Strings Dream Synthesizer

Strings Dream Synthesizer free software-synthesizer by NUSofting

Strings Dream Synthesizer is a free software synthesizer developed by NUSofting. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

[update beta5m August 6th 2019]

Public Beta, free to download, time limited at 15 minutes per session.

– VST2 64-bit for Windows* (and soon also VST2 for Mac).

– Brand new control for waveshape morphing.

– Extra sound engine for the paraphonic mode (“Paraphony” on GUI)
with new timbral characteristics, featuring “analogue pulsed noise” emulation
.

– The paraphonic mode allows very different articulations
compared to the standard polyphonic mode (“Polyphony” on GUI)
.

– As per above, “Polyphony” vs “Paraphony” is now not just a change of behaviour
of the ADSR envelope
.

– Redesigned filters for the voice stops, especially for the ones labeled “Brass” and “Horn”.

– Recalibrated relative gains of all the voice stops.

– “Ensemble” chorus DSP upgraded to higher order interpolation (improved transparency and warmth).

– Rewritten “Spring” algorithm for Reverb, to allow longer resonances.

– Reviewed all presets/patches.

– Analogue Drum Kit: bonus feature: 20 of the best LoFi sounds from Drum Machines* of the late Seventies.
(playable using the MIDI keys above the Strings sound range)

– Minor changes in the GUI and other minor bugs fixed. Larger GUI also available.
Three skins included. User can easily make custom skins by making PNG files
.

– Everything that was already good in 1.x has been kept.
(Presets previously made for SDS 1.x needs to be adjusted when loaded in SDS 2.0)

*Formats: 32-bit VST2 will be delivered on customer request.
SDS AU for macOS will be produced after at least 100 requests.

*Drum Machines samples from NUSofting DK+ Library.
MIDI keys range: note 92 to 111. Volume controlled by MIDI Velocity.
[note: this is just a bonus feature for SDS, if you are interested in a true
Analogue Drum Set VST plugin to be release please let me know].

Sound ——–: Note Number
HiHat1——–: 92 [usually G#5 in pianoroll]
Snare1——–: 93
KickDrum1—–: 94
Rim1—– —-: 95
Clave1——–: 96
CowBell1——: 97
Cymbal1——-: 98
Guiro1——–: 99
Bongo1——–: 100
Bongo2——–: 101
Conga1——–: 102
Maracas1——: 103
HiHat2——–: 104
Snare2——–: 105
KickDrum1—–: 106
Cymbal2——-: 107
Tom1———-: 108
Tom2———-: 109
Tom3———-: 110
Tom4———-: 111.

Things you NEED to know to fully enjoy Strings Dream Synthesizer:
1) The ranges of the stops/registers, by checking the SDS help docs.
2) Cello and C.Bass voices are monophonic and can be played in legato
at the same time of the polyphonic main voices.
3) A hidden bonus feature is the 20 sounds Analogue Drum Kit, playable with the top range MIDI notes.

Strings Dream Synthesizer is able to reproduce the infinite array of rich, analogue pads from the most famous strings machines in synthesizer history – emulating the classic Eminent Solina as well as its sister keyboards from Elka, Crumar and even their Japanese cousins.

Strings Dream Synthesizer does not use samples. Instead the “octave divider” circuitry typical of those early polyphonic synths has been natively emulated, so that all sounds are computed in realtime in true VA fashion.

The fundamental “Ensemble” effect (like the vintage Solina chorus) accurately follows the architecture of its hardware counterpart, including the BBD chip behaviour for truly rich modulation. However, it has been extended for a wider range of “chorus” effects.

Strings Dream Synthesizer is easy to use. Its layout and features take their cue from and expand upon the familiar Solina design, with only the necessary controls to achieve the textures of the other strings machines.

Main Features:

  • “True analogue sound”, VA “Octave Divider” emulation, (no samples used).
  • 43 voices full polyphony, plus mono legato on bass section.
  • Vintage audio effects on board.
  • MIDI learn on every knob.
  • 3 skins included.

