Free Software Synthesizers

Harsh Digital Nose

Harsh Digital Nose is a free software synthesizer developed by Insert Piz Here. Available format(s): VST, Audio Unit for Windows 64b, macOS.

Harsh Digital Nose is a synthesizer that converts two images into two oscillator waveforms and then mixes them in various horrible ways. You can drag and drop images or draw them on the plugin in real time.

The Basics
There are two image-based oscillators. The knobs between them apply to the second image, based on the first image. There is then a third oscillator that plays ordinary waveforms, which can be modulated by the image oscillators. The “M” button below each pitch knob toggles on/off the oscillator pitch following input MIDI notes. The little green and red dots on the images are the start and end points of the oscillator waveform. Colors in the images do “something” (???).

http://www.thepiz.org/

Harmonaut

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

Harmonaut is a simple VST instrument that implements an additive synthesis with four waveform types and 32 harmonics that can be simple drawn with the mouse. In the same way can be adjusted the attack, decay, sustain and release for each harmonic. Additional timbre adjustments are made using LP/HP filter, LFO and chorus.

Main features:

32 drawable harmonics with separate ADSR per harmonic.

4 waveform types (sine, saw, triangle and square).

Multimode LFO synced with BPM.

Internal chorus.

Easy control with pop-up menus.

64 factory presets.

Built-in preset manager with ability to patch name editing.

In addition, VST automation and full MIDI Learning are supported.

{See video at top of page}

http://tonebytes.com/

HardWired

HardWired is a free software synthesizer developed by PhonicsAudio. Available format(s): VST for Windows 64b.

Introducing Phonics Hardwired – a toolset of 2 controller plugins and a drum synth.

2SYNts
You may be aware of my guitar to synth products 2SYN. This is a new application. This synth only needs a regular electric guitar, not a hexaphonic pickup. It’s quasi-polyphonic, favouring the last played/loudest note. The synth is basic and heavy in my opinion. The pitch detection is a heavily filtered zero crossing counter for each string. It has 2 modes – mono and quasi poly. In mono only one note will sound at a time, and in poly it will let you play more than one string.

To use it:

Hopefully you just need to adjust the ‘gain’ knob and multiplier underneath for the level coming from your soundcard. More controls are exposed, if you use it you can get familiar with these.

Your pickup (I’ve only tried humbuckers) should be bridge with tone and volume all the way up. It will help to skew the bridge pickup by making high E as close to the strings as possible, and low E as far away as possible.

drum CTRL
This is a drum kit for X-Box controller or PlayStation 3&4 controller. It’s got a real simple/intuitive layout. Sorry not quite finished yet. You can play a drum kit with a gaming controller. Hope it’s fun. I think it is a bit addictive.

To use it:

An XBox controller will need to be installed on your computer. Windows 10 will automatically do this if you plug a controller in, lower Win versions need Microsoft XInput driver installed.

A PlayStation 3 or 4 controller needs a driver made by SCP, get it here: emulation-general.wikia.com/wiki/SCP_Driver_Package – after that is installed, the Xbox controller XInput driver is necessary as per your Win version installed.

Endorphin
This is a basic drum synth with necessary features. Sorry I haven’t written the presets/drum sounds yet. Use is straightforward.

Hope you like these and enjoy all the new technology.

http://www.phonicsaudio.com/

Harbor Blue

Harbor Blue is a free softsynth skins stand alone application plugin for Dune developed by satYatunes. Compatible OS(s): Any OS.

Harbor Blue is a custom skin for Synapse-Audio’s Dune 2 plugin.

Release Notes:

v1.3 – December 25, 2015:

Added analog switch that is introduced in v2.5.

Arp steps was numbered 9 – 18 instead of 9 – 16.

Redesigned the osc-mixer, filter and envelope section.

New Knobs.

Redesigned the switches (Arp, Fx, MIDI In, etc.).

Redesigned the display panels for Waveforms, LFOs, etc.

Replaced satYatunes logo.

Added Harbor Blue label.

v1.2 – December 20, 2014 – Redesigned the entire skin, too many changes to list here.

v1.1 – November 25, 2014 – Active LED for FX was flipped.

v1.0 – November 21, 2014 – First release.

http://satyatunes.com

Hahaha CS33

Hahaha CS33 is a free software synthesizer developed by Pethu. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Hahaha CS33 is an easy-to-program synth in the spirit of the Hahaha CS01, but with many more options:

2 oscillators.

