Best Free Vst Instruments 2017
MVX Synths – AddIt size 3 MB AddIt is an 8 oscillator additive synthsizer with 4 typical waveforms and a dual SVF multimode filter. Takes advantage of its modulation capabilities segmented in. Over 400 free VST plugins and VST instruments to use with FL Studio, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools. Includes Bass, Synths, Pianos, Strings. These are the best FREE VST plugins & Free VST Effect Plugins. The 5 best free VST / AU synths of 2017 (with free presets!) Synth VSTs come in all shapes and sizes. There are the heavyweights such as Native Instrument’s Massive, Kontakt, and Xfer Records’ Serum ( which you can get for $9.99/month ), and free VSTs like the ones we have below that can also do a great job. Some of these free VST plugins can be compared to premium plugins you would buy from some of the biggest companies. The best of both worlds in one place! Click HERE to instantly jump to the free VST plugins section of this list. So here it is, our Ultimate List of the Best VST Plugins — premium and free — for 2017! Best VST Plugins - Synths.
As promised, this follow-up to the 10 Best Free VST Plugins list (that is, just effects and processors) is all about synths.
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!
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…
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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No matter if you’re making classical music, writing underscores or producing hip hop beats, harps are beautiful instruments that can add a whole other level of atmosphere to a track. Unfortunately, many commercial harp sample libraries are pretty expensive – especially if you want to use harp sounds only occasionally. That’s why I’ve put together a short list of good free harp VST plugins and libraries on this page.
Free Harps & Celtic Harps
Versilian Studios: Etherealwinds Harp II: Community Edition
Formats: VST, AU, SFZ
Audio example:
A few years ago, Versilian Studios released Etherealwinds Harp. This free harp VST became so popular that Versilian has now published version 2, which updates both interface and sound. Etherealwinds Harp II: Community Edition is a reduced version of Etherealwinds Harp II, which the company calls “quite possibly the most complete lever harp library in existence”.
The 255 samples span over five octaves (C2 – A6) and come across very smooth, harmonious and easy to blend into any soft, dreamy arrangement. To get more control over your sound, you can change the amp envelope, volume, pan and reverb. While not accessible through the instrument interface itself, the download of Etherealwinds Harp II Community Edition comes with seven effect samples (.wav) and 16 vocal samples, taken from the vocal library included in Etherealwinds Harp II.
DSK Music: DSK World StringZ
Format: VST
Audio example:
DSK World StringZ offers more than just harp sounds. In fact, the instrument includes a total of eight world instruments: cumbus, dobro, kanun, koto, dulcimer, tar, Turkish oud and a Celtic harp. Obviously, this Celtic harp is what I was mostly interested in for this list. Playing around with it, I found the sound to be quite present and earthy as I would expect from a Celtic harp. I especially enjoyed the lower tones, which feel a little more mysterious.
The interface offers you control over the amp envelope, the fine tuning and a filter (HP or LP). You can also automate all these values via MIDI. One word of warning: The fine tuning slider does not give you numeric values or offer a simple way to reset (that I know of) – so if you change the tuning, it might be difficult to get back to the original tuning setting. One feature that DSK World StringZ doesn’t have is a built-in reverb. Obviously, you can always slap on your DAW reverb (or any of your favorite effects plugins) if you want to add more space. No matter if you’re looking for a Celtic harp or if you can use some world strings in your production, this is a cool little plugin to try out!
DAT: Microharp
Format:Kontakt Library; full retail version of Native Instruments Kontakt 4.2.4 or higher is required
Audio example:
Microharp from Dream Audio Tools is another Celtic harp. In this case, a “very small wooden Celtic harp” was sampled with four round robins for each articulation. The instrument comes with two main articulations, picked and fingered, as well as with a patch that mixes both articulations. While the picked samples sound smoother and more traditionally harp-like, the fingered patch has an almost surprising “ethnic” feel to it. Its particular character might not work that well in classical pieces, but it could add some interesting textures to other genres.
The Kontakt library features four octaves, with the lowest note being C2 (not surprising due to the size of the instrument). For effects, it offers a delay and a reverb. Not a ton, but certainly useable!
To get DAT Microharp, you will have to add it to your shopping cart on the Dream Audio Tools website and check out.
Performance Samples: River Harp
Format: Kontakt Library; full retail version of Native Instruments Kontakt 5.5.1 or higher is required
Audio examples:
River Harp by Performance Samples is a little different from most instruments in this article. Instead of offering individually plucked string samples, you will find a collection of textures and glissandi here. The name “River Harp” is quite a fitting description of the sound as the performances come across as flowing and organic. These are the kinds of textures that we composers and producers would love to create and re-create with harp VST plugins but typically have a hard time doing so.
While the sounds themselves are fun, using them can be tricky because they’re not time-synced. While this is not such an issue with the glissandi (which you wouldn’t expect to stick to being time-synced anyway), it might take some additional time stretching work to fit the textures into an existing arrangement.
What’s really cool (and definitely not expected for a free instrument) is that River Harp is recorded with two mics (close and far), which you can mix and pan to your taste. This added flexibility makes the River Harp easier to mix. The creators of River Harp also want you to know that some of the tails are cut-off and only minimal noise reduction was applied (the honesty is appreciated!).
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To get River Harp, you will have to check out through Performances Samples’ online shopping system.
Sonatina Symphony Orchestra Harp
Format: Kontakt Library; full retail version of Kontakt is required (unfortunately, I’m not sure which one, but I’m guessing 4 and higher).
Audio example:
Sonatina Symphony Orchestra was a project by Mattias Westlund. More than 10 years ago, he created a free orchestral sample library primarily aimed at beginner composers. Today, this original library is not online anymore, however, a derivative version still exists at Bigcat Instruments. This version also includes a concert harp patch, which I found surprisingly useable due to its straight, classical sound.
The Kontakt patch allows you to change the amp envelope, the reverb and the EQ (at 100 Hz, 1kHz and 5kHz – which turn out to be great frequencies to play with). I would probably use this with a convolution reverb, since the built-in reverb sounds somewhat unflattering (at least in the wetter settings).
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Sonatina Symphony Orchestra Harp is super easy to install: Simply download and save the patch into your Kontakt libraries folder.
Other Harp Instruments
Decent Samples: Bowed Nagoya Harp (Taishōgoto)
Format: Kontakt Library; full retail version of Native Instruments Kontakt 5.3.1 or higher is required
Audio examples:
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The Taishōgoto is also known as the Nagoya harp and is a relatively modern string instrument, being invented in 1912. The pitch of the individual strings can be changed by pressing a number of typewriter-like keys. Although the Taishōgoto is typically strummed, for this Kontakt library by Decent Samples, the instrument was played with a violin bow. So if you’re looking for a plucked sound, this instrument won’t match your needs.
Instead, this library offers a texture-heavy bowing sound that lies somewhere between viola, harmonica and world instrument (check out the audio example to hear what it sounds like). While this is maybe not the most powerful sound on its own, I could imagine using this as a layer to add an interesting texture. One drawback I found while playing it is that the samples are somewhat short and the loop very noticeable. Unfortunately, this means that the library is not great for creating longer static pad sounds (if you use different note start points, you can achieve a nice effect where notes are rhythmically fading in and out, though).
Besides ADSR envelope and reverb, you also have control over the level of the two microphones that were used: an Oktava mic and a contact microphone. Since these are quite different in character, I’ve found it fun to play around with them and dial in a sound I enjoy.
To get the Bowed Nagoya Harp by Decent Samples, you will have to register with your name and email address.
Over to you…
Do you know of any other good free harp VSTs or libraries? Let us know in the comments!