Plus:

  • A full ADSR envelope generator and Waveform selection (for several strings and organs sounds).
  • Volume fader and switch for each of 6 stops (C.Bass, Cello, Brass, Horn, Viola and Violin). The fader for each stop allows an almost infinite number of mixtures.
  • A powerful parameter to tune the relative phase of Violin wave against the other voices.
  • Brightness and highpass filters are also adjustable.
  • More performance flexibility with MIDI velocity and polyphonic mode selectable.
  • Note also that the C.Bass and Cello are monophonic with full legato mode and you can select one of eight keyboard split points, allowing you to layer the mono voices with the others.
  • Chorus “Ensemble” effect with “Bucket-brigade device” tone.
  • Four-stage Phaser for those famous “Jarre pads” and other Tangerine Dream sounds.
  • Exclusive reverb with the ability to morph on request to that “trembling” sound of the vintage spring reverb units.

http://nusofting.com/

Stringer

ZynAddSubFX free software-synthesizer by paulnasca 2

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

Stringer is an emulation of classic string synths such as:

  • Eminent 310.
  • Mellotron.
  • Arp string ensemble.
  • Crumar Performer.
  • Korg Trident.

Features:

  • Low CPU demands.
  • Filter.
  • MIDI automation.
  • 20 presets.
Made with SynthEdit

http://www.falkes.org/music/falkelab.php?id=C0_5_4

STriFE

STriFE free software-synthesizer by anosci

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

STriFE is a synth that produces strange harmonics through ring modulation.

It only uses two oscillators, but each has its own filter (and envelope), and the second has several options for detuning and phasing.

It’s designed for chords and leads, but works nicely for bass sounds as well.

Features:

  • 23 waveforms to select from.
  • One filter per oscillator.
  • Separate envelopes for each oscillator’s filter.
Made with FlowStone

http://anosci.net/vsts.html

Stigma

Stigma free software-synthesizer by Full Bucket Music

Stigma is a free software synthesizer developed by Full Bucket Music. Available format(s): VST, Audio Unit for Windows, macOS.

The Stigma is a software instrument for Microsoft Windows (VST) and macOS (VST/AU) simulating the KORG Sigma KP-30 Performing Synthesizer from 1979. It is written in native C++ code for high performance and low CPU consumption. Main features are:

  • Nineteen Presets with individual filters, envelopes, and amplifiers.
  • Two band-limited oscillators with 4 footages (32′ to 4′).
  • Synthe preset section:
    • Eight presets including Noise and Ring modulator.
    • Individual lowpass and global highpass filters.
  • Instrument preset section:
    • Eleven presets, Delayed Vibrato effect.
  • Effect section:
    • Portamento, Quarter Tone, Keyboard Sensor (aftertouch) and more.
  • Tweaks (not to be found in the original Sigma):
    • Up to 64 voices polyphony with Velocity.
    • Chorus/Ensemble section.
    • Preset editor.
  • All parameters can be controlled by MIDI CC.
  • 40 additional presets by kraftraum.
  • Double precision audio processing.
  • Plug-in supports Windows and macOS (32-bit and 64-bit).

https://SoundCloud.com/full-bucket/stigma

http://www.fullbucket.de/music/vst.html

Steam

Steam free software-synthesizer by xoxos

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

Steam is a “Fizmo-alike” wavetable synth with two ‘scannable’ table-based oscillators and two multi-mode filters that include a variety of sideband modes to take advantage of evolving timbres. It is optimized for dense shifting, motile, ‘organic’/noisy, chaotic textures.

Steam is available as a VSTi for Windows in two versions – the free version is monophonic, the full version costs US$20 and allows 6 voices of polyphony.

Made with SynthEdit

https://www.kvraudio.com/developer/xoxos

SQ8L / SQ8X

SQ8L / SQ8X free software-synthesizer by Siegfried Kullmann

SQ8L / SQ8X is a free software synthesizer developed by Siegfried Kullmann. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

SQ8L is a software model of Ensoniq’s classic 1980s synth SQ80. The SQ80 features 3 digital wavetable oscillators for each of its 8 voices which are fed through analog 4-pole lowpass filters (-24dB gain) with resonance. Sound parameters can be modulated by 4 envelopes, 3 LFOs and several MIDI sources. The SQ80 also has a predecessor, the ESQ1, which can do most of the same stuff.

