1. Lo Fi Synth Vst Free
2. Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Plugin
3. Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Download
4. Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Downloads
5. Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Plugins

Synths are one of the most entertaining things to use on your tracks. They sound fantastic, and by using them, you can create ambient chimes, warm chord sounds, weird & psychedelic sounds, & much much stuff like that.

(Image credit: Future) 3. Legowelt Smackos Tape Station. Dutch techno producer Legowelt is known for his aggressively lo-fi tunes, and Ableton Live users can get some way towards that sound by downloading his Smackos Tape Station, a custom-built Live Rack that can be downloaded for free from his site. Posted in Lo-fi by free vst Unicycle is an 8-bit wav-synth with 300 four-cycle waveforms to choose from. The drawable ADSR drawbars are connected to AMP,PITCH,FILTER and BADNESS,and the double LFO’s make for nice rhythms,tempo-syncable or free running. They can be subtle. Republica – Free Synth VST Download $ 0.00 + Kairatune $ 0.00 + Phutura $ 0.00. FREE DOWNLOAD + Glitch (VST Effect). Lo-Fi Drumkit Vol 1 (FREE) $ 0.00 + user. Free Lo-Fi VST Synth de la mancha sets dirty harry free 07/11/13 Buying Choices Affilliate Links help support the site. You used to have to pay for dirty harry, a VST. SynthTrack is a rhythmic effect plugin that uses track audio as a source. Applied to audio tracks (chords, vocals etc.), this plugin makes Filter/Amp ADSR and LFO effects triggered by 16 step sequencer pattern. Download Free Lofi AU VST Plugins & VSTi Instruments Here is our colection of FREE software, VST plugins, VSTi instruments, audio utilities and DAWs. Should you know of anything that we have not listed here let us know. This kit has it all! Loops, samples and Lo-Fi kits! Lo-Fi Synth, Drum Kits, Guitars, Bass, Solos, Keys, Strings, Horns, Chords, Melodies, Percussion, Vocals and more! This exclusive special pack includes 6 of our finest Lo-Fi samples at an insanely discounted price!

But the issue with analog synths is that they are expensive & too big. And that’s where synth plugins come in. All you’ve to do is load them in your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), and you’re ready to rock.

In the past, it was impossible to imagine that so many quality tools used for mixing could be available at no cost. But now there are many free plugins available on the internet than ever before.

So, how can you know which free VSTs are worth installing? And which VST’s will suit you the most? We’ve got you covered! Here’s the list of the best 10 Free VST Synth Plugins available that sound fantastic!

So Let’s get started.

Synth1

Synth Synth Analogue/Subtractive

Synth1 is one of the most used and most popular long time free choices for aspiring producers to create music with a plugin synthesizer. It’s a very decent synthesis powerhouse with lots of potential on one side, & also a bit of unexpected trouble missed opportunities.

The look of Synth1 is quite rough visually, but it’s a well-organized & functional plugin. Synth1 is resizeable up to 250%, and it’s perfect for modern high-resolution displays. You can also set the color of the text & the panel separately.

Synth1 updates are infrequent ( the last update was back in 2014 for Windows operating system, & it’s still called ‘beta’ today), but the Japanese author keeps adding GUI optimizations & charming new features.

Synth1 has got an astonishing abundance of presets. By searching on the internet, you can easily download tens of thousands of presets in organized preset packs. It’s worth skipping essential factory banks/presets & spent more of your time finding those little inspiring gems.

Features:

• FM modulation, 2 Oscillators, Ring Modulation, Sync, Modulation Envelope.
• 2 LFOs (synchronized with host).
• Four types of filters, distortion.
• Arpeggiator (synchronized with host).
• Tempo delay (synchronized with host), stereo chorus/flanger.
• 16 notes polyphony.
• Legato mode, portamento.
• 128 presets
• Thoroughly optimized for light CPU load using SSE instructions, etc.

