Free Software Synthesizers

Synth1

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

Basic 64

Basic 64 is a 8 bit emulation software synthesizer developed by De la Mancha. Available in VST for Windows.

It is a lo-fi synthesizer based on the “SID chip” with some extras tuning, to deliver a 8-bit retro game sound, gritty noises or just plain oddness.

Features:

16, 8 or 6 bit sound quality.
3 oscs, each with their own ADSR envelope.
Oscillators can be sync’d and ring modulated by each other.
Pitch envelope modulation.
Pitch wobble option, for subtle instability.
2 tempo-sync LFO’s to modulate pitch, cut-off and pulse width.
LFO’s have attack/release curves.
Tempo-sync arpegiator.
Flexible routing to state variable filter (LP, HP & BP).
Envelopes can be reset or continuous at retrigger.
Monophonic or polyphonic option.
Midi learn / midi CC support.
128 presets by sinkmusic & WhiskeyPriest.

Komplete Start

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

Horus

Horus is a free polyphonic software synthesizer developed by B Serrano. Available in VST for Windows.

Horus is a beautifully designed polyphonic soft synth and string machine. It is well fitted for ambient pads and drones.

Features:

4 oscillators: 4′, 8′, 16′, 32′
64 voices polyphonic.
Static formant filter.
LP filter.
1 LFO (sine)
Stereo delay, phaser, chorus & auto-wah.
Full MIDI learn.

ZynAddSubFX

ZynAddSubFX is a free software synthesizer developed by paulnasca. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Features:

Realtime, Polyphonic, Multi-timbral synthesizer.

Microtonal capabilities with any scale, any number of notes per octave (up to 127) and keymapping.

3 synthesizer engines:

ADsynth” or “ADnote” is a complex engine which makes sounds by adding a number of voices. Each one has filters, envelopes, LFOs, morphing, modulation (Ring Modulation, Phase Modulation, the modulators can have any shape), resonance, etc. Each voice includes a very powerful waveform generator with up to 128 sine/nonsine harmonics. This engine includes antialiasing.

“SUBsynth” or “SUBnote” is a simpler engine which allows you to make sounds by subtraction of harmonics of sounds from white noise.

“PADsynth” or “PADnote”) makes beautiful pads and other instruments.

Instruments can be organized in kits, which allows you to make drum kits or layered (mixed) instruments; this makes it possible to use more than one instrument for a single part. It is possible to choose what items from the kit should be processed by the Part’s effects.

Effects: Reverb, Echo, Chorus/Flange, Phaser, AlienWah (a kind of vocal morpher), Distortion (Waveshaping), EQ, DynamicFilter.

The effects can behave as System Effects or as Insert Effects; this allows you to use many effects at the same time. You can put any insert effect on any part (or more insert effects to same parts, if you like) or you can put the insert effect to Master output. Also, you can have instrument’s effect (that is saved with the instrument).

Filters up to 60dB/octave (or more); filters can be analogue (LPF,HPF, BPF,etc.), formant (advanced formant filters) and state variable (SVF).

Envelopes can have ADSR (or ASR, etc.) modes or can be free modes (with any shape).

Many settings have a “randomness” option; this produces a very pleasant effect (like analogue synths or natural instruments that can’t produces exactly same sound twice).

Intuitive and easy to use User Interface.

MIDI support (supports many controllers) and (if you want) JACK support.

Virtual Keyboard.

It is free, licensed under version 2 of the GNU General Public License.

http://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.net/

Zoyd

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/

Zombie Killah

Zombie Killah is a free software synthesizer developed by Sonic Entropy. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Zombie Killah 2 is a lead synth for use in Drum’n’Bass, Breakbeat, Dubstep and Jungle music.

Main Features:

2 detuned oscillators.

1 sub bass oscillator.

Easy and quick modulation controls.

One-Knob Adjustable Frequency Modulation.

One-Knob Adjustable Amplitude Modulation.

Double-Knob Adjustable Pulse Width Modulation.

Vibrato and Tremolo.

3-way filtering.

Host-synced BPM LFO Speeds.

All parameters automatable, but an assignable MIDI CC for LFO Speed is available if needed.

Chorus effect for stereo widening.

10 Factory Presets to get you started.

No distortion, filters, delay or reverb on master output for crystal clear signal.

http://www.sonicentropy.hu/

ZeNeRyC

ZeNeRyC is a free software synthesizer developed by Tekky Synths. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

ZeNeRyC is a virtual synth dedicated to sequenced sounds.

7 embedded FXs, advanced sequencer, advanced filtering modulation and advanced control over randoms with the progressive level of randomization managed by the Micro-Random system.

Easy creation of melodies or song kick-starters with the ScaLer module that creates user scales on-the-fly and then generates new melodies that match all the time.

LFO to pitch to create FX style sounds.

“Smart” Preset-Manager that generates new names when the preset name already exists on H-D and “Load folder” locations and “Save folder” locations which are saved per preset.

Restore preset feature: restore a preset to its on-load state (useful after a bad succession of randoms)

User color/light schemes are stored per preset to create matching color banks of presets.

http://tektoog.zapto.org/

Zebramatic

Zebramatic is a free software synthesizer preset pack for Zebra, made by Origins of Audio.

Zebramatic is a free sound bank for U-He’s Zebra virtual Synth.

It contains over 100 patches including patches for bass, FXs, pads, arppegiators, atmospheric carpets and more! All these sounds were created specifically for the movies in which we were involved. You can use them in any way you want, free of royalties.

Additional Info:

– 12 Basses
– 24 Atmospheric carpets
– 12 Pads
– 16 Sound FXs
– 17 Arppegiators
– 19 Percussion
– 10 Pianoids
– 6 Swooshes
– 7 Other instruments (organ, theremin, and more)

In most of our patches, modwheel or aftertouch have a specific role in the sound.

https://originsofaudio.com/

Zebralette

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/