Which are the really good free synths?

[audiojunkie]

That's what I get for jumping into a thread without starting at the beginning.

[1-2-Many]

Thanks!

Welcome!

[debby]

Hey I wasn't aware about the version incompatibility, I just downloaded the latest and with that all patches i've found works.

Haven't had any patch trouble with Fabrausch in Cubase, but automation is not working which sucks.

Shame you're not getting the Voyager skin working, but agree the original is also ok once learned.

Fabrausch automation is not working, But, can CC control you want. and I don't know about FL bug. But, have to off all used Fabrausch before work ending at Orion host . of couse you have to save before doing that.

and. Voyager skin problem? maybe you will have to search some post at here.

Oh, And I down loaded the last version of Z...FX again..Thanks..

[tibah]

2) The best sounding one I think is Curve. Unfortunately it doesn't come with many presets and I am not much of a synth tweaker. Wish there were more presets for this one.

Thanks for that. Used to have it like a while ago and it just went down in this massive testing I did. After reading here again about this I just downloaded it again and its really one of the best sounding free synths. Glad they are also working on version 1.0 - at least cable guys site is saying so.

[whormongr]

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I have always liked it, more for ambience than anything but it as awesome at doing it

[V'ger]

MiniMoogue VA

This is a really good sounding and useful synth, especially the LUXUS version. I have the Minimonsta from GForce that's €149 and couldn't choose between them soundwise. Same with Voltkitchen's other creation; the Arppe2600va, very good indeed. Hard to believe these are made with Synthedit really.

Together with TubeOhm's Pure-Pone also mentioned earlier in this thread, my prejudice to Synthedit has almost disappeared..

[dark water]

October 2020:
Thought that I'd resurrect this (dead) thread from more than 10 years ago rather than start a similar titled one instead.
Not least because some people's suggestions from 2010 might still hold water; because it's interesting to see people's opinions before / around the time (imho, ymmv) software synths started sounding very decent; and because it's interesting to see how modern free synth suggestions compare or improve on those circa 2010.

I'm also interested to learn about any other free synths (unknown to me) that people enjoy

My most used / enjoyed free synths now are:
1) Surge
2) Odin 2
3) Nils K1v
4) Pendulate
5) PG-8X (was / is free but now donationware as well)

Some oldies but goldies that I only use occasionally nowadays:

Dominator
Antopya
Tyrell
Dexed
Synth1

[atya]

One of my favorite free synths is Arminator, a 'hommage to the Yamaha CS80' by Krakli. 32 bit/Windows only but fantastic sounding without any issues whatsoever in reaper - I really wish I could say that of Oatmeal but whatever I tried it just keeps crashing on me.

[Halonmusic]

Full Bucket collection. Great sound and quality. 32/64 bit win/mac

[fanodu1]

Surge is hands down the best free synth at the moment, and thanks to it being open-source it's only getting better!

[chk071]

I always thought Dune CM (not freeware but magware) would be about the best thing you can get for free. It's not great, but, for a free/magware synth, it's alright. There is freeware which sounds better (Charlatan, Tyrell N6), but, those are by far not as well featured, and versatile.

Anyway, it's been years since I used Dune CM last time. Kind of says a lot about free-/magware... If anything, I bott up Synth1 every now and then (maybe once every half a year or so...). If I want "that" sound, I rather reach for Spire or Sylenth1.

[dark water]

Some excellent suggestions that I didn't know about, which I'll now check out, thank you

One phenomenally good free synth idea (albeit some of its 'extra' modules are for commercial sale) which I should have included in my previous post is:

VCV Rack

As many of you know, VCV Rack is a great take on modular symthesis, which sounds excellent, is fun to use and seems to be well supported by many people.


Ten years on from when this thread was last really active, we are very lucky now to have such a great range of wonderful sounding software synths (freeware, donationware, magware and 'properly' commercial)

Who knows how the next 10 years of software (and free software) synths will pan out?!

[Axis1~SL61]

FullBucket synths are fantastic, especially the korg PS series emulations, but almost all the other plugins in their now extensive collection deserves a try. I can't thank them enough for all their fantastic free synths

[Halonmusic]

FullBucket synths are fantastic, especially the korg PS series emulations, but almost all the other plugins in their now extensive collection deserves a try. I can't thank them enough for all their fantastic free synths

hell yes

[biscuitdough]

Some of the Fullbucket originals are quite good too: Modulair, Blooo, Qyooo etc.

Charlatan is underrated. HY-Mono and OB-Xd seem to have fallen out of favor now that every big developer has a paid Oberheim emulation out, but I still find them both excellent. Cobalt seems abandoned but still works and sounds great.