| Synthesizers
|  |
| Analogue
sounding poly
synths |
|  | Synth 1, by Ichiro Toda,
an emulation of Nordlead 2, is a 2 oscillators synth with a rather acid
sound, much easier to
set than Crystal, but very stable and efficient. With it, you can do
many things (it has an arpeggiator, 1
stereo chorus/flanger, 1 delay, a bit of FM).
Its quality and flexibility make it a very good synth. Its
interface 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 many
of them (it is undoubtedly the most famous
free 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),
is
a beautiful looking 8 voices polyphonic synth (as beautiful as well
finished commercial synths), perfectly
stable, and one of the most renowned, especailly good for techno... A
must-have too. Superwave has developed 3
other synths, but commercial ones, with the
same design.
http://home.btconnect.com/christopherg/main.htm
| |  | Lallapallooza Lite
by Buzzroom,
is also one of the best in the list, able to give big and rather acid
sound, with a good looking but dark interface, full of parameters (3
Osc, 3 Lfo, 3 delays, 1 overdrive, 1 arpeggiator, and so on)... "Lite"
in its name does not mean anything (no limitation). Very good and
versatile. 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 has
a discreet interface, but is
versatile, 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 and
warmness of Impulse make me think of Arturia's sound. It comes with a
preset 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 overdemanding
developer who made it with synthedit, but with many improvements,
because he makes his own modules when synthedit is not good enough for
his projects. Those modules (like the "KXmod" one) are supposed to give
more life and analogical irregularity to the synth. And it works
(though it sounds rather cold) ! With many components, this synth
requires some knowledge in synthesis... A very good instrument, at the
top of the free synths, it gives beautiful analogical leads. Xavier's
site,
where he gives you many useful indications about synthesis, is also in
english... 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. 3
Oscillators with 9 waveforms each, noise generator, 32 voice
polyphonic, advanced adjustment for each oscillator, Low/High
pass filter, 3 envelopes, 4 LFO's, for pitch, filter, amplifier and
random 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, Hard
Sync, AM, Ring...), 5 inbuilt and 5 custom waveforms, 3 wave shapers, 2
stereo filters, effects bank with 3 independent effect units
(chorus/flanger, phaser, echo, reverb, filter, formant), several
modulation sources (5 ADSRs, 4 LFOs, 5 custom envelopes, 5 mini
sequencers), and automation... Its sound is not the big fat one, but
has something special, original, nice, sweet and clear, not very far
from FM or additive synthesis... Donationware. Registration required...
http://sonic-lion.com/synthesizers/nitrox/overview.html |
|  | Arppe 2600
va by Glen Stegner (Voltkitchen group),
one of the Gunnar Ekornas' acolytes (Minimogue), is made with
synthedit too. It tries to emulate a semi-modular mono synth, the ARP
2600,
one of the most renowned 70's synths. Of course, it is not as good as
Arturia's or Way Out Ware's emulations, but it has rather dirty Osc,
like the original instrument, and it sounds very nicely, not in the
same way than so many free synths. I like it very much... The
modulation matrix makes the thing hard to set for a beginner.
http://glenstegner.com/softsynths.html
| |  | Hahaha CS33 by Per Thulin, is a 2 Osc
polyphonic synth made with synthedit after
the Yamaha CS
30. 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 a
distortion, a reverb, a delay and a chorus. The GUI is very clear and
easy to use.
http://www.pethu.se/music/instruments.html
|
| 
| ASynth by Antti Huovilainen
attemptes to emulate
analogical sound and is focussed on the 2 Osc and the 3 filters,
casting all effects aside. And, at first sight, it is a bit frustrating
because, without delay, chorus, stereo, pan and so on, the sound does
not seem
impressive or spectacular to the beginner. But it is an excellent
polyphonic synth, with a very fine and first-class texture. The 3
filters emulate famous hardware ones : Korg MS-20, MiniMoog and
Oberheim XPander... A must-have. Please consider that it is
donationware.
http://antti.smartelectronix.com/
|
|  | Daedalus by NorthernBeat Audio is a 8 voices poly-synth, beautiful looking, with 2 sync osc, 2 lfo, a multimode filter,
1
ring modulator, 3 envelopes (osc, filter, vca), unison mode, detune, 1
chorus, 1 delay, and a basic arpeggiator. It has also extended midi
functions for pitch bend, portamento, and aftertouch. The resulting
sound is a good quality classic analogue style, versatile but a bit too
clean. 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 Ersson
is a 32 voices polyphonic version of Iblit, and comes with more
features. Like Iblit, it is not sterephonic and has no additional
effects, but with 4 waveforms instead of 2 per Osc, 2
DCA, 2 filters instead of one, 4 sync Lfo with speed and amplitude modulation, 4 envelopes, it
sounds very "analogue". A very good one.
http://www.bostreammail.net/ers/polyiblit.html |
|
Vst
Host GUI | JX 10 by mda (maxim
digital audio) is a rather old and misappreciated polyphonic synth that
has no interface. But it is a very good 2 oscillators synth, without
added effect, that has a stunning analogical texture... With a GUI, it would be so nice and much
more used... win / mac
http://www.mda-vst.com/
or
http://perso.orange.fr/tech-art/InVST/VSTfp_mdajx10.html
| | 
| DreamStation Dxi2 by
Audio Simulation,
is an old commercial win98-looking synth, that became freeware. It is a
16 voices polyphonic substractive and FM synth with 3 osc, 12dB/24 dB
per octave filters, and many other things that make it a really good
sounding one. It supports 32bits/96Khz. Bread and butter synth, it is
Dx and needs to be converted to vst by using DX
Shell... Don't miss it.
http://www.audio-simulation.com/?page=product2 |
|  | RJXP by efm (ele4music) is
supposed to be an emulation of a Roland
JX-8P. I do not know if it is faithful, but, if you like the famous
evolving rythmic sequence in "On the Run" (Dark Side of the Moon, Pink
Floyd), originally made with an EMS Synthi A, you will love the preset
7 !
