ReWire and VST plug-in support.MadTracker runs under Windows with a comfortable, easy-to-use interface designed for production speed, performance, creativity and enjoyment.
- Publisher: Yannick Delwiche
- Home page:www.madtracker.org
- Last updated: December 29th, 2011
Mcnpro Box Suite
McnPro Box is Professional Phone Software Solution, the best software for china mobile .Support all chinese mobile chips such as MTK, ADI/AD, Spreadtrum, Skyworks, TI(Texas Ins), Infineon, AGERE, OM(Philips), Anyka, CDMA etc.Pinfinder was included, Support automatical identification ,Scan the phone's pinouts definition in few seconds.
- Publisher: Design McnBox Team
- Last updated: July 27th, 2017
SAM DJ
SAM DJ - Professional mobile DJ software solution. Dual decks, automatic crossfading, beat matching, karaoke, gap killer, large media library support, drag & drop management, album cover support and much more! The best sound for the best party ever!
- Publisher: Spacial Audio Solutions, LLC
- Home page:spacial.com
- Last updated: December 3rd, 2020
GimPhoto
Gimphoto is GIMP modification for Photography with better menu layout, better keyboard shortcuts, new brush set, new gradient set and packed with many useful plugins and scripts especially for photo editing, so it will be ready to use out of the box.
- Publisher: Ek kian
- Home page:www.gimphoto.com
- Last updated: June 25th, 2015
64 Bit Vst Plugins Free
Roxio Creator 2012
Roxio Creator 2012 is an application that lets you enhance, capture & share your digital life like a professionalRoxio delivers the best and easiest tools for archiving and sharing your irreplaceable media files on CDs or DVDs. Span large projects across multiple discs. Archive up to 50 GB on high capacity Blu-ray Discs.
- Publisher: Roxio
- Home page:www.roxio.com
- Last updated: September 29th, 2011
PerfectTUNES
PerfectTUNES can find errors in your music collection such as a missing cover, duplicated and corrupted tracks. The Album Art feature can scan and add missing covers or images for your music tracks. AccurateRip can check track errors caused during CD ripping.
- Publisher: Illustrate
- Home page:www.dbpoweramp.com
- Last updated: July 29th, 2020
Voxengo OldSkoolVerb
Voxengo OldSkoolVerb is an algorithmic reverberation audio plugin. You get a classic stereo reverb algorithm with 5 reverb modes, A/B comparisons, undo/redo history, etc. This plug-in can be loaded into any audio host application that conforms to the AudioUnit, VST or VST3 plug-in specification.
- Publisher: Voxengo
- Home page:www.voxengo.com
- Last updated: December 3rd, 2020