As promised, this follow-up to the 10 Best Free VST Plugins list (that is, just effects and processors) is all about synths.

Log into your account. Truly a labour of love, Chipsounds is the product of four years of research into classic computer and game chips. Cross-platform and available for VST, AU, RTAS and AAX formats, Chipsounds brings you not only a bang-on clone of the Commodore 64's SID chip, but thirteen other classic computer and game console emulations as well. VST plugin version of the WebSID Commodore 64 synthesizer linux cmake cplusplus cpp synthesizer commodore-64 vst vst3 chiptune sid audio-processing vst3-plugin vst2 vst-plugin steinberg websid. SIDmaster plugin is a virtual synthesizer emulating the SID 6581 /8580 sound chip of the popular Commodore 64 home computer. The SID 6581 was capable of producing sounds many years ahead of any other computer at the time. It is developed as a rack plugin for Reason Studios, compatible with Reason 10 and higher. This is the definitive SID chip plugin! With this virtual synth created by Mike Clarke, you can harness the iconic sound of the Commodore 64 in any DAW. Get inspired with 350 sounds by the most famous C64 composers and demoscene musicians, like Chris Huelsbeck, Rob Hubbard, Martin Galway, Jason Page, Mark Knight, and more. SID Sounds 40 classic Chiptune sounds in the C64’s SID chip style, recreated for MPowerSynth. A collection of classic basses, leads, the typical fast arpeggio chords and lead sounds, and some characteristic well known game sounds that you’ll immediately recognize if you are were playing on the C64 back in those days.

A VST plug-in version of the WebSID Commodore 64 synthesizer. If you want to hear what it sounds like, you can view the example videos.

Some of these synths are early projects from designers who have gone on to work for larger companies making some of the most high-profile VST instruments; others are passion projects from solo sonic adventurers who simply want to share their skills with the music-making community. And some are simply streamlined versions of commercial synths.

But what these VST synths have in common, other than price, is that they all have a fantastic sound and great tone-shaping features. You can load them up in your DAW right now and give any of them a spin in your next production. You won’t be disappointed!

C64 Sid Vst Plugins

1. u-he TyrellN6

Similar design to the classic Roland Juno 60, and awesomely named after the rogue replicants in Blade Runner…

Available for PC and Mac. More info and download link here.

2. Green Oak Crystal

Created by Glenn Olander, who went on to design Spectrasonics Omnisphere and Stylus RMX. No slouch then…

Available for PC and Mac. More info and downloads here. There’s also an iPad/iPhone version, available here.

3. Togu Audio Line TAL-NoiseMaker

A great synth from the guys who brought us the TAL-Effects bundle I mentioned previously. Well worth a look.

Available for PC and Mac. More info and download here.

4. Ichiro Toda Synth1

This synth is modelled on the modern classic Clavia Nord Lead 2 Red Synth… Nuff said really :)

Available for PC and Mac. More info (translated from the Japanese) and download here.

5. de la Mancha FMMF

This FM synth, with 4 operators, is especially good for pads and sound design-y noises and effects.

Available for Windows VST only. More info and download here.

6. Ohm Force Symtohm:Melohman Performer Edition

A slimmed-down version of the original Symptohm:Melohman, the only actual difference being that you’re limited to presets from the Symptohm sound library.

But there are 1200 sounds there, enough to keep anybody busy for a while…

C64 Sid Vst Plugin Free

Available for PC and Mac. More info and download here.

7. u-he Zebralette

Again, this synth is a slimmed-down version of a commercial soft synth – in this case, the u-he Zebra2. But the Zebralette is very popular in it’s own right, as it’s capable of making some pretty great sounds of it’s own.

Available for PC and Mac. More info and download here.

8. Tonebytes Bleep’

Recreating the legendary sound of the Commodore 64 SID sound chip, this synth is an absolute must for chiptune makers and anyone who’s into retro / 8-bit game style sounds and FX.

It’s available for Windows VST only I’m afraid. More info and download at tonebytes.com.

9. Kairatune

A bass and lead synth with an inspiring interface, designed specifically with EDM in mind.

Windows VST only. More info and download here.

10. E-MU Proteus VX

A free synth sound module from the legendary hardware sampler makers. It’s a slimmed-down version of their Emulator X3, and can load any sounds from the Emulator X library.

Windows VST only. More info and download here.

Which other free synths are you using that I might have missed? Leave a comment below, cheers!

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