Arppe2600va

Synth Synth Analogue/Subtractive

The number 2 in our list of the best 10 VST synth is Arppe2600va. It’s based on ARP’s legendary semi-modular analog monosynth! This multi-functional softsynth sounds very close to the original ARP 2600. Like the original one, its mono synth (no polyphony).

But also like it’s the original version, it has got a multitude of Frequency Modulation options and by which you can create some awe-inspiring sound effects.

Features:

• It has PWM, Sample & Hold, Ring Modulation, virtual Spring Reverb, & a dedicated Noise Generator.
• Filter Color (to adjust LowPass & HiPass filter types).
• Oscillator Sync (Original Arp 2600 didn’t have Oscillator Sync and Filter Color).
• You can get up to 12 patch routings with a very user-friendly (and visible!) drop-down menu interface.
• Arppe2600 started with the version 2.0, but now Arppe2600va is purchasable via a cleverly designed Mod Matrix!
• Instead of messy virtual of cables cluttering up the screen, All controls in the Arppe2600va are mapped to MIDI CC#’s, & you can override the default settings by using the MIDI Learn feature.
• You can use it as a pure stand-alone synth (.exe file included), or you can also copy the DLL into your favorite DAW or sequencer’s plugin folder.

Requirements:

• VSTi Format
• Windows System

SQL8

Synth

The SQ8L (L stands for Light) is a free demo version of the forthcoming SQ8X (X Ffor eXtended) version. It’s a software model of Ensoniq’s classic 1980s synth SQ80. SQ80 contains three digital wavetable oscillators for each of its eight voices fed through analog 4-pole lowpass filters (-24dB gain) with resonance. Sound parameters in SQ80 can be modulated by four envelopes, 3 LFQs & several MIDI sources.

SQ80 has also got a predecessor, and it’s the ESQ1, which can do almost the same things as SQ80. Collection vst plugins. Although the technology may seem obsolete, these synths can gene ate a wide variety of extraordinarily usable & exciting sounds.

Because of the lo-fi oscillators & the analog components, it can sound very digital & dirty, but also, this synth is very analog & warm. And that’s very good because modern synths often lack to sound rather clean.

Limitations:

• Polyphony limited to only eight voices.
• Universal MIDI controllers (Pan, Master Volume,…), by default, do not affect & must be programmed as modulators.
• LFO humanization not implemented.
• No internal sequencer (and there will never be one).
• No Split/Layer to combine several sounds.

The full version SQ8X will get the following additional features.

Features:

• Combinations of up to 4 single sounds.
• Adjustable polyphony (far more than eight voices).
• New Filter algorithms with different modes such as bandpass, lowpass, highpass.
• Improved GUI
• Different routing modes for the filters: parallel, serial, split. & the second FILTER.

Noisemaker

Synth Synth Analogue/Subtractive

The Noisemaker’s name speaks for itself; when it comes to making some noise, this VST can do lots of things for you. Its interface is accessible, clean & to the point & thick. And you will be able to get some beefy sounds from the get-go.

Noisemaker comes in both AU plugin & VST formats. It’s an improved version of TAL-Elek7ro & has an entirely new synth engine with lots of improvements in sound and usability. This synth also has a small effect section with a reverb chorus & a simple bit crusher effect.

You can see slider & Knob values on the display screen of Noisemaker. In this way, you will be able to control this synth more effectively. It also has a ring modulator & a syncable triangle. Some of its features are given below.

Features:

• 3 Oscillators
  • Osc 1, +-24 semitones, fine-tune, phase control (saw pulse, noise).
  • Osc 2, +-24 semitones, fine-tune, phase control (saw pulse, rectangle, line, triangle).
  • Sub Osc (rectangle).
  • Osc 1 PM for pulse waveform.
  • Osc 2 FM controlled by Osc 1.
  • Osc 1 & Osc 2 sync to sub-OSC (pulse, saw, rectangle, triangle (bipolar sync))
• Up to 6 voices/
• Adjustable master tune & transpose.
• Portamento in mono & poly mode (off, auto, on).
• Ring mode modulates Osc 1 with Osc 2.
• Filter ADSR (negative & positive).
• Self resonating 4 X oversampled filters (24 dB LP, 18 dB LP, 12 dB LP, 6 dB LP, 12 dB LP, 12 dB LP, Notch).
• Volume ADSR.
• Routable ADSR, Modulates Filter, Osc 1, Osc 2, PW, FM (negative & positive).
• Adjustable Velocity dependent control over volume filter contour & cutoff.
• One pole HP filter.
• Detune & detune notes randomly.
• A built-in reverb.
• Adjustable Pitch Wheel control over Cutoff & Pitch.
• A built-in delay.
• Adjustable filter drive.
• Panic Button.
• MIDI Learn for all knobs.
• 256 Great Presets.

