KVR Audio

Dan Powers · Post by **Dan Powers** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:17 am

First post! And I'd like to introduce myself by asking for a little advice.

I am currently teaching an introductory course in music technology, and as part of it I'd like to give a short introduction to synthesizers. My students are already using Reaper as their DAW for the course, and I'm looking for a good freeware VST synthesizer plug-in for them to use. Frankly, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the number of options, so I thought I'd ask the knowledgeable people on this forum for a little direction.

All I really need for the purposes of this course is a simple, straightforward subtractive synthesizer, with an oscillator or two, ADSR envelope, filters, and maybe a few modulation options. We really won't be covering more then the bare basics here, so I don't need anything in the way of bells and whistles. It should also be available for both Mac and PC.

Suggestions? Thanks to everyone in advance.

bharris22 · Post by **bharris22** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:20 am

Welcome!

I would recommend Charlatan - http://www.blaukraut.info/. Unfortunately, Windows only, but I think it has everything you need.

HiEnergy · Post by **HiEnergy** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:23 am

u-he Podolski

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:58 pm

Voyager: http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=383

It got 4 OSC's but awesome sound, and for learning -> the default GUI is laid out in a clear manner.

However, those wanting to dress up the GUI, can do it with the beautiful skin from Flavours of Lime:

http://flavoursoflime.blogspot.no/2009/ ... -help.html

crimsonwarlock · Post by **crimsonwarlock** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:58 pm

OK, again the obvious option: Synth1

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:15 pm

I was about to recommend Oatmeal but it's overkill for an introduction into synthesis...

This one is pretty easy, straightforward and sounds great (and even has unisono) - but it's only for Windows:

MauSynth

TAL-Noisemaker and TAL-Elek7ro are some other easy-to-use and good-sounding synths and they work on MAC, too:

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-noisemaker
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-elek7ro

dakkra · Post by **dakkra** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:23 pm

Tone 2 Firebird http://www.tone2.com/html/firebird_vsti ... zer_1.html

Windows only though.... sorry

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:27 pm

Tyrell -

idfpower · Post by **idfpower** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:38 pm

I think for this purpose TranceDrive would be good, because you can highlight only the active components and blur the rest, so I think it would be easier to learn how the synth works section by section: http://www.yedey.com/2010/02/official-r ... ancedrive/

Here's a video:
http://youtu.be/VWvP57-VbIs

beltrom · Post by **beltrom** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:43 pm

My suggestion is Linplugs free version of Alpha, it has always struck me as the perfect learning tool for subtractive synthesis. Also both Mac and PC.

http://www.linplug.com/alpha.html

GUI of the free one here:

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/free-al ... ug/details

murnau · Post by **murnau** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:46 pm

http://www.blaukraut.info/

1+

because of the easy layout good for beginners.

Halma · Post by **Halma** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:49 pm

TAL synths. Either NOISEMAKER or U-NO-62. I really fell in love with his products lately. Though it took me some time to get the grip with his reverbs. But I am glad that I tried them again and again and finally find all of his stuff awesome. They sound sooooo sweeeeet.

Regarding to the above mentioned synths:

- absolutely unbelievable sound
- the envelopes & their behaviour are one of the best I have found so far on a free synth ( I think they use both, lin & exp envelopes)
- very versatile
- pretty self-explanetory
- U-NO-62 is a little bit more limited but everything at a glance, nothings hidden ( plus the bonus signature sound )
- NOISEMAKER is a beast. I totally underestimated the whole sound palette of it. Check out those presets...boy, not a weak one, lots of basic stuff (eg percussion sounds, arpeggiators, bass, leads, fx etc), different filters, fx ... comes with "tabs" or "sections" that can be opened/closed so not visible the whole time but that's a really great idea and very helpful for the workflow.

Otherwise u-he TYRELL N6 is pretty dope too. But the semimodular routing and especially the lfo timings and the x-mod could be a little bit overwhelming for a beginner.

All free and for both PC & MAC (and both run fine in Reaper because I use them too, 32 bit though).

Regards
Sebastian

fluffy_little_something · Post by **fluffy_little_something** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:05 pm

I am not so sure Mausynth is a good choice, some people have problems with the user interface...

Noisemaker is complete and at the same time easy to understand because of the clear layout. And it is more appealing than Charlatan in my view.

murnau · Post by **murnau** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:20 pm

fluffy_little_something wrote:I am not so sure Mausynth is a good choice, some people have problems with the user interface...

Noisemaker is complete and at the same time easy to understand because of the clear layout. And it is more appealing than Charlatan in my view.

imo for beginners not really because of the pop-open modules.

Shask · Post by **Shask** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:25 pm

I was going to suggest TAL-Noisemaker also. I think it is laid out very well for that.

I was thinking Synth1 also but it is probably too busy for learning...

Advice sought - Good freeware subtractive synth