With unisson mode, it produces fat, thick, gorgious arp/sequences. Just
a few presets, and the GUI is grey and sad, inspired by the Roland
PG800 module.
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/EFM-RJXP-0.2.zip
|
|  |
JX
Synth, previously commercial and now free, renowned
yesterday but almost old fashioned today, is a 2 oscillators analog
poly synth,
that remains usable and pleasant by giving rather good and non
stereo fresh sounds. Many presets on Patcharena.
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/jxsynth1.2.rar
|
| 
| Osiris
6 by Neko
Synthesizers
is 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 a
granular texture. With added effects like 1 arpeggiator, 1 chorus, 1
flanger, 1 delay and 1 echo it can produce some good presets, it is
easy to use and very efficient.
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/Neko-Osiris6.zip
|
|  | U-NO-62 by Togu Audio Line
emulates 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 the
best of your synth collection, but it works fine. win / mac
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-u-no-62
|
|  | Elek7ro by Togu Audio Line again,
more interesting than U-NO-62, is a mono/poly analogue substractive
synth, with 2 VCO (4 waveforms, PW and FM), 1 sub, 2 LFO (8
destinations), 1 12/18dB LP filter, 1
mixer, portamento etc... Like all TAL synths, it sounds very well, precise,
thick, fat, with deep basses, and has a very appreciated analogue
colour. Very good for big bass lines, it can also make many other
things... No inbuilt effects. win / mac
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-elek7ro
|
|  | GTG K 1, by GTG too, is a rather
good 8 voices polyphonic synth, not as rich as NK1001 or Sputnik, but
it is decent, and, with its 2
Osc, 2 Lfo, 1
stereo chorus and 1 stereo delay, produces pretty cheezy and
sweepy string pads. It can make also nice basses... Try Unit1 and GTG
13, JP7A and Kwop 7 too...
http://www.gtgsynths.com/plugins.htm |
|  | CRA-6 by Buzzroom,
is an efficient polyphonic synth, especially for clean and
thick
leads. Without effects, like Asynth, JX 10 and Iblit (see
farther), it is less elegant than them, because of a smoother texture.
Rather basic but clear and easy to use interface. A good one. Direct
download :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/cra6.zip |
|  |
Ilo-Synth 1 by Tolga Gurpinar,
is a 2 oscillators polyphonic synth, with 2 Lfo, 2 filters
etc. It
is 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 and
glassy leads... Its GUI is simple and too large but nice. Easy to use.
http://www.iloyd.com/ilosynth/
|
| 
| CeloX made several
decent synths,
and, among them, MegaCeloX
is probably the best one. This stereo 6 voices polyphonic synth sounds
a bit like Superwave P8 (but not as good as this excellent one), and is
rather 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 and
FM-like keys... No more available, so download it there :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/MegaCeloXv11.rar
|
|  | Black
and White
has a much more minimal interface, and is almost unknown, but it sounds
as good as MegaCeloX. Polyphonic, with its 2 Osc, 2 filters, 2
envelopes etc, and a delay, it seems thicker than it. Rather good...
At the moment, this
synth, like MegaceloX, is not available anywhere, so you can download
it there :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/BlackAndWhite.rar
|
| 
| Oxytocin, by Novaflash,
is a rather complex 9 voices polyphonic substractive synth (with some
FM added), in a beta version
at the moment.
Coming with a beautiful GUI (like all Novaflash products), its 2 Osc, 2
Lfo, 1 ring modulator, filters, dirtortion, arpeggiator, 2 step sequencers, delay, reverb, chorus, spatializer, and other
components, with envelopes everywhere, allow to produce very
interesting fat
and thick sounds, for rather deep leads, arpeggios, sequences and so
on. Try it. A very good one. Consumes a lot of CPU.
|
| 
| Phasm, by Novaflash
too, has 4 Oscs,
2 envelopes, 2 Lfo, 2 filters, some effects (disto, delay...), and a
joystick. Carefully skinned, like Novaflash products, it has an
easy-to-use and clear GUI, and it makes soft, smooth, mellow metallic
sounds for delicate pads. A very good one.
http://www.numerisson.com/novaflash/fr.html
| | 
| Oatmeal by Fuzzpliz is a very
special thing with its unusual own personality. To understand why it is
so much spoken about it on KvR, here,
and there,
you must try it... Very versatile, it has too many components to list
them here. Among many other nice things, it has the most complex and
complete arpeggiator i know, that allows you to do many kinds of
sequences. The whole thing is not easy to set, but, fortunately,
Fuzzpilz created for Oatmeal the most efficient and easy to use
randomise function i know... So you can easily create new (good)
presets, just by clicking this button. The basic factory GUI is a bit
confused, not clear, but Fuzzpilz made it skinnable ! So, friendly
developers made some nice skins for it... It is not a vintage synth,
and it sounds rather cold, numerical, Reaktor like (to my ears...), but
it is a very good synth.
http://bicycle-for-slugs.org/
To get a full pack with the last version of the synth, and all the
presets and skins made for it :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Oatmeal/Oatmeal-38.1-fullpack.zip
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