MiniMogueVA

Synth Synth Analogue/Subtractive

Based on the most popular and one of the most used mono synth of all time! This fantastic and free softsynth sounds very close to the original Minimoog. Yet, it has tons of new features not present on the original Mini (as well as the Minimoog Voyager!).

Lo Fi Synth Vst Free

Features:

• It has got a 5-note polyphony.
• Dedicated Release knobs for the two Contour Generators (envelopes).
• Tuning of Osc 1.
• Arpeggiator & 16-note Step Sequencer.
• Excellent Tuning sliders for Osc2 & Osc3.
• This fantastic VST has got aftertouch control.
• Has an adjustable filter Velocity curve.
• 3 Independent Overdrive sliders (one per oscillator).
• Global Overdrive with hi & lowpass cutoff.
• This VST has Oscillator Sync, Chorus, an independent LFO that includes oscillator drift & stereo panning, & has a fully programmable Digital Delay!
• There is no dedicated Noise Generator as on the original Mini, However white & pink noise are selectable on Osc 3.
• Like the original Mini, you can also turn Osc 3 into an LFO with dedicated modulation for the Osc Pitch & the Filter.
• In this VST, all controls are mapped in MIDI CC#’s, and you can also override the default settings by using the all-important MIDI Learn Feature.
• You can use it as a pure stand-alone synth (.exe file included), or you can also copy the DLL into your favorite DAW or sequencer’s plugin folder.

Requirements:

• Windows System
• VATi Format

Chimera

Synth Synth Analogue/Subtractive

Chimera is a popular noise-driven synth and a free VST synth by Majken. The sounds that Chimera generates are based on white noise filtered into notes by resonant bandpass filters. And as a result, we hear some organic sounds ranging from warm pads to atmospheres with wind & water elements.

This VST is a perfect pick, especially for ambient & chill-out. It’s a very smooth and beautiful sounding synth. It’s an experimental synth that uses subtractive Synthesis in a new way. White noise is sent through a series of few narrow bandpass filters, which are controlled by pitch.

The filtered noise of Chimera is used as resonant sinewaves to create atmosphere organs, pads, and percussive sounds. In simple words, everything we hear from Chimera is white noise filtered into music (in realtime). Some of the features of Chimera VST are as follows.

Features:

Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Plugin

• It has more than 50 included presets.
• Has a unique synthesis method.
• It’s built-in soft clipper distortion & has a 2-tap stereo delay.
• It has got a wide range of modulation options with three envelopes & three LFOs.
• This VST has freely assignable MIDI CC controls.
• Chimera has cross-modulation with free routing.

Crystal

Synth Synth Analogue/Subtractive

Crystal VST is a semi-modular software synthesizer featuring both frequency modulation (FM) synthesis & subtractive Synthesis. Some people think that crystal VST is no longer enjoyable, but actually, it’s still trendy. It’s like an old fart trying to survive in the harsh world of modern and popular soft synths.

Crystal VST is still alive with fantastic sound quality & flexibility, and it can beat any of its free rival or any commercial soft synths. The versatility of this VST synth made it popular among music producers & sound designers. And also, preset libraries are readily available on the internet.

