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A software synthesizer or softsynth is a computer program that generates digital audio, usually for music. Computer software that can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed now allow softsynths to accomplish the same tasks that previously required the dedicated hardware of a conventional synthesizer.
- Arturia Pigments – The Sound Designer’s Synth
- U-He Diva – The “Analog” Monster
- Xfer Inc Serum – An EDM Favorite
- Ni Komplete 14 – Best Software Synth Bundle
- Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2 – Presets, Presets, Presets!
- Kilohearts Phase Plant – Modular But Direct
- Plugin Alliance DS Audio Thorn – Trap and EDM Galore
- Sugar Bytes Aparillo – FM with Orbiter
- Newfangled Audio Generate – Chaos Oscillator and Buchla Vibes
- Vital Audio Vital – One of The Best Free Software Synths
Arturia is famous for hardware synthesizers, controllers like the Beatstep Pro, and, of course, the V Collection, which emulates just about every legendary synthesizer in history. But the French company also makes Pigments, one of the best and most powerful software synths on the market. With its excellent GUI and workflow, Pigments is a joy to use...
Picking an u-he synth for this list wasn’t easy – ALL of the Berlin-based developer’s software synths are among the best in the industry in terms of sound. When it comes to raw analog power and the sheer amount of presets available, however, Divastill reigns supreme. If the product name made you think u-he is a bit aloof, that disappears into thin ...
Serumhas been around for over eight years and is still actively supported with regular updates and new features. The software synth is the brainchild of Steve Duda, known for his collaborations with deadmau5. Consequently, Serum is especially popular in the EDM and techno genres. The synth’s basic structure is fairly standard: two oscillators, one ...
When it comes to Native Instruments Komplete 14, picking the single best software synth to put on this list is impossible. From Monark’s basses and Razor’s leads to FM8’s groundbreaking FM workflow to the organic power of Massive X, the Berlin-based industry giant has consistently set standards with its software synthesizers over the past 15 years....
Seeing Omnisphere purely as an emulation of other synths doesn’t do it justice! On the one hand, the regular updates always come with additional presets, many of which feature extremely creative sound design. Omnisphere 2 has 58 effects, a very good arpeggiator, and “The Orb”, the Circular Motion Interface, which randomly modulates parameters and c...
Phase Plantby Kilohearts has a growing fan base thanks to its modular, multi-layered approach. The ability to apply effects and modulations to each individual synthesizer voice is just one of the countless ways to build extremely complex sounds. While beginners may face a bit of a learning curve due to Phase Plant’s modular workflow, fans of modula...
Sometimes it doesn’t have to be more, bigger, louder. Sometimes it’s enough to simply get the basics right and improve upon the things that bother you about the competition. Synth A sounds great, but is a nightmare to use. Synth B has a complex engine with endless routing and modulation possibilities, but the effects sound like they’re falling asle...
Sugar Bytes’ software synthesizers have always been quite exotic. Aparillois no different. A standard modulation matrix simply didn’t cut it for this 16-voice polyphonic FM synth, so they came up with the “orbiter”. The complexity of the sounds that Aparillo creates from just a single MIDI note is hard to beat. This makes it great for things like c...
First came Pendulate, then Generate. The interface, sound, and workflow of this software synthesizer (which is distributed by Eventide) are rather unusual compared to most other synths on this list. Generate does a lot of things differently. The developers looked at the Buchla approach to modular synthesis for inspiration, with a “chaotic generator...
First things first: Vitalis free. Sure, there are paid versions that offer additional wavetables and presets, but all features are available in the free version. Moreover, Vital is simply outstanding in terms of an intuitive workflow and a wide variety of sounds. There’s also a very active user community with its own Discord server, where you can f...
Apr 24, 2023 · Hardware synths vs software synths: which is right for you? By Andy Jones. last updated 24 April 2023. We compare the hard and soft synth routes for price, practicality, sounds, investment and more. (Image credit: Future) Jump To: Cost. Choice. Practicality. Sounds. Learning curve. Investment. So which is best overall?
Mar 11, 2013 · A software synthesizer is a software application designed to emulate some type of hardware synthesizer. Some software programs focus their attention on emulating one specific synthesizer — often a well-known vintage model, while others have a wide range of capabilities.
- u-he Zebralette. Urs Heckmann, founder of u-he, spoils us with several excellent free software synths. Tyrell and Podolski have been around for years and are still very popular.
- Vember Audio Surge. The wavetable synth “Surge” by Vember Audio definitely deserves a place on this list of the best free software synths. Yes, you read that right: Wavetable synthesizer, free of charge.
- Cherry Audio Voltage Modular 2. Cherry Audio Voltage Modular is a powerful virtual modular system, and the mini version called Nucleus is available for free!
- Eventide Pendulate. Pendulate emerged from a collaboration between Eventide and Newfangled Audio and offers a novel sonic concept derived in part from ideas developed by Don Buchla.
Jun 24, 2022 · The must-have soft synths for 2022. Gear Expo Summer 2022. Climb inside the box and discover our pick of 2022's latest and greatest software synths. GEAR EXPO SUMMER 2022: If you're working in hardware, be sure to check out our pick of the best upcoming new hardware synths right here.
Nov 16, 2023 · Soft Synths. Soft synths, or plugin synthesizers, are synths in software format, generally used within a Digital Audio Workstation such as Ableton Live or Logic Pro. Soft synths can be controlled exclusively within the DAW, but external control is possible with the connection of a MIDI device.
