Synth1

Synth1 Free Software Synthesizer VST by Daichi Lab

Synth1 is an extremely popular free software synthesizer modelled after the Clavia Nord Lead 2, developed by Daichi Laboratory. Available in VST and Audio Unit for Windows and macOS

This is the most downloaded softsynth in the world.

  • 2 Oscillators, FM modulation, ring modulation, sync, modulation envelope.
  • 2 LFOs.
  • 4 types of filters, distortion.
  • Arpeggiator
  • Tempo delay, stereo chorus/flanger.
  • Legato mode, portamento.
  • 16 notes polyphony.

128 presets are included.
Optimized for light CPU load using SSE instructions, etc.
Find various free presets on producertools.net

Defacer

Defacer distortion and bit crusher VST plugin

Defacer (Free Trial) is a distortion and bit crusher audio plugin developed by Audio Assault. Available as VST/VST3/AU & AAX Plug-Ins for Windows & macOS.

This plugin is available in free trial!

Defacer is an all-purpose 2 channel audio mangler designed to destroy and rearrange any sound you throw at it.

Use it to make guitars sound like a broken synth or add a touch of robot-ness to vocals, when the sound calls for it, Defacer is there!

Featuring low-pass filters & distortions on each channel you are free to destroy audio to your heart’s content.

Komplete Start

Komplete Start Free Production Suite

Komplete Start is the free version of the famous Native Instrument’s production suite Komplete. It includes various high quality virtual instruments, synthesizers and effect plugins.

Komplete free version is a curated selection of hight quality sampled instruments, software synthesizers, effect plugins, utilities, loops and samples for the no brainer price of… nothing at all!

  • Over 2,000 studio-quality sounds
  • 16 pro-grade synths and sampled instruments, effects, loops, and samples

Zoyd

Zoyd free software-synthesizer by u-he

Zoyd is a free software synthesizer developed by u-he. Available format(s): Audio Unit for macOS.

Features:

  • 2 Osc + Noise / 2 Filter / 2 Waveshaper / 3 ADSR / 2 LFO / ModMatrix / 80+ parameters.
  • Oscillators with up to 2048 harmonics for rich sound. No audible aliasing though, unless you want it.
  • 7 filter types incl. _true_ vowel morphing, usual suspects and exotic ones.
  • Semi-modular routing incl. ringmodulation-like effect.
  • Nice Presets.
  • Rude, unique sound. Sometimes silky and smooth, though…
  • Modulartrinsic audio hazard.

https://www.u-he.com/

Zimple-Gate

Zimple-Gate free gate by Piticule

Zimple-Gate is a free gate Audio Unit plugin developed by Piticule. Compatible OS(s): macOS.

Zimple-Gate is a noise remover plug-in.

A noise gate is generally used to remove unwanted noise or sounds from a recorded audio track. To operate the gate, you have to first set the Threshold level; any sounds on the track that have a an amplitude level below this threshold will be muted. Think about this as an actual gate that will close in front of any sound that is below this threshold and open for sounds louder than the threshold.

In addition, you will have to set the Release and Attack time. The Release determines how fast the gate will close once it detects sounds below the threshold, while the Attack determines how fast the gate will open once it detects louder sounds. Depending on the nature of the sound (more transient or with a smoother envelope), different Attack and and Release settings will be necessary to obtain a natural result; even an infinitesimal difference in the settings can make a noticeable difference on the sound.

http://www.piticule.com/

Zebralette

Zebralette free software-synthesizer by u-he

Zebralette is a free software synthesizer developed by u-he and used by many famous music producers. Available format(s): VST, VST3, Audio Unit, RTAS for Windows 64b, macOS.

Zebralette is just one of Zebra2’s oscillators packed into a simple, easy-to-learn framework – but you have everything you need to make some pretty amazing sounds. Sound that can be directly loaded into Zebra2 later. And should you eventually decide to upgrade to Zebra2, you will already know everything there is to know about the oscillators – which is quite an advantage.

Zebralette has two LFOs (one per voice, one global), a multi-stage envelope and three on-board effects (chorus, EQ, delay). Not forgetting Zebra2’s famous dual spectral effects, which include several squelchy filter algorithms.

https://www.u-he.com/

Zampler

Zampler free sampler | sequencer by Plugin Boutique

Zampler is a free sampler and sequencer VST, Audio Unit plugin developed by Plugin Boutique. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

A Powerful Sample Workstation for VST & AU – free.

We’ve teamed up with guys at Beat.de and are happy to present you with Zampler.

Zampler is a free sample workstation that includes a variety of ways to sculpt and manipulate sounds and it includes features you would expect in any current soft-sampler. It also sounds great.