Features:

• This VST offers abundant modulation control over with over 90 parameters which may be multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, modulated, great tempo sync of envelopes/Iforates/delay times, a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band, and built-in effects for flanging/chorus/comb/filtering/echoes.
• Crystal VST also offers wave sequencing, granular synthesis, program morphing, imports sound fonts, MIDI learn. The musical applications for this ultimate crystal VST are boundless.

Chip32

Synth Synth Wavetable

Chip32 is a kind of wavetable softsynth, created by Sam. This virtual synth VST produces old school electronical sounds & features a graphical wavetable editor. This synth responds to realtime midi control, & provides 8-bit wavetables for “Chiptune” sort of music.

In Chip32, there are an ADSR envelope, a bit crusher, and a primary filter. Some of the common waveshapes in Chip32 are sine, saw, triangle and square. To use this synth and its effects, you need to have a plugin host like Renoise, Studio, or others.

There are various synth parameters in Chip32. The first four parameters are the standard amplitude ADSR settings. In Chip32, the ‘B’ slider controls the bit depth (roughness). The ‘F’ slider in it is the filter setting that controls how often the wave is filtered. On the left side of the GUI, there’s a place where waveshape can be drawn.

Features:

• Chip32 has an amazing Filter.
• It’s an 8-bit/32-byte wavetable synth.
• It has a Bitcrusher.
• It supports MIDI CCs.

ZynAddSubFX

Synth Synth Hybrid

The ZynAddSubFX synthesizer project was the first time released nearly 15 years ago by Paul Nasca Octavia with lots of latest features. This synth has analog sound, robust modulation, and a complete set of built-in functions.

ZynAddSubFX is a beautifully designed, fully-featured open-source software synthesizer & its capable of making a countless number of instruments. It can generate all sorts of sounds you want to hear. It can produce some commonly heard sounds from expensive hardware to many other unusual sounds.

Features:

• Polyphonic with support for mono playing modes & legato
• Three synthesizer engines:
  1. Additive Synthesis for classic synth sounds composed of a variety of different voices with robust modulation. This exposes modulators ranging from LFOs & envelopes to oscillator modulators for PM, FM, & AM.
  2. PAD synthesis for creating beautiful pads & other instruments.
  3. Subtractive Synthesis for creating variable bandwidth harmonics from filtered white noise.
• A variety of filters, including farming filters, analog modeled filters, & state-variable filters.
• It has a powerful waveform generator with up to 128 sines/non-sine harmonics.
• Envelopes in this synth can have ASDR (or ASR, etc.) modes or free modes (with any shape)
• This VST synth has got effects for Reverb, Chorus/Flanger, Echo, Phasing, Wave-shaping, Equalizing, Dynamic Filtering with flexible signal routing.
• In it, instruments can be organized in kits, which allows you to make drum kits or layered instruments; this will enable you to use more than one tool for a single part. It’s also possible to choose what the part’s effects should process items from the kit.
• This synth has Random settings to create subtle differences in each sound to help create that familiar analog warmth.
• It has Microtonal capabilities with any scale, up to 128 notes per octave, & critical mapping.
• Has a built-in Virtual Keyboard which can be used even if you don’t have a physical midi keyboard.
• Has extensive MIDI/Audio driver support, including ALSA, JACK, and
• The graphical user interface in ZynAddSubFX can be completely disabled if the user needs to.
• Plugin Support via DSSI/LV2/VST.
• Session Management Support via LASH/NSM.
• Over 1100 high-quality instruments included.

Podolski

Synth Synth Analogue/Subtractive

Podolski is a very simple and CPU-efficient virtual analog synthesizer. It’s a cut down version of FilterscapeVA with only one oscillator, one envelope, one filter, and two LFOs. It also has a Zebra-style arpeggiator/sequencer, chorus & delay effects.

Some of the Podolski specialties are Click parameter & it’s the ability to morph between three waveforms seamlessly.

Podolski is one of the hidden gems of the freeware world. This synth was first-time released as a gift for the visitors of Musikmesse 2005, And since then, it’s distributed as one of the freebies on the cover of a CD of keyboard magazine until 2009.

