Free Audio Softwares Hosting VST Instruments

CPS

CPS is a free development tool VST, Audio Unit plugin developed by Bonneville. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

CPS is a realtime interactive programming environment for audio, MIDI and other media & I/O. Patches are built by placing objects and making wires between them. Areas of interest are sound design, algorithmic composition, DSP, electronic/computer music and education. CPS can be used in any realtime situation where sound plays a role.

Build-in objects allow you low-level access to audio MIDI and other I/O, and any processing in between. Objects include audio and MIDI (hardware&file) I/O, fourier analyse, filters, noise generators, envelopes, delays, LFOs, effects, and much more objects like tables which you can fill with ‘generators’ (a feature which derives directly from Csound), several network options, joystick, serialport, video processing units (through Quicktime) for layered playback of video & images, VST hosting of VST plugins/instruments, MP3 decoding, and all MPEG-4 Structured Audio opcodes (which are on their turn based on Csound). The best of as well graphic and text editing comes together inside CPS. There is a list of all objects in the manual.

CPS is not only a realtime toolkit; it is also a friendly graphical user environment. CPS has a subpatch architecture (of unlimited depth), with which you can put parts of you patch within one object. Furthermore, objects in CPS have a dynamic number of in- and outputs at runtime. Of course, it has full Undo/Redo, all objects have tooltips (including subpatches) and online help, working with subpatches does not slow down your patch, etc.

http://www.bonneville.nl/

Cantabile

Cantabile is a free host application developed by Topten Software. Compatible OS(s): Windows .

Cantabile 3 is a complete, ground-up rebuild of the entire product and incorporates feedback from hundreds of musicians making it the best Cantabile yet. Everything from the audio engine to the user-interface and everything in between has been re-imagined, re-designed and re-engineered.

Cantabile is a powerful host for virtual instruments and effects with an emphasis on real-time performance and use in live performance situations:

Play: Play VST instruments and process audio effects in real-time. Plug-ins can be connected in series to form racks and multiple racks can be run concurrently with each delivering a different sound or instrument. Racks can also be connected together to apply common effects to multiple instruments.

Perform: For live performance, Cantabile’s song state and pre-loaded set list support can be used to instantly switch songs. Most settings can be controlled remotely using MIDI bindings and everything can be kept in sync with MIDI clock support.

Record: Cantabile’s audio and MIDI recorders can be used for automatic or manual recording.

Cantabile is available in three editions:

Cantabile Lite: A free, simple to use, yet high performance host designed for use as a quick VST scratch pad, or for users just getting started.

Cantabile Solo: Intended for home hobbyists and casual users who need a more flexibility. Audio and MIDI file players, recording, set lists, advanced MIDI routing, MIDI filters, embedded racks, MIDI bindings (control just about everything from MIDI control surface).

Cantabile Performer: Designed specifically with live performance in mind, Performer adds features like “Live Mode” with large status indicators, super fast song switching, linked racks for sharing instruments across songs, lots more…

Cantabile Performer Features: (Cantabile Solo and Cantabile Lite are a subset of this):

Low-latency real-time performance.

Flexible audio and MIDI routing.

Fast switching between configurations with song and rack states and pre-loaded set lists no waiting for plug-ins to load mid-performance.

Individually triggerable audio and MIDI clips.

Control of all important settings (including VST parameters) from your MIDI control surface (or device).

Automatic and manual audio and MIDI recording.

Easy management an entire performance with set lists.

Send MIDI configuration to external devices on song load with triggers.

MIDI clock synchronization (send and receive).

Easy configuration of keyboard splits.

Multi-channel audio support.

Built-in metronome.

Multi-core CPU support.

On-screen keyboard and controllers.

Supports VST effects, instruments and MIDI plug-ins.

Support for 64-bit audio.

Touch screen and hi-res screen ready.

Fully scalable user-interface.

x86 and x64 versions available.

http://www.toptensoftware.com/

Cabbage

Cabbage is a free development tool VST, Audio Unit, Ladspa plugin developed by Cabbage Audio. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS, Linux.