Zampler is cabable of supporting the .sfz format which makes it a perfect fit with the sample libraries from our sister site Loopmasters.

The free installer download comes with 2 free banksa selection of sounds curated from various Loopmasters packs for you to enjoy:

“Dance Production Sounds” – The pack is a total of 332MB and includes 30 Multi Samples, 1 bank file, and 333 Multi Samples.

”MainRoom and EDM DrumKits” – The pack is a total of 111MB and includes 30 patches/kits, 1 bank file, and 457 Multi Samples.

We’ll be offering more packs here at Plugin Boutique in the near future.

Features:

  • The plug-in comes in both VST and AU formats. File types supported are REX loop and SFZ.
  • The plugin’s sample oscillators make Zampler a great tone-shaping tool.
  • In the integrated multimode lowpass, highpass, bandpass and bandstop filters as well as various combinations are available.
  • Three LFOs, three ADSR envelopes and a complex modulation matrix, bring life to the sound.
  • An extensive effects section is available including tube saturation, two equalizers, phaser, chorus, delay and reverb.
  • The clever step sequencer allows for especially complex, full and vibrant sounds – a specialty of Zampler.
  • Uses the valent algorithms of “Dune” inventor Synapse Audio.

More Detail:

  • Samples of any bit-depth (8/16/24/32-bit), mono or stereo are supported.
  • Multipe sample rates supported (eg 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k, 96k, 176.4k, 192k, 384k).
  • Up to 128 keyboard splits.
  • Up to 128 velocity splits.

System Requirements

Windows – 32-bit VST
Mac – 32-bit AU.

{See video at top of page}

http://www.pluginboutique.com/

Zap

Zap free software-synthesizer by Sinevibes

Zap is a free software synthesizer developed by Sinevibes. Available format(s): Audio Unit for macOS.

Zap is a unique mini-synthesiser controlled by incoming audio. It starts with an envelope follower that tracks the peak energy of the sound and then applies it onto the frequency of a monophonic oscillator.With three different oscillator waveform modes and features like envelope stepping, Zap can turn any sound source into dynamic synth sweeps, sub-basses, blips, chirps or glitches.

Zap has a simple and stylish user interface built with colour-coded graphics and full Retina resolution support. It has subtle animations and a live output waveform view, making even such a simple effect very fun and engaging to work with. And yet, thanks to hardware-accelerated rendering, Zap feels fast and responsive even on older, lower-end Macs.

Specifications:

  • Signal envelope follower with variable lag time and curve, plus level stepping feature.
  • Three oscillator modes: pure sine, ring-modulated sines & phase-modulated sines.
  • Realtime output waveform display.

http://www.sinevib.es/

Zampler

Zampler free sampler by Beat

Zampler is a free sampler VST, Audio Unit plugin developed by Beat. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

Zampler is a powerful sample workstation developed by Synapse Audio for Beat magazine. Design by Cyan.

Key features:

  • Sample oscillators with SFZ support.
  • Multi-mode filter.
  • Three LFOs.
  • Three ADSR envelopes.
  • Complex modulation matrix.
  • Arpeggiator / step sequencer.
  • Effect section with overdrive, equalizer, phaser, chorus, delay and reverb.
  • Free demo soundbank.
  • Additional soundsets available on the Beat magazine DVDs.
  • Easy to use.
  • Low CPU usage.

http://www.beat.de

Z-Room

Z-Room free reverb by DUY Software

Z-Room is a free reverb VST, Audio Unit, RTAS, AAX plugin developed by DUY Software. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

DUY Z-Room is a high quality reverb.

Main features:

  • High quality density and diffusion.
  • Total control over parameters with a friendly and intuitive user interface.
  • Three modes: Deluxe, Economy and Earlies. The second allows to free processing time, and the third focuses the strength of the algorithm on the processing of Early Reflections.
  • An exclusive Rehearsal Mode allows you to set the parameters while hearing the real impulse response of the reverb.
  • You can choose between several room responses (reverse, gate, hall, room, stage…). All these values can be modified with the Stretch and Pre-delay parameters.
  • Processing time is freed when you choose not to include Early Reflections.
  • Internal 64-bit processing.
  • Independent mixing controls for each of the three selectable bands, as well as for the Direct, Early Reflections and Reverb signals.
  • Total control over the iteration depth, with six levels of calculation.
  • Over 50 presets are included.
  • Allows you to control the time base of the reverb’s algorithm.
  • Visualization of the Direct, Early Reflections and Reverb signals in the time domain.

http://www.duy.com/