This VST synth is extremely CPU friendly on modern-day computers. It was completely offline for a few years; it was re-released as a free download for everyone in 2012. The 2012 version of this VST came with a fully refurbished GUI & a collection of factory presets crafted beautifully by none other than Howard Scarr (a sound designer). Some of its features are given below.

Features:

• Polyphonic (up to 16 voices), arpeggiator, mono sq2 and legato modes.
• Four envelope modes: ASDR or HDSR, linear or exponential.
• Oscillator with variable symmetry (sawtooth to the triangle, PWM) and glide.
• It has a multimode filter: bandpass, lowpass or highpass with FM and drive.
• Combination arpeggiator/ 16-step sequencer with other modulation sources.
• It has over 520 factory presets.
• Skinnable UI.

Conclusion

So those are the ten best free VST synths that you really should get. While these synths may not be the best things in life but my experience, I learned something from every piece of software.

Exploration & experimentation yield many rewards for the adventurous, & freeware can be a great start to your journey. If you are a big fan of video game music, sound design, or even electronic music, then you should try these synths.

As all these VST synths are entirely free, I recommend you try as many as possible, because each one might be a bit better at doing something in particular. You don’t need tons of expensive gear to make great game music.

The free synth has proved that there’s plenty of things you can do by using these tools by making music that sounds good at a low budget.

Whether you are looking for in-depth sound design tools, classic vintage tones, or you are just looking to choose an excellent synth to get started, then you can choose a free VST from the list above. Even if you have paid synths that get your work done, then it’ll still be wise to pick up at least a few of these free ones to experiment with.

I hope this list was useful for you & if you feel that we’ve missed a good one, please let us know in the comment section below.

We covered the best free synthesizer plugins in a recent article. But what are the best free retro synthesizers? Find out in the list below and return to free VST plugins for more software.

The retro 80s sound is more popular than ever. Genres like synthwave and chillwave are the perfect soundtrack for working from home while daydreaming about night rides on open highways.

But you don’t have to be a retro synth geek to love the sound of vintage synthesizers. One can hear the emulated sounds of retro polysynths in the chart-topping hits from mainstream artists like Dua Lipa and The Weeknd.

If you’re into making synthwave music, chances are you’ll need a good virtual analog synthesizer for your digital audio workstation. /steel-instrument-vst-free.html. Help yourself to our Top 10 list of free retro synth VST plugins.

Free Retro Synthesizers: Top 10

These are the best free vintage synthesizer emulation VST plugins:

• PG-8X (Roland JX-8P)
• OB-Xd (Oberheim OB-Xa)
• Mono/Fury (Korg Mono/Poly)
• Fury-800 (Korg Poly-800)
• TAL-U-No-62 (Roland Juno-60)
• Tyrell N6 (Roland Juno-60)
• Dexed (Yamaha DX7)
• Viking (Moog Voyager)
• Synth1 (Nord Lead 2)
• Nils K1v (Kawai K1)

Read more about each instrument below and scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Honorable Mentions.

PG-8X

PG-8X emulates Roland’s legendary JX-8P analog synthesizer. The original JX-8P sounded huge, but it lacked in the hands-on control department. Users had to dive through menus to program new sounds.

That’s why Roland released the PG-800 controller. It was an external hardware device that made programming the Roland JX-8P and Super JX synthesizers a far more user-friendly affair.

The free PG-8X synthesizer by Martin Lüders gives the best of both worlds. You’re getting a detailed emulation of JX-8P’s analog synthesis engine and the control layout borrowed from the PG-800 controller.

PG-8X truly shines as a synthwave instrument. It’s one of those rare virtual instruments that sound analog-like almost effortlessly.

Create eye-watering lush pads and earth-shattering analog basslines in the blink of an eye. Turn on the Unison mode for instant fat leads. Also, the included chorus module applies an immediate retro-boost to any sound.

More info:PG-8X

OB-Xd

OB-Xd takes inspiration from the Oberheim OB-X analog synthesizer. The original was the analog weapon of choice for brass sounds, pads, and punchy bass.

