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Free Soft Synths

The following software synthesizers are completely free. Obviously, that means you don't have to pay any money to get them. But it also means that you don't have to provide an email address or any other personal information. You simply click the Download link on the provider's website and download the software directly to your computer. Then you can install it and use it without any limitations.

Clicking on the images below will allow you to view them at full size.
amsynth

amsynth

Linux, MacOS

Analog Modelling Synthesizer

Easy-to-use software synth with a classic subtractive synthesizer topology.
  • Dual oscillators (sine / saw / square / noise) with hard sync
  • 12/24 dB/oct resonant filter (low-pass / high-pass / band-pass / notch)
  • Mono / poly / legato keyboard modes
  • Dual ADSR envelope generators (filter & amplitude)
  • LFO which can modulate the oscillators, filter, and amplitude
  • Distortion and reverb
  • Includes over 3,000 preset patches
Website: https://amsynth.github.io/
dexed

dexed

Linux, MacOS, Windows

Dexed is a multi platform, multi format plugin synth that is closely modeled on the Yamaha DX7. Dexed is also a midi cartridge librarian/manager for the DX7.

Website: https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/

Distrho Linux port: https://distrho.sourceforge.io/ports

Demo Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSs1-020nNY
OB-Xd

OB-Xd

Linux, MacOS, Windows

OB-Xd is based on the Oberheim OB-X. It attempts to recreate its sound and behavior, but as the original was very limited in some important ways a number of things were added or altered to the original design. OB-Xd was designed to sound as good and as rich as the original. It implements micro random detuning which is a big part of that sound.

Website: https://www.discodsp.com/obxd/
Tyrell N6

Tyrell N6

Linux, MacOS, Windows
  • Virtual analogue with classic architecture plus extras
  • 2 oscillators, noise, ring modulator
  • 2 LFOs with 8 waveforms, host-syncable
  • Audio source mixer with authentic overdrive and filter feedback
  • Twin filter related to Diva (early model)
  • Analogue-type ADSR envelopes, loopable or LFO-triggered
  • Skinnable UI
  • Over 580 factory presets
Website: https://u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/

Download: https://www.amazona.de/freeware-synthesizer-tyrell-n6-plugin-vst-au-win-mac/
Surge XT

Surge XT

Linux, MacOS, Windows

Free & Open Source Subtractive Hybrid Synthesizer featuring many synthesis techniques, a great selection of filters, a flexible modulation engine, a smorgasbord of effects, and modern features like MPE and microtuning.
  • Comes with 2,779 patches and 614 wavetables
  • Can be run as VST3 plugin or standalone
Website: https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
Monique

Monique

Linux, MacOS, Windows

Monique is a unique chord step sequencer synthesizer for deep basses and aggressive lead sounds.
  • Special free filter routing
  • Continuous morphable oscillators
  • Advanced modulation and automation possibilities
  • Built-in effects
  • Arpeggiator (or sequencer)
  • Resizable GUI
Download: https://vst4free.com/plugin/3211/
VK-1 Viking Synthesizer

VK-1 Viking Synthesizer

MacOS, Windows

VK-1 Viking Synthesizer is an authentic emulation of a classic monophonic analog synthesizer. It has three continuously variable wave oscillators, two ladder filters with a Dual Lowpass or Highpass/Lowpass configuration, a multi-wave LFO, and two modulation busses. VK-1 uses state of the art DSP technology to accurately reproduce the sound of the hardware.

VK-1 comes with 228 presets in the categories Bass, Bright Lead, Electro Bass, FX, Percussive Lead, Soft Lead, and Synthwave. The 50 Electro Bass and 50 Synthwave presets were created by experienced sound designer eXode. The synth excels at thick bass and rich lead sounds.

Download: https://blamsoft.com/vst/vk-1-viking-synthesizer/

Promotional Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32RUtjdXZC8
VCV Rack

VCV Rack

Linux, MacOS, Windows

Eurorack Simulator (standalone app)

Comes with 37 modules. To add more modules, you need to create an account on their website. Or, if you prefer, you can download lots of free modules from third-party developers such as NYSTHI and SubmarineFree. Simply copy the downloaded zip file to the plugins-v1 sub-folder of your Rack folder and re-start VCV Rack so it can detect the new plugins.

Website: https://vcvrack.com/Rack

Manual: https://vcvrack.com/manual/
Cardinal

Cardinal

Linux, MacOS, Windows

Eurorack Simulator plugin

Cardinal is a free and open-source virtual modular synthesizer plugin, available as CLAP, LV2, VST2 and VST3 audio plugin for FreeBSD, Linux, macOS and Windows. Plus AU and JACK or Native audio standalone for some systems. It is based on the popular VCV Rack but with a focus on being a fully self-contained plugin version.

Website: https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal
Downloads: https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal/releases
Bespoke Synth

Bespoke Synth

Linux, MacOS, Windows


Bespoke is a software modular synthesizer. It contains a bunch of modules, which you can connect together to create sounds.

Website: https://www.bespokesynth.com/
Downloads: https://www.bespokesynth.com/#contact
Demo & Tutorial Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBnLnfmXl4x2QmgTxwPbvEw
Vitalium

Vitalium

Linux, MacOS, Windows


Vitalium is a free open-source fork of the commercial soft synth Vital.

Linux: LV2 or VST for Debian/Ubuntu/Linux Mint.
LV2 or VST for Arch/Manjaro Linux.
MacOS and Windows: https://github.com/DISTRHO/PawPaw/releases
Cobalt

Cobalt

Windows

Cobalt is a VSTi software synthesizer inspired by many of the digital synthesizers from the 1980s. It features a wide selection of waveforms, most of which were resynthesized from actual hybrid synthesizers, while providing traditional subtractive synthesis capabilities for sculpting its sound.

Website: https://www.lesliesanford.com/vst/plugins/
TAL-NoiseMaker

TAL-NoiseMaker

Linux, MacOS, Windows

Subtractive virtual analog synthesizer
  • Three oscillators
  • Up to 6 voice polyphony
  • 256 presets included
Website: https://tal-software.com/products/tal-noisemaker
setBfree

setBfree

Linux, MacOS, Windows

A DSP Tonewheel Organ emulator similar to the Hammond B3.

Website: https://x42-plugins.com/x42/setBfree

Demo video: https://vimeo.com/130633814
No GUI

FluidSynth

Linux, MacOS, Windows

A SoundFont Synthesizer

FluidSynth is a real-time software synthesizer based on the SoundFont 2 specifications and has reached widespread distribution. FluidSynth itself does not have a graphical user interface, but due to its powerful API several applications utilize it and it has even found its way onto embedded systems and is used in some mobile apps.

Website: https://www.fluidsynth.org/