2 envelope generators.

5 filter modes, including twin linked filters.

LFO with 5 waveforms and tempo sync.

4 effects including distortion and tempo-synced delay.

Expression controllers (BC / AT / Foot Pedal) supported.

http://www.pethu.se/music/instruments.html

Hahaha CS01

Hahaha CS01 is a free software synthesizer developed by Pethu. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Hahaha CS01 is a homage to Yamaha’s CS01, released in 1982 as an entry-level, highly portable synth. Two versions of Hahaha CS01 are available – Original grey CS01 with 12dB filter and a black CS01II with 24dB filter.

Features:

One LFO

One VCF

One VCA

One EG

http://www.pethu.se/music/instruments.html

GTG 13

GTG 13 is a free software synthesizer developed by GTG Synths. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Features:

Two oscillators.

Three LFOs.

Four Filter modes.

Oscillator sync.

Stereo Chorus with adjustable amount and rate.

8 voice polyphonic.

MIDI Automation.

16 Presets.

http://www.gtgsynths.com/

GSS-370

GSS-370 is a free software synthesizer developed by SynthIV. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

The GSS-370 is an approximate emulation (sound-a-like; this is not an exact emulation) of the Yamaha PSS-370 synthesizer (1980s FM synth). “Circuit-bending” modifications have been added in addition to the Standard synthesizer controls.

Features:
-the PSS-370’s digital synthesizer controls (5 waveforms, octave of modulating oscillator, frequency modulation level, Attack, Decay, and level. Vibrato and sustain (release) switch included)
-Switch between standard and ‘circuit-bent’ controls
-Decibel reading and peak indicator.
-Gain (boost)
-V-Mod (amount note velocity will affect vibrato depth)
-Filter with cutoff, resonance (both LFO controllable), fill, and dry knobs.
-LFO with frequency and depth controls
-Send LFO to: Pitch, PWM (active when Wave=5/pulse), Pan, or Volume. On/off switch included.
-Power on/off
-Mod wheel controls LFO frequency.

Knobs created by Vera Kinter.

*download fixed as of July 2018.

https://synthiv.ivysirena.com/

GSinth2

GSinth2 is a free software synthesizer developed by GVST. Available format(s): VST for Windows 64b, macOS, Linux.

GSinth2 is essentially the same as GSinth, but with a few extra features. Most notably, GSinth2 offers new oscillator types: triangle, square and saw-tooth.

GSinth is a monophonic synth with three sine oscillators. It also features an LFO for controlling the output level.

The first oscillator will play at the frequency of the MIDI note pressed. The remaining two oscillators can be set to play at a multiple of this frequency. You can also de-tune each oscillator.

For each oscillator, you can set attack, release and portamento times. The portamento time is the time taken to “slide” from one note to the next.

The PortaRst parameter sets the amount of time before resetting portamento. After that time, a new note will not “slide” from the previous note. This is useful to prevent the first note of a piece from sliding from whichever note was played last.

The Random button randomizes all of the parameters. This can often give inharmonic sounding results because of oscillator de-tuning. Holding shift while clicking on Random produces better-behaved presets.

The AutoLevel button will set the MainLvl parameter so that the peak output level is around -3dBFS.

http://www.gvst.co.uk/

GSinth

GSinth is a free software synthesizer developed by GVST. Available format(s): VST for Windows 64b, macOS, Linux.

GSinth is a monophonic synth with three sine oscillators. It also features an LFO for controlling the output level.

The first oscillator will play at the frequency of the MIDI note pressed. The remaining two oscillators can be set to play at a multiple of this frequency. You can also de-tune each oscillator.

For each oscillator, you can set attack, release and portamento times. The portamento time is the time taken to “slide” from one note to the next.

The PortaRst parameter sets the amount of time before resetting portamento. After that time, a new note will not “slide” from the previous note. This is useful to prevent the first note of a piece from sliding from whichever note was played last.

The Random button randomizes all of the parameters. This can often give inharmonic sounding results because of oscillator de-tuning. Holding shift while clicking on Random produces better-behaved presets.

The AutoLevel button will set the MainLvl parameter so that the peak output level is around -3dBFS.

http://www.gvst.co.uk/