Doctor Synth’s Favorite Free Instruments:
Virtual Instruments I run on all my DAWs
Please donate to the creators if you use their downloads.
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2Gether Audio – Cheese Machine 2 – Solina string machine emulation https://www.2getheraudio.com/instruments/cheeze-machine-2/ |
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2Gether Audio – Ticky Clav 2 – Hohner Clavinet emulation https://www.2getheraudio.com/instruments/ticky_clav_2/ |
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Brain Control – Tunefish v4 – lightweight virtual analog synth https://tunefish-synth.com/ |
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Combo Model F – Farfisa Transistor Organ emulation http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Combo_Model_F&id=1365 |
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CWITEC – TX16Wx Software Sampler based on the Yamaha TX16W https://www.tx16wx.com/ |
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Dexed – Yamaha DX7 emulation https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/ |
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Full Bucket – 20 synthesizers including emulations of vintage Korg instruments https://www.fullbucket.de/music/vst.html |
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Futucraft – Kairatune http://futucraft.com/kairatune/ |
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Green Oak – Crystal – semi-modular softsynth with subtractive & FM Synthesis as well as granular synthesis and wavesequencing. Can also import SoundFonts and morph programs. http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/dnld2.html |
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Ichiro Toda – Synth 1 – Nord Lead 2 Emulation (emulating a virtual analog synth – is this Inception synthesis?) https://daichilab.sakura.ne.jp/softsynth/index.html |
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IK Multimedia – SampleTank 4 Custom Shop – Vintage Synth collection https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/index.php?R=INIT&FV=free-software-related-products&CV=Other%20Filter&PSEL=freesoftware Additional instruments are available for a fee. |
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IK Multimedia – Syntronik Free – Vintage Synth collection https://www.ikmultimedia.com/demodownload/?a=syntronik-free Additional instruments are available for a fee. |
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Linplug – Free Alpha – wonderful synthesizer for dance sounds, very Novation-like http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=2290 This appears to have been discontinued |
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Martin Lüder – PG8X – Roland JX-8P emulation https://sites.google.com/site/mlvst0/ |
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Matthew Tytel – Helm https://tytel.org/helm/ |
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PureMagnetik – Expanse – Texture Generator https://puremagnetik.com/products/expanse |
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Sample Science – Room Piano https://www.samplescience.info/2020/12/room-piano.html They have a large collection of “pay what you want” instruments for $1+ |
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Spitfire Audio – Labs – several sample-based instruments https://www.spitfireaudio.com/labs/ |
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SQ8L – Ensoniq ESQ-1 emulation for Windows 32-bit only. Development was abandoned several years ago but it’s still pretty cool. http://www.buchty.net/ensoniq/index.html#sq8l |
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Steinberg – Model-E – Moog Minimoog emulation, not very realistic by modern comparisons https://o.steinberg.net/en/support/unsupported_products/vst_classics_vol_1_2.html |
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Steinberg – Neon – basic analog synth – terrible by modern standards but this is the very first VST. https://o.steinberg.net/en/support/unsupported_products/vst_classics_vol_1_2.html |
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Surge Synth Team – Surge – Winner of KVR’s Best Free Synth award in 2020. https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ |
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Synergia – DKI Synergy emulation https://jariseon.github.io/synergia/ |
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TAL – Bassline – Roland SH101 emulation https://tal-software.com/products/tal-bassline |
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TAL – Noisemaker – Roland Juno 6 emulation https://tal-software.com/products/tal-noisemaker |
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U-He – Podolski – cpu-efficient virtual analog synthesizer https://u-he.com/products/podolski/ |
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U-He – Triple Cheese – comb filter synthesizer https://u-he.com/products/triplecheese/ |
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U-He – Tyrell N6 – a fun virtual synthesizer https://www.amazona.de/freeware-synthesizer-tyrell-n6-plugin-vst-au-win-mac/ |
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U-He – Zebralette – lightweight version of the powerful Zebra 2 instrument https://u-he.com/products/zebralette/ |
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VCV Rack 2 – modular synthesizer with free and paid modules https://vcvrack.com/ |
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Vienna Symphonic Library – Big Bang Orchestra https://www.vsl.co.at/en/BBO |
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Vital Audio – Vital spectral wavetable synth https://vital.audio/ |