Cabbage is a framework for audio software development. Using simple markup text and the Csound audio synthesis language users can target Windows, OS X, Linux and Android with a single piece of source code.

Cabbage Studio (Beta) is a Csound based DAW with a fully functional patching interface and development environment. Develop, prototype and test Csound based audio instruments on the fly using an integrated development solution that includes an embedded source code editor and rapid GUI designer. Cabbage Studio isn’t just for users familiar with Csound, it can load a number of different plugin formats including VST, AU, and LADSPA and comes with over 100 high end audio plugins ready to use out of the box.

Cabbage for Android will let you run any of your Cabbage plugins on an Android smart phone.

Cabbage AU (Beta) is a dedicated AudioUnit front-end for Cabbage. Unlike the Cabbage VST interface, CabbageAU is a single plugin. Once loaded into a DAW, users can open any Cabbage instruments they wish and load as many instances of CabbageAU as they want. Saving the DAW session will also save the instruments associated with each instance.

Cabbage Features:

Cross Platform: Cabbage can be run on Windows, OS X and on Linux.

Standalone Software: Cabbage instruments and effects can easily be exported and run as standalone software without the need of a host program or DAW.

VST Export: Users can export instruments and effects as fully functional plugins to be run inside your favourite host/DAW.

Share: Users can share plugins/instruments as text files to be used on Windows, OS X, Linux and Android.

Python Scripts: Custom Python scripts can be embedded directly into an instrument’s underlying source code.

Multichannel: Cabbage can be run as a multichannel software, both in standalone and in audio plugin mode.

Automate: Csound can be used to automate any of the plugin controls, and to save and load session data.

MIDI Instruments: Not into audio processing? That’s Ok, Cabbage lets you easily build MIDI only instruments.

Signal Gen: Users have up to 1300 different signal generators/modifiers available.

Control Widgets: Csound can be used to control the state and behavior of any widget. This means widgets can be programmed to move around the screen, change colour or size, morph or fade into other controls, as well as lots of other funky operations.

GUI Controls: GUI controls, include sliders/knobs/buttons, xy-pads and waveform/envelope editors, checkboxes, text editors, file browsers, etc. GUIs can be implemented directly in simple mark-up language, or via drag and drop once in Edit mode.

Theme with SVG: Customise your Widgets with Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg’s).

OSC Support: Both desktop and Android versions of Cabbage support OSC. Cabbage instruments can be built to take control of other instruments, or indeed third party software over a shared network.

For details on the Csound language please the Csound homepage.

{See video at top of page}

http://cabbageaudio.com/

Buzz

Buzz is a free adapter plugin developed by Jeskola. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

VST Adapter for Buzz written by rout, Arguru, Zephod and FSM Allows VST effects and VST instruments to be used in Buzz.

http://www.jeskola.net/

Automap

Automap is a free audio and studio utility VST, VST3, Audio Unit, RTAS plugin developed by Novation. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

Automap is free software that comes with all Novation controllers. It gives you instant access to your DAW and plug-ins so you can get hands-on control of your music software. It features a software edit page that graphically shows what is assigned to which knob, fader or button on the hardware. Automap 4 has a re-designed GUI and now features a notification system that pops up in the corner of your monitor to tell you what you are controlling when you move a knob, slider or button.

Automap 4 was launched with Novation’s new Impulse controller keyboard range in Summer 2011. The v4.1 update now enables Novation’s top of the range SL MkII controllers to work with Automap 4 for instant assignment and convenient control. Other Novation controllers and keyboards are now also compatible with Automap 4 including: Nocturn, Launchpad, UltraNova, ReMOTE SL, Nocturn Keyboard and the SL Compact.

Automap is the original music software control technology. It was launched in 2006 and has evolved over the years with significant workflow improvements. Automap 4 is simple to set up and start using right away, and gives you unparalleled control over your DAW and plug-in instruments/effects.

http://www.novationmusic.com/

Audion

Audion is a free development tool plugin developed by Transonic. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Audion is a Windows application for creating your own audio plugins. THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. We’ve divided our road map into three general phases:

Phase 1: being able to patch together preexisting modules into a working interface-less audio plugin.
Phase 2: creating a graphic interface for this plugin
Phase 3: going beyond just patching, and program new modules in a language we are calling “Fast”.

