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| Synthesizers
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| Analoguesounding polysynths |
| Synth 1, by Ichiro Toda,an emulation of Nordlead 2, is a 2 oscillators synth with a rather acidsound, much easier toset than Crystal, but very stable and efficient. With it, you can domany things (it has an arpeggiator, 1stereo chorus/flanger, 1 delay, a bit of FM).Its quality and flexibility make it a very good synth. Itsinterface is not very nice, but it sounds very well...
The factory presets are not the best, so download better ones from KvR,Patcharena or Nolwenn (see Friend links page) where you will find manyof them (it is undoubtedly the most famousfree vsti). This synth is a must have too...
http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/softsynth/
| Superwave P8,with rich fat stereo sound (perhaps the most fat sounding free synth),isa beautiful looking 8 voices polyphonic synth (as beautiful as wellfinished commercial synths), perfectlystable, and one of the most renowned, especailly good for techno... Amust-have too. Superwave has developed 3other synths, but commercial ones, with thesame design.
http://home.btconnect.com/christopherg/main.htm | Lallapallooza Liteby Buzzroom,is also one of the best in the list, able to give big and rather acidsound, with a good looking but dark interface, full of parameters (3Osc, 3 Lfo, 3 delays, 1 overdrive, 1 arpeggiator, and so on)... 'Lite'in its name does not mean anything (no limitation). Very good andversatile. See 'Download OLD buzzroom VST Plugins Pack' at the bottom of the page :
http://www.x-buz.com/Products.html | Impulse by Bo Johansen (Bojo),previously commercial, is free now. This 16 voices polyphonic synth hasa discreet interface, but isversatile, with its specific stereo mode, its 2 Lfo with 8 waveforms(among many other components), its added stereo effects (chorus,flanger, delay), and it sounds very good to my ears : it can be punchy,fat,but also warm, soft, sweet, and it is rather rare in free synths.Considering that the difference remains large, the softness andwarmness of Impulse make me think of Arturia's sound. It comes with apreset manager. Definitely one of my very favourites.
http://www.bojo-software.com/?Software:VST_plugins:Impulse_synth | KXOmni 600 by KX77free,is the result of Xavier Kalenski's work, a french overdemandingdeveloper who made it with synthedit, but with many improvements,because he makes his own modules when synthedit is not good enough forhis projects. Those modules (like the 'KXmod' one) are supposed to givemore life and analogical irregularity to the synth. And it works(though it sounds rather cold) ! With many components, this synthrequires some knowledge in synthesis... A very good instrument, at thetop of the free synths, it gives beautiful analogical leads. Xavier'ssite,where he gives you many useful indications about synthesis, is also inenglish... Try it !
http://kx77free.free.fr/English-page.html
| Square 1 by rgc Audio is now freeware, and it is a real bargain, because it is one of the very best free analogue substractive synths. 3Oscillators with 9 waveforms each, noise generator, 32 voicepolyphonic, advanced adjustment for each oscillator, Low/Highpass filter, 3 envelopes, 4 LFO's, for pitch, filter, amplifier andrandom Wave selector, built-in effects : autopan, chorus, stereo delay,stereo spread and 2 band equalizer, and also aftertouch... A rather big one which sounds warm, thick, fat, clear, clean, smooth, very good for pads, brass and so on... A must-have.
http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2ceuro/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=35-CWSQ1.40-20E |
| Nitrox by Sonic Lion is an analogue type poly synth (up to 16 voices),with 3 oscillators and many modulation possibilities (PWM, FM, HardSync, AM, Ring...), 5 inbuilt and 5 custom waveforms, 3 wave shapers, 2stereo filters, effects bank with 3 independent effect units(chorus/flanger, phaser, echo, reverb, filter, formant), severalmodulation sources (5 ADSRs, 4 LFOs, 5 custom envelopes, 5 minisequencers), and automation... Its sound is not the big fat one, buthas something special, original, nice, sweet and clear, not very farfrom FM or additive synthesis... Donationware. Registration required...
http://sonic-lion.com/synthesizers/nitrox/overview.html |
| Arppe 2600va byGlen Stegner (Voltkitchen group),one of the Gunnar Ekornas' acolytes (Minimogue), is made withsynthedit too. It tries to emulate a semi-modular mono synth, the ARP2600,one of the most renowned 70's synths. Of course, it is not as good asArturia's or Way Out Ware's emulations, but it has rather dirty Osc,like the original instrument, and it sounds very nicely, not in thesame way than so many free synths. I like it very much... Themodulation matrix makes the thing hard to set for a beginner.