Thankfully, this freeware plugin from discoDSP nails that classic Oberheim sound. It also comes with an extensive collection of presets that serve as an instant source of legendary analog sounds.

Even better, OB-Xd is easy to program thanks to its user-friendly interface. Beginners and sound design experts alike shouldn’t have any issues with building custom synth patches from scratch.

2Dat originally developed the OB-Xd. He later provided the source code to discoDSP, who are now handling the development and support.

You can use OB-Xd for free. The developers are accepting an optional $49 donation from users who want to support their work.

More info:OB-Xd

Mono/Fury

Full Bucket Music’s website is a treasure trove of emulated analog synthesizers. Even better, all of their vintage-inspired virtual instruments are free. We had a hard time selecting just two Full Bucket Music plugins for this article.

That said, be sure to check out everything else this talented developer has to offer. And be sure to support their work with a donation if possible.

Our first Full Bucket Music pick is the Mono/Fury plugin, which models the Mono/Poly analog synthesizer by Korg. Mono/Fury emulates all the original instrument’s quirks and peculiarities, including the unique polyphony mode. Each voice triggers a different oscillator, resulting in some complex multi-layered timbres when playing chords and melodies.

At the same time, Mono/Fury comes will all the handy features of a modern-day audio plugin. It has a preset manager, supports MIDI learn and automation, and features a state-of-the-art zero-delay feedback low-pass filter with self-oscillation.

Mono/Fury operates as a VST and Audio Unit plugin in all compatible digital audio workstations on PC and Mac.

More info:Mono/Fury

Fury-800

Ah, another Full Bucket Music plugin and another Fury. This one is a personal favorite of mine as it models the Korg Poly-800, a cheap analog hybrid synthesizer that I owned back in the day. It featured digitally controlled oscillators and a terrible (in a charming way) analog filter.

The original Poly-800 is the exact opposite of what you’d expect from an analog synthesizer. It sounds lo-fi, thin, and plasticky. But sometimes that is precisely the type of sound you need for an 80s-inspired music track.

The killer feature here is Poly-800’s chorus module. It’s super noisy, and the pitch goes all over the place. If Korg manufactured the Poly-800 in 2020, I think they would label the effect as “VHS mode” instead of a chorus.

Anyway, the Fury-800 takes all of these charming Poly-800 features and packs them in a convenient virtual instrument for PC and Mac. By all means, the Fury-800 plugin is a must-have if you’re into synthwave production.

More info:Fury-800

TAL-U-No-62

TAL-U-No-62 is an old-school virtual instrument that emulates an old-school analog synthesizer. It is a virtual recreation of Roland’s legendary Juno-60 synth.

Togu Audio Line’s freeware Juno is more than a decade old. As a result, it doesn’t offer the latest and greatest DSP technology and analog emulation. However, TAL-U-No-62 is still a pretty solid virtual analog instrument that undeniably captures that classic Juno-60 vibe.

Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Download

TAL-U-No-62’s oscillators and the low-pass filter won’t blow you away. But, the chorus module is where this virtual Juno-60 keeps its secret sauce. Turn on the chorus effect, and TAL-U-No-62 instantly sounds much closer to the original hardware.

Even better, you can download that same chorus as a standalone effect from Togu Audio Line’s website. Use the free TAL-Chorus-LX in combination with any virtual instrument for that lush 80s sound.

It’s also worth noting that the same developer offers a more advanced (but still fairy priced at €51) version of this instrument. The paid version is called TAL-U-NO-LX, and it’s the best Juno-60 emulation on the market.

Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Downloads

More info:TAL-U-No-62

Tyrell N6

Tyrell N6 by U-He is loosely based on the Juno-60. We originally included it in the “Honorable Mentions” section of this article because Tyrell N6 isn’t a 1:1 recreation of any analog synthesizer. However, we decide to move it to the Top 10 list, following the suggestion from one of our readers (thanks, BenJ!).

