Cheap and versitale VSTi

[SparkySpark]

“Acoustic sounds”? Not every serious about your “piano playing”? You would like “thousands of presets”?

Honestly, it seems to me that what you might really want is something like a SFZ/SF2 player. Essentially, a “rompler”. You can get freeware plugins for linux that will do that. And there are thousands of free soundfont libraries on the internet.

Unless you are genuinely interested in making electronic music featuring a bunch of synthesis: EDM, ambient, etc.

Just a thought. Let me know if I’m way off the mark.

Agreed! So: Xpand!2. Easier to use than searching for SFZ samples.

Interesting to see Synthmaster recommended here. I didn't know it also had pianos etc.

[kvotchin]

Agreed! So: Xpand!2. Easier to use than searching for SFZ samples.

Oh, wasn't familiar with that one, must admit. But yes, it does look appropriate. As for soundfont files, they're still very accessible. Though sure, if Xpand comes with basically everything, and the price is right...

Interesting to see Synthmaster recommended here. I didn't know it also had pianos etc.

Indeed. That and the others that are also solidly in "synth land".

[SparkySpark]

Interesting to see Synthmaster recommended here. I didn't know it also had pianos etc.

Indeed. That and the others that are also solidly in "synth land".

Yes, I have an early version of Synthmaster. The synth itself is really good-sounding. (For some reason, I never fell in love with it though - too many great choices around, I assume! )

[chk071]

Interesting to see Synthmaster recommended here. I didn't know it also had pianos etc.

It's actually absolutely unclear what the OP is asking for. First he says he's looking for new sounds, then he says that he's not really serious about his "piano playing". From what he said, I assume he's indeed looking for a synth, it's just that he's not a player. Just like most of us here.

[ralfrobert]

Interesting to see Synthmaster recommended here. I didn't know it also had pianos etc.

... From what he said, I assume he's indeed looking for a synth, it's just that he's not a player. Just like most of us here.

Perhaps a rompler might be a good solution if lots of sounds are a priority. Like Air Structure, Sampletank, the huge Zampler package that is on sale right now.

I am just asking as I am not sure about the priorities, too.

[SneakyBeats]

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... ete-start/

Just download this. It has everything from synths to sampled stuff. Soundfonts are also a good option.

[Paree]

Telling this again, Air Music Plugins require ilok and ilok stuff DOES NOT WORK WELL with linux+wine. Zampler is a good option and is free. If op wants sampled instruments, its better to search in vst4free for free plugins.

+1 for Komplete Start. If anyone needs help on installing NI stuff on linux, feel free to DM me.

[BBFG#]

That price range the OP considers cheap seems too low and synths are more of the focus. But when looking for pianos/percussion/plucked modeling, Pianoteq is the Linux option that's a must. Definitely over $20, but well worth it.

Anything under $20 is going to keep you buying more and keep you disappointed. If that's the limit, stick to free for now.

[Tj Shredder]

Anything under $20 is going to keep you buying more and keep you disappointed. If that's the limit, stick to free for now.

If you look at freebies that had been former paid but now been open sourced like Surge, or freebies who's business model is to sell sounds/support like the brand new Vital. Your argument is easily falsified...
They are as good as any higher priced competition and can keep you busy for years...
The business model of Synthmaster is both, cheap commercial (on sales sometimes sub $20) and selling sounds.
I would recommend Synthmaster for any coverband. There are perfect replikas of iconic sounds within those sound sets...

[chk071]

Anything under $20 is going to keep you buying more and keep you disappointed. If that's the limit, stick to free for now.

If you look at freebies that had been former paid but now been open sourced like Surge, or freebies who's business model is to sell sounds/support like the brand new Vital. Your argument is easily falsified...

Not really, if 99% of the stuff out there still is inferior. And that's just my experience. You get what you pay for. Exceptions which prove the rule really (even though I don't think Surge can really compete with the best soft synths, and Vital IS a payware synth, which just happens to have some free or cheaper more limited versions available).

That's why I wrote that the OP is probably better off saving up, and getting something really good when there's enough money saved.

[recursive one]

and Vital IS a payware synth, which just happens to have some free or cheaper more limited versions available).

Unless I'm missing something, the free version of Vital will have less content (presets/wavetables) and the only actual limitation will relate to text-to-wavetable functionality (which seems more a gimmick than something essential anyways). All other features will be present even in the free version.

[Kagia001]

@kvotchin do you know where I can get good soundfonts? There are so many websites and the one I tried didn't have very good sounds.

[SparkySpark]

@kvotchin do you know where I can get good soundfonts? There are so many websites and the one I tried didn't have very good sounds.

Kagia, there's nothing wrong at all with the SoundFont route, but as you've just discovered, it's kind of a hassle getting it all together, and at least for me, that was such a creativity killer that I eventually gave up on the quest.

That's exactly why I (and others) suggested XPand!2. Pay a few dollars (it's probably on sale at pluginboutique.com at the moment) and then there's no need to search for SoundFonts.

BTW, a really cool thing with XPand!2 is its ability to layer sounds. I usually layer two patches to beef up a sound, but if you'd like to, you can layer up to four patches. For example, adding a pad and a mallet gives you an attack and then a nice sustaining sound. Piano plus strings or choirs work the same way.

[ztrauq]

If you're looking for an Xpand!2 style rompler (multi-layer, lots of different instruments) that doesn't require iLok, and you can go up a little in price, you can get Purity for about 50 quid:

https://sonic-cat.com/purity/

Haven't used it myself but looks like a pretty comprehensive rompler workstation.

[Megawattt]

If you're looking for an Xpand!2 style rompler (multi-layer, lots of different instruments) that doesn't require iLok, and you can go up a little in price, you can get Purity for about 50 quid:

https://sonic-cat.com/purity/

Haven't used it myself but looks like a pretty comprehensive rompler workstation.

I second what ztrauq has said, if you can get Purity working in Linux it will be the best $49.99 investment that you will make for a workhorse synth, i bought Purity years ago and still using it to this very day, no iLok business , just good old school serial numbers and the cpu usage is very low, plenty of sounds, sound layering - no problem, also it is multitimbral, you will get your money's worth out of Purity for sure because it is what i would class as "A musical synth" (It is easy to make it sing) and the Sonic Cat developer is friendly, there is a demo version on the site to download and test.