http://glenstegner.com/softsynths.html
| Hahaha CS33 by Per Thulin, is a 2 Oscpolyphonic synth made with synthedit afterthe Yamaha CS30. It is not the best, but it is interesting and sounds rather well,with 2 OSC, 1 filter, 1 LFO, 2 enveloppes, and addied effects, like adistortion, a reverb, a delay and a chorus. The GUI is very clear andeasy to use.
http://www.pethu.se/music/instruments.html |
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| ASynth by AnttiHuovilainenattemptes to emulateanalogical sound and is focussed on the 2 Osc and the 3 filters,casting all effects aside. And, at first sight, it is a bit frustratingbecause, without delay, chorus, stereo, pan and so on, the sound doesnot seemimpressive or spectacular to the beginner. But it is an excellentpolyphonic synth, with a very fine and first-class texture. The 3filters emulate famous hardware ones : Korg MS-20, MiniMoog andOberheim XPander... A must-have. Please consider that it isdonationware.
http://antti.smartelectronix.com/
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| Daedalus by NorthernBeat Audio is a 8 voices poly-synth, beautiful looking, with 2 sync osc, 2 lfo, a multimode filter,1ring modulator, 3 envelopes (osc, filter, vca), unison mode, detune, 1chorus, 1 delay, and a basic arpeggiator. It has also extended midifunctions for pitch bend, portamento, and aftertouch. The resultingsound is a good quality classic analogue style, versatile but a bit tooclean. Donationware, the free version opens a short nagscreen on start,and allows to make banks with only 16 presets instead of 128...
http://www.omnitaur.se/ | PolyIblit by Andreas Erssonis a 32 voices polyphonic version of Iblit, and comes with morefeatures. Like Iblit, it is not sterephonic and has no additionaleffects, but with 4 waveforms instead of 2 per Osc, 2DCA, 2 filters instead of one, 4 sync Lfo with speed and amplitude modulation, 4 envelopes, itsounds very 'analogue'. A very good one.
http://www.bostreammail.net/ers/polyiblit.html |
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VstHost GUI | JX 10 by mda (maximdigital audio) is a rather old and misappreciated polyphonic synth thathas no interface. But it is a very good 2 oscillators synth, withoutadded effect, that has a stunning analogical texture... With a GUI, it would be so nice and muchmore used... win / mac
http://www.mda-vst.com/ or
http://perso.orange.fr/tech-art/InVST/VSTfp_mdajx10.html
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| DreamStation Dxi2 byAudio Simulation,is an old commercial win98-looking synth, that became freeware. It is a16 voices polyphonic substractive and FM synth with 3 osc, 12dB/24 dBper octave filters, and many other things that make it a really goodsounding one. It supports 32bits/96Khz. Bread and butter synth, it isDx and needs to be converted to vst by using DXShell... Don't miss it.
http://www.audio-simulation.com/?page=product2 |
| RJXP by efm (ele4music) issupposed to be an emulation of a RolandJX-8P. I do not know if it is faithful, but, if you like the famousevolving rythmic sequence in 'On the Run' (Dark Side of the Moon, PinkFloyd), originally made with an EMS Synthi A, you will love the preset7 !With unisson mode, it produces fat, thick, gorgious arp/sequences. Justa few presets, and the GUI is grey and sad, inspired by the RolandPG800 module.
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/EFM-RJXP-0.2.zip
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| JXSynth, previously commercial and now free, renownedyesterday but almost old fashioned today, is a 2 oscillators analogpoly synth,that remains usable and pleasant by giving rather good and nonstereo fresh sounds. Many presets on Patcharena.
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/jxsynth1.2.rar |
| Osiris6 by NekoSynthesizersis a 6 voices polyphonic synth with 2 0sc,2 Lfo and 2 filters. It is good for pads,arpeggios, and sounds rich and large, with relief and agranular texture. With added effects like 1 arpeggiator, 1 chorus, 1flanger, 1 delay and 1 echo it can produce some good presets, it iseasy to use and very efficient.
