Best freeware instruments of 2014?

VST, AU, AAX, CLAP, etc. Plugin Virtual Instruments Discussion
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Best freeware instruments of 2014 (last 12 months)

Brainstormer
6
4%
Cedr
2
1%
Cyclone
3
2%
Dexed
45
28%
D-Wave
0
No votes
Enzyme Player
5
3%
Esfera
1
1%
Horus MK2
1
1%
M-Phasewave LE
5
3%
Nabla
4
2%
Nanologue
1
1%
OBxd
44
27%
Phenomen
1
1%
Ragnarök
17
10%
RedOsc
0
No votes
Vaccin
3
2%
XSRDO Patchwork Modular System
7
4%
Fish
17
10%
 
Total votes: 162

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zxant wrote:
idfpower wrote:
zxant wrote: ITB? . :?:
ITB = in the box. As in people using computers and software as main environment for creating music as opposed to using hardware exclusively (OTB). In the hardware world, modular systems are popular; but to me the modular plugins seems a bit...odd :)
Thanks for explaining. :)
 

Why should the software world be different from the hardware?

I think it's total freedom to be able to patch the modules like you want to ... :cool:
 
The software world offers the potential for totally new idioms, but we still tend to have interfaces that look like hardware. Ideas like "knobs and sliders", even making things look like wires and metal faceplates and wooden boxes. In the virtual world we aren't even limited to three dimensions, but we're still in an era when user interfaces are models of physical things. It's easy to understand why that's the case, and easy to imagine that sooner or later someone is going to blow our minds by stepping not just "out of the box" but into another dimension.

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Dexed for sure. But OBXD is a close second. Great year for classic synth enthusiasts looking for free stuff. One great FM synth and one great Analog VA. Even for mac users. I can't say I've heard of any of the others so it's not like I can do a fair comparison. Are of the others available for mac?

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idfpower wrote:
zxant wrote:Why should the software world be different from the hardware? 
Because it is: there are virtual synths that don't or can't exist in hardware form, as well as analogue emulators that simply can't match the character & tone of the real thing. And there's nothing wrong with that - different is ok ;)

As for virtual modular systems...IMO they're good for one thing only: as an introduction into the modular world and maybe (hopefully) helping in aquiring a taste for building your own hardware system. Hardware modulars frequently include modules from different manufacturers - each with its own character & features. That's one thing you can't do with plugins. Plus the total randomness of the real deal and the "fragility" of the obtained sound(s) that need to be recorded right away or lost forever - as opposed to hitting the "save preset" button ;)

Anyway, different strokes for different folks, I guess ;)
 
OK, idf.. I see your point.

But I live in a shoebox apartment. Wouldn't have the space (or the inclination) to build a 'real' studio. I'm just an amateur hobbyist! :shrug:

For me it's just a way of playing and 'experiencing' myself the sounds (*) that I grew up with. :shrug:

(* the sounds of Schulze & TD, and also Jarre and Vangelis, although they didn't use big modulars so much I think (and then there's also Synergy, also great! who played the very first modular, in Bell Laboratory even before Moog!))

And that's why I'm so fond of (big) modulars! :cool: :love:

All the best!

Z.

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zxant wrote:But I live in a shoebox apartment. Wouldn't have the space (or the inclination) to build a 'real' studio. I'm just an amateur hobbyist! :shrug:
Heh, same here ;)

So ftm I too work 100% ITB. Truth be told, there's more than enough stuff (both in the freeware and/or payware world) to help you make music with just a computer ;) So there's no actual need to stack your house with bulky hardware :) But honestly, there's something so inspiring & fun when you're touching & tweaking real knobs and sliders or patching gear and so on :) My main instrument is bass so I guess I got used to using real instruments instead of plugins, heh :)

That being said, I do own a few hardware synths, but due to limited space I stick to 25 keys only units (small footprint - it helps). Looking for a couple of cool older desktop modules as well ;) You know, just enough stuff to cover the surface of a desk without cluttering the living space too much and getting on the nerves of my wife ;)

On a different note, Gearslutz is a fun place to visit if you're interested in (older) hardware: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/electro ... ps-91.html ;) Really cool & interesting ;)
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"Dexed for sure. But OBXD is a close second" +1
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Echoes in the Attic wrote:Dexed for sure. But OBXD is a close second. Great year for classic synth enthusiasts looking for free stuff.
+1 Pretty good vintage year this :)

Got to take into account all the free plugs the KVR DC 14 also generated, and also there are new free vX version of plugs, ST3, GigMate 2 etc

So no doubt a good year :tu:

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wow ! I'm quite happy to see Dexed having some love !!! but my vote goes to Obxd:

1. Obxd was release this year and Dexed is not released yet (technically, Dexed shouldn't be there, but I hope it will be there in 2015).
2. 2DaT did a great job on this emulation. To me, Obxd is the best OB-* family emulation out there. I actually own a OB-8 and bringing this monster on gigs scares me out so this little plugin does a great job for this. Unlike commercial product that simply ships a 1.0 version and don't care afterwards, 2DaT is still working (or was, but looking on his activity on github, he still commits code) on filter tuning and stuff. Extra kudos.
3. It is open source.

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Obxd FTW!

Go my girly little synth! :hihi:

Dexed will be Plugin Of The Year 2015.

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I found it, downloaded it. And also tested that it would read DX7 files - it does - and there's tens of thousands of those out there, so if you want presets, load a bank or two. This ancient page has a big file of SYX's. Enough to keep you busy for month.

http://homepages.abdn.ac.uk/mth192/pages/html/dx7.html (http://homepages.abdn.ac.uk/mth192/pages/html/dx7.html)

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watermaj wrote:I found it, downloaded it. And also tested that it would read DX7 files - it does - and there's tens of thousands of those out there, so if you want presets, load a bank or two. This ancient page has a big file of SYX's. Enough to keep you busy for month.

http://homepages.abdn.ac.uk/mth192/pages/html/dx7.html
where do I find out how to load the syx files? thanks for the link.
macbook pro 2.88 GHz Intel Core Duo, 10 gigs ram, 750GB HD, Logic Studio 9
my blog and some music:
http://rabbitearsmotel.wordpress.com/

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I'm currently making a huge collection (which will contain these among many others) WITHOUT ANY DUPLICATE. It takes time...

I'm making it for the users of Dexed but it will be usable by everybody since it is native sysex files... and they all will be tested to remove systematically the corrupted files (tons and tons and tons in all these collections).

For the moment there is a first version here on my web space: http://black.winny.free.fr/MAO/Dexed_cart.zip
It is compatible with all the DX7 family synths and emulations, software as well as hardware (as soon as they read the sysex files, of course).
Build your life everyday as if you would live for a thousand years. Marvel at the Life everyday as if you would die tomorrow.
I'm now severely diseased since September 2018.

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Judging from this poll, I will have to take a look at Dexed and OBxd, I guess :)

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MLVST's PG8X is not on the list? Okay, then Dexed and PG8X next year ;)

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bpblog has put out its list of 2014, seems to be a concensus that Dexed and OBXD is the top instruments

http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2014/12 ... gins-2014/

Tunefish is no 5 on that list though, while Fish is no 3 here :lol:

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pestomusic wrote:MLVST's PG8X is not on the list? Okay, then Dexed and PG8X next year ;)
A pre-release of that was already made public back in 2011.
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... hilit=pg8x

Even though it was updated in 2014, it is still not released officially, hopefully that will happen in 2015 :)

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