Although the technology may seem obsolete, these synths can produce a wide variety of interesting and extremely usable sounds. Thanks to the lo-fi oscillators and the analog components it can sound very digital and dirty, but also very analog and warm. Which is a good thing because modern synths often tend to sound rather clean.

The SQ8L (“L” stands for “Light”) is the free demo version of the forthcoming SQ8X (“X” for “eXtended”). Besides any bugs that will be fixed in the full version and planned features that won’t find their way into the light version, there are only a few limitations:

  • Polyphony limited to 8 voices.
  • Program change messages ignored.
  • Common MIDI controllers (Master Volume, Pan,…) by default have no effect and must be programmed as modulators.
  • When used with a sequencer, the only sound the host can save within the song file is the one in the edit buffer. The full version will store the entire library (which makes sense when program change messages are used).
  • LFO humanization not implemented.
  • No Split/Layer to combine several sounds.
  • No internal sequencer (and there will never be one).

The full version SQ8X will have the following additional features:

  • Combinations of up to 4 single sounds.
  • Adjustable polyphony (far more than 8 voices).
  • New Filter algorithms with different modes (lowpass, bandpass, highpass).
  • 2nd Filter and different routing modes for the filters: serial, parallel, split.
  • Improved GUI.

http://www.buchty.net/ensoniq/

Sprike

Sprike free software-synthesizer by Cognitone

Sprike is a free software synthesizer developed by Cognitone. Available format(s): VST, Audio Unit for Windows, macOS.

Sprike is an extended variant of Tunefish4, the virtual analog synth originally created by Brain Control.

We made Sprike cooperate more nicely in a MIDI-controlled environment (MIDI sequencers). Following MIDI standards, it responds to bank and program selection messages, master volume and pan controllers. Presets are stored in compliance with operating system conventions. We also added four new MOD sources and enhanced it with an on-screen keyboard. The user interface was enhanced with master volume/pan controls and a level meter. Delay times can be set in terms of note lengths.

Sprike is very lightweight, so you can add 10 or more instances to your project without much impact on CPU load. It has the same expressive and crisp sound as Tunefish and comes with a new bank of factory presets.

Sprike is free open source software. You will find its source code on GitHub.

http://www.cognitone.com

Spook Organ

Spook Organ free software-synthesizer by JC

Spook Organ is a free software synthesizer developed by JC. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Features:

  • Two banks each of seven oscillators.
  • Each bank can be set to use a different waveform. (Sine, Saw, Ramp, Triangle, Pulse, White Noise & Pink Noise) This makes it possible to additively create some very organ like, or very grungy sounds, especially when combined with the modulation section, which is basically a chorus.
Made with SynthEdit

http://clift.xs4all.nl/codex/terra/html/index.php

Spicy Guitar

Spicy Guitar free software-synthesizer by Keolab

Spicy Guitar is a free software synthesizer developed by Keolab. Available format(s): VST, Audio Unit for Windows 64b, macOS.

Spicy Guitar is an innovative acoustic guitar simulation software. Relying on a brand new technology, Spicy Guitar lets you generate realistic guitar parts as well as original string-based sounds.

Overview:

  • The character of 9 real guitars has been captured and a wide range of guitarist’s playing techniques, from vibrato to palm muting. Because it is based on a full physical modeling of the guitar, the characteristics of the instruments – such as the body size or the strings’ material – can be changed in real-time. It offers to the user a lot of sound possibilities.
  • Spicy Guitar has a chords detection system that converts piano chords into guitar chords and automatically strums them, which makes the creation of complex rhythms easy.

http://www.spicyguitar.com/

SpatSynth 8

SpatSynth 8 free software-synthesizer by Acousmodules

SpatSynth 8 is a free software synthesizer developed by Acousmodules. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Subtractive synth:

  • 2 oscillators
  • 1 multimode resonant filter
  • 3 LFOs
  • 2 envelopes
  • Frequency modulation and synchro between the two oscillators
  • 8 modulated outputs with gestual control of the most important parameters associated with spatial movements.
  • 10 notes polyphony.
Made with SynthEdit

http://acousmodules.free.fr/