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/Neko-Osiris6.zip |
| U-NO-62 by Togu Audio Lineemulates the Roland Juno-6, a 80's typical 6 voices polyphonic synth,with only one DCO, that seems rather poor to me, mainly used for basses.The result is good and close to the original. By far not thebest of your synth collection, but it works fine. win / mac
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-u-no-62
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| Elek7ro by Togu Audio Line again,more interesting than U-NO-62, is a mono/poly analogue substractivesynth, with 2 VCO (4 waveforms, PW and FM), 1 sub, 2 LFO (8destinations), 1 12/18dB LP filter, 1mixer, portamento etc... Like all TAL synths, it sounds very well, precise,thick, fat, with deep basses, and has a very appreciated analoguecolour. Very good for big bass lines, it can also make many otherthings... No inbuilt effects. win / mac
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-elek7ro
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| GTG K 1, by GTG too, is a rathergood 8 voices polyphonic synth, not as rich as NK1001 or Sputnik, butit is decent, and, with its 2Osc, 2 Lfo, 1stereo chorus and 1 stereo delay, produces pretty cheezy andsweepy string pads. It can make also nice basses... Try Unit1 and GTG13, JP7A and Kwop 7 too...
http://www.gtgsynths.com/plugins.htm |
| CRA-6 by Buzzroom,is an efficient polyphonic synth, especially for clean andthickleads. Without effects, like Asynth, JX 10 and Iblit (seefarther), it is less elegant than them, because of a smoother texture.Rather basic but clear and easy to use interface. A good one. Directdownload :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/cra6.zip |
| Ilo-Synth 1 by Tolga Gurpinar,is a 2 oscillators polyphonic synth, with 2 Lfo, 2 filtersetc. Itis not the best of the list, but it sounds nice, clear, rather sweet.With its delay and chorus, it produces rather beautiful 80's pads andglassy leads... Its GUI is simple and too large but nice. Easy to use.
http://www.iloyd.com/ilosynth/
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| CeloX made severaldecent synths,and, among them, MegaCeloXis probably the best one. This stereo 6 voices polyphonic synth soundsa bit like Superwave P8 (but not as good as this excellent one), and israther cheezy. It has 3 Osc, 2 multi-mode filters, 2 Lfo and so on...and a stereo delay. It can produce rather fat pads, sweet leads andFM-like keys... No more available, so download it there :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/MegaCeloXv11.rar |
| Blackand Whitehas a much more minimal interface, and is almost unknown, but it soundsas good as MegaCeloX. Polyphonic, with its 2 Osc, 2 filters, 2envelopes etc, and a delay, it seems thicker than it. Rather good...
At the moment, thissynth, like MegaceloX, is not available anywhere, so you can downloadit there :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/BlackAndWhite.rar
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| Oxytocin, by Novaflash,is a rather complex 9 voices polyphonic substractive synth (with someFM added), in a beta versionat the moment.Coming with a beautiful GUI (like all Novaflash products), its 2 Osc, 2Lfo, 1 ring modulator, filters, dirtortion, arpeggiator, 2 step sequencers, delay, reverb, chorus, spatializer, and othercomponents, with envelopes everywhere, allow to produce veryinteresting fatand thick sounds, for rather deep leads, arpeggios, sequences and soon. Try it. A very good one. Consumes a lot of CPU.
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| Phasm, by Novaflashtoo, has 4 Oscs,2 envelopes, 2 Lfo, 2 filters, some effects (disto, delay...), and ajoystick. Carefully skinned, like Novaflash products, it has aneasy-to-use and clear GUI, and it makes soft, smooth, mellow metallicsounds for delicate pads. A very good one.
http://www.numerisson.com/novaflash/fr.html
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| Oatmeal by Fuzzpliz is a veryspecial thing with its unusual own personality. To understand why it isso much spoken about it on KvR, here,and there,you must try it... Very versatile, it has too many components to listthem here. Among many other nice things, it has the most complex andcomplete arpeggiator i know, that allows you to do many kinds ofsequences. The whole thing is not easy to set, but, fortunately,Fuzzpilz created for Oatmeal the most efficient and easy to userandomise function i know... So you can easily create new (good)presets, just by clicking this button. The basic factory GUI is a bitconfused, not clear, but Fuzzpilz made it skinnable ! So, friendlydevelopers made some nice skins for it... It is not a vintage synth,and it sounds rather cold, numerical, Reaktor like (to my ears...), butit is a very good synth.
http://bicycle-for-slugs.org/
To get a full pack with the last version of the synth, and all thepresets and skins made for it :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Oatmeal/Oatmeal-38.1-fullpack.zip
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