You can think of Tyrell N6 as an 80s analog synth on steroids. All the usual components are there (a couple of analog oscillators, a multi-mode filter, a lush chorus), and you get a few valuable extras like a modulation matrix, ring modulation, feedback, and more.

A dream to program, thanks to its intuitive interface, Tyrell N6 also has dozens of freely downloadable sound banks. Some of these were created by professional sound designers.

Coming from the developers of industry-leading virtual analog synthesizers like Diva and Ace, the freeware Tyrell N6 is an absolute must-have in any analog synth aficionado’s plugin collection.

More info:Tyrell N6

Dexed

Dexed is a virtual recreation of the Yamaha DX7 and the only FM synth on this list. The plugin emulates the original DX7 so well that it supports its SysEx messages. As a result, Dexed can work as a patch editor for the hardware DX7.

Now, the unfortunate thing about FM synthesizers is that they’re hard to program. Mobaxterm download for mac os. But, the good news is that there are thousands of Yamaha DX7 patches available online. And yes, you can load them in Dexed.

Use Dexed for 80s electric piano sounds, pads, FM bells, and let’s not forget the Lately Bass patch.

More info:Dexed

VK-1 Viking Synthesizer

VK-1 Viking Synthesizer emulates the Moog Voyager analog monosynth. Now, the Moog Voyager isn’t exactly retro, but it dates back to 2002. And Moog discontinued the Voyager in 2015 with over 14,000 units sold.

The Voyager combined a pair of Moog’s signature ladder filters with three continuously variable wave oscillators, putting a modern twist on the classic Moog sound.

The free VK-1 Viking Synthesizer from Blamsoft is a rather precise emulation of the Voyager.

VK-1 Viking Synthesizer uses zero-delay feedback filters and advanced techniques for avoiding oscillator aliasing. Also, the developers matched the oscillators and envelopes to their hardware counterparts through precise and extensive measurements.

More info:VK-1 Viking Synthesizer

Synth1

Ichiro Toda’s legendary Synth1 is one of the oldest freeware synthesizers around. Released almost two decades ago (on October 9th, 2002), there’s no denying that Synth1 is a vintage plugin. But it aged incredibly well.

Despite it being a retro plugin, Synth1 emulates the Nord Lead 2 very well. And its deceptively simple-looking user interface offers a surprising amount of synthesis firepower.

Even ten years ago, users praised Synth1 for its low CPU usage. Can you imagine how well it works on modern multi-core processors? You can use dozens of Synth1 instances in a project without hurting your computer’s performance.

However, Synth1’s most significant advantage is the incredible amount of available presets. There are hundreds of Synth1 soundbanks out there, making it the perfect choice for users who don’t like programming sounds from scratch.

More info:Synth1

Nils K1v

Nils K1v faithfully emulates the Kawai K1 digital synthesizer. It includes K1’s original factory bank and all ROM card expansions, and all this adds up to 768 presets.

The user interface mimics the original Kawai K1 module, with additional on-screen controls for parameters like envelopes and filters. This combination works quite well in the plugin format. Accessing the presets is easy, and tweaking the Kawai K1 sounds in real-time is fun.

The coolest feature in Nils K1v is the ability to morph the preset using the XY controller. It’s a fun way to add movement to pads and huge atmospheric sounds that the Kawai K1 was known for.

Lo Fi Synth Free Vst Plugins

More info:Nils K1v

Free Retro Synthesizers: Honorable Mentions

These are retro synth plugins that haven’t made our Top 10, but they’re still worth checking out:

• SQ8L (Ensoniq SQ80)
• Cobalt (Korg DW8000, Ensoniq ESQ-1, and Kawai K3)
• Phuturetone Phutura (Roland Alpha Juno-1)
• Steinberg Model-E (Moog Model D Minimoog)
• Tal-Bassline (Roland SH-101)
• Manx Gigmate(Concertmate MG-1, thanks to Christian H. for the tip!)
• K Brown Synth Plugins (various synthesizers)
• Syntronik Free(various synthesizers)

Feel free to suggest additional plugins for this article in the comments section below.

Return to free VST plugins.