Best Free Midi VSTi plugins

[T.C. Elliott]

So what instruments (VSTi) do y'all use? I bought (an apparently non-working) 60+ key midi controller which got me using my older Oxygen25 to play around with. I really like the Iowa Piano vsti (for free.) It's not great, but it's a pretty darn solid sounding piano. You guys got any other recommendations?

[chapperz66]

I mainly use hardware synth workstation keyboards - I guess because I had them before I started using a daw. I have only just scratched the surface of the stock soft synths that comes with studio one 3. I got a basic version of an Arturia soft synth courtesy of Presonus. It has some cool sounds but again have yet to use them much.

[T.C. Elliott]

I have several free synths, but I never use them. It's too much work figuring out how to make good sounds... (read that as I'm too lazy.)

I did try the AZR3 organ VSTi last night. I was able to get a suitable dirty organ sound that worked nicely as a pad/augmented sound to some distorted rock.  Lots of presets, lots of tweakables. But every once in a while it'll automute because it sends a massive hit to the DAW (like +600db.) I used it again tonight and it didn't do it even once. My computer is being a bit of an arse these days (saving up for a new one) so who knows how/why. So: decent sound/tone, very tweakable, volume spike could be a deal breaker.

I've also downloaded a few more free organ plugins to try in the upcoming week or so. Many of them highly recommended. More to come.

[T.C. Elliott]

I'm not sure where to put this but... there is a free analog lab synth (lite version) if you subscribe to a... something... check it out here if you want:
https://pedals.thedelimagazine.com/free-analog-lab-lite-synth-plugin-from-arturia/?fbclid=IwAR0n8WQMyuVrkdODQTciNsODKKx4eX-qtwjydWH5sVkRcQC-73-SjHmewtM

[alfstone]

Well, not free, but extremely LOW PRICE and rather good:

https://www.pluginboutique.com/deals/show?sale_id=4573

In few words for 13€ you have a very good complete orchestra!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pox925ZpzNM

Alfredo

[Jean Pierre]

Alfredo
I'm quite fond of orchestral midi sounds, even if I don't use them often...
and this one looks good enough for the tablecloths and together for the solo sounds of violin, cello, double bass, I don't know
Have you purchased this Plug in? I'm downloading the trial version...we'll keep you informed
Another omission: impossible to find a track from Stevie wonder where it was accompanied by a string quartet sound in the 70s and 80s, at a time when it was still quite rare and very expensive.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

[alfstone]

Alfredo
Have you purchased this Plug in?

Not yet, JP.
Too much busy actually...setup, authorization etc. would require several hours, and...maybe after Christmas. But I've just bough BIAB last  version, the hard disk shoud arrive one of these days...
Alfredo

[64Guitars]

The following article at Sonic State has links to 10 free software synths.

https://sonicstate.com/news/2021/01/29/10-free-vst-synths-to-keep-you-creative/

I installed dexed and OB-Xd and tried them out. Dexed replicates the sound of the Yamaha DX7 FM synth and OB-Xd is based on the Oberheim OB-X. They both sound great and come with lots of cool presets.

I haven't tried any of the other 8 synths yet but they sound promising in the Sonic State article.

[Flash Harry]

I've struggled with soft synths in the past, I have recent replaced my aging laptop with a tower with a lot more CPU grunt and 16gb RAM ( I was using 4) so I'll give these a try.

Thanks 64G!

[64Guitars]

I've created a Free Soft Synths page. There's a link to it in the Other tab of the Songcrafters Menu (hamburger menu at top right of page).

It currently has 6 soft synths, including Dexed and OB-Xd. I'll add more eventually.