We are currently in phase one; the screenshot will give you a general idea of the direction we are heading. But the road will be a long one, steep and twisting, so we are posting this preview because along the way we will welcome user input to steer us down the right path. So come, join us on this journey and we’ll see where it goes together.

For 32-bit Windows, you need to have .NET 4.0 installed to run it. As with all Transonic software, this is open source.

https://transonic.kohoutech.com

Audimat

Audimat is a free host application developed by Transonic. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b.

Inspired by the Automat – a famous self-service eatery in New York City where diners could choose from a variety of dishes available from a rack of vending machines – Audimat is a VST host in which you can load up a rack with your plugins for a variety of sounds. To edit a VST’s parameters, you can either display the VST’s own editor, or use Audimat’s default editor. Switch between the VST’s programs using the selector on its rack panel. Either send MIDI data from an external MIDI controller or use the on-screen keyboard.

Save the current configuration of plugins you have loaded into the rack (a “rig”) to a file so that you can easily reload all of them later. For a given rig, you can also save the current programs of the individual plugins as a patch, so that you can switch between patches without having to set each plugin’s program separately every time.

The above screen shot shows four VSTs loaded into the Audimat rack on the left, with the editor of the Acolyte plugin displayed on the top right, with the on-screen keyboard below it.

For the Windows platform; you need to have .NET 4.0 installed to run it. The user interface is written in C# (Audimat.exe) and the engine is written in C++ (VaShTi.dll). As with all Transonic software, this is open source.

https://transonic.kohoutech.com

Ardour

Ardour is a free sequencer stand alone application developed by Ardour. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS, Linux.

Ardour is a digital audio workstation. You can use it to record, edit and mix multi-track audio. Produce your own CDs. Mix video soundtracks. Experiment with new ideas about music and sound. Generate sound installations for 12 speaker gallery shows. Have Fun.

Ardour capabilities include:

Multi-channel recording.

Non-linear, non-destructive region based editing with unlimited undo/redo.

Full automation support.

A mixer whose capabilities rival high end hardware consoles.

Lots of plugins to warp, shift and shape your music.

Controllable from hardware control surfaces at the same time as it syncs to timecode.

https://ardour.org/

Analog Box

Analog Box is a free software synthesizer developed by Andyware. Available format(s): for Windows.

Analog Box is a low level, circuit based, modular software synthesizer. You put sound objects on the screen, connect them together, listen and adjust. When you find something you like, you can record it to a wav file, or just save the circuit and play it again later.

ABox is somewhat like the vintage synth’s of the ’70’s in that there are separate modules with lots of patch cords, knobs, buttons and displays. But you also get the computational ability offered by modern CPU’s. Features like FFTs, Differentials and Digital Control open up realms of sound design never dreamt of before. With the advanced capabilities offered by VSTi, USB/HID, MIDI and DirectShow you could conceivably play your favorite video soundtrack through a plugin adjusted by a glove controller.

With ABox2, editing virtual circuitry has never been easier. Get objects from the palette, put them where you want, connect them however you like. Adjust parameters using one click popup panels then move on. No questions asked. Make a mistake ? Hit Undo, all fixed. Like that section of circuitry ? Clone it, now you have another one. Really like that section of circuitry ? Group it together, create a new object. Now you can paste it anywhere.

https://sites.google.com/site/analogbox2/

AirRack

AirRack is a free host application developed by Maizesoft. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

AirRack is a live environment for those who make sound effects for TV program and other live performance.

AirRack provide you the following racks:

Amplifier: the component to connect with the audio interface.

Mixer: route other devices to the amplifier.

Effects: dual effects which load VST effect plug-ins.

VSTi: allow you to give real-time performance.

MP3 player: play MP3 audio file.

CD player: play the CD track with your CD-ROM.

Loop player: play an audio file as a loop.

Sound FX: a simple sampler to trigger sound effects.

Graphic EQ: 31 band graphic EQ.

You can control the AirRack with your MIDI controller and your computer keyboard. Both English and Chinese versions are available.

http://www.maizesoft.com