Synth VSTs are one of the most exciting things about being a producer today.

Free Bass Synth Vst Plugin
Free Vst Synth Plugins Mac
Free Synth Vst Plug-ins

Powerful synthesis tools that used to cost thousands are now available in your DAW anytime, anywhere.

And the best part? Many of them are available as completely free plugins.

Software synthesizer plugins are great for everything from ambient pads to massive sub bass.

How to use this guide. There are a staggering 200 free plugins listed on this page. To make sense of it all, we divided them into categories: Synth VSTs, Drum VSTs, Guitar VSTs, VST Effects and Utility VSTs. Use the table of contents to see the lists of VSTs by category. Free Synths VST Plugins for Fruity Loops, Cubase, Audacity, and Other Software. Carillon chime synth Type: synths About: carillon chime synthesizer v1.1 carillon. Free synth plugins prove that there’s plenty of capable tools out there to make music that sounds good on a shoestring budget. Whether you’re looking for classic vintage tones, deep sound design tools or you just want to choose a good synth to get started, there’s a VST on this list to inspire you.

In this article I’ll break down the top 8 free synth VSTs for producing music in your DAW.

Let’s get started.

1. Digital Suburban Dexed

Dexed is a freeware FM synthesizer based on the legendary Yamaha DX7. It puts all the classic sounds and functions of the original synth in a modern package.

But Dexed makes classic 6 operator FM synthesis much easier to understand and program than it ever was with hardware.

This great free synth VST is perfect for percussive sounds like tines and mallets as well as icy pads or aggressive distorted basses.

2. Matt Tytel Helm

Synthesis is hard to understand even when you have real hardware synthesizer in front of you. It can be even more difficult when you’re working with an abstract software plugin.

That’s why Matt Tytel’s Helm is such a great synth VST.

Helm is a great sounding, two oscillator subtractive synth that’s dead easy for beginners to use.

It’s well laid out with a logical interface and helpful graphics that let you understand every aspect of basic subtractive synthesis.

Helm is perfect If you’re just getting started and need an easy synth to learn on.

3. u-He Tyrell N6

u-He Tyrell N6 is a stylish synth with bold analog sound and simple workflow.

It features a great preset library and modulation matrix as well as handy extras like unison mode, loopable envelopes and built in overdrive.

Overall, Tyrell N6 is a quality freeware synth that any producer can use to make great sounds.

4. DiscoDSP OB-Xd

Speaking of analog sound, DiscoDSP’s OB-Xd models one of the most sought-after instruments in analog synth history—the Oberheim OB-X.

This completely free plugin gives you access to the lush sound of the OB-X in your DAW.

From enveloping analog pads to deep basses and searing leads, the OB-Xd is an inspiring free synth to add to your plugin folder.

5. TAL Noisemaker

TAL’s excellent Noisemaker synth proves that VSTs don’t need to be complicated to work well in a track.

TAL’s excellent Noisemaker synth proves that VSTs don’t need to be complicated to work well in a track.

This straightforward synth has a powerful sound and compact, lightweight interface.

It contains a unique visual envelope editor and handy onboard effects including bitcrusher and TAL’s emulation of the Juno 60/106 chorus effect.

6. Vember Audio Surge

Vember Audio Surge is probably the most powerful free VST synth on this list.

Surge is open source which means you’re free to download the code and do whatever you want with it.

It’s fantastic sounding digital synth that can cover all kinds of different sonic territory.

Its highly flexible architecture includes wavetable oscillators, two filters with eight different modes each and routing options for frequency modulation.

Free Bass Synth Vst Plugin

If you’re looking to get lost in the possibilities of sound design, Surge is the best way to do it for free.

7. VCV Rack

This next one is a little different, but it’s so exciting that it had to make it to this list.

VCV Rack is a standalone synth program that models nearly every module available for the Eurorack format.

That’s right—those enormous racks of modular gear that creative producers spend thousands of dollars collecting.

VCV Rack lets you create your own dream modular rig right on your desktop. You can even create patches authentically with virtual cables to get the real modular experience.

Free Vst Synth Plugins Mac

Integrating it with your DAW is a bit trickier—but using the plugin in standalone mode is just as fun for creating inspiring patches.

Every musician should try using VCV Rack to see what modular is all about.

Every musician should try using VCV Rack to see what modular is all about.

Free Synth Vst Plug-ins

8. ML PG8X

The 80s are a popular decade for free synth plugin builders. This retro-leaning synth from developer Martin Lüders models the classic Roland JX-8p.

The JX-8p polysynth was one of the most popular keyboards of the time for a reason. It’s classic presets made it onto hundreds of recordings from the golden age of synth pop.

The ML PG-8X plugin version gives you all the vintage mojo of the original for free. It’s a nice analog-style polysynth with a unique retro character.

Pair it up with Dexed for authentic 80s stacked synth textures!

Free to play

You don’t need tons of expensive gear to make a great track. Free synth plugins prove that there’s plenty of capable tools out there to make music that sounds good on a shoestring budget.

Whether you’re looking for classic vintage tones, deep sound design tools or you just want to choose a good synth to get started, there’s a VST on this list to inspire you.

Now that you have some great new synths in your plugin folder, get back to your DAW and keep creating.

Free Synths VST Plugins for Fruity Loops, Cubase, Audacity, and Other Software

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carillon chime synth Type: synths About: carillon chime synthesizer v1.1 carillon is a physically modeled bell and chime synthesizer. the extreme far ends of the octaves detune similar to pippo. it also features the chorus and reverb modules.....(more)
GalactiX Type: synths About: GalactiX - subtractive virtual VST Synth. The GalaxtiX 1.4a is a nice subtractive synth vst to have in your arsenal. It has quite a few options and the sound is fairly warm, as is common with instrume.....(more)
Asynth Type: synths About: ASynth is a six voice virtual analog synthesizer featuring two oscillators and three circuit modelled filters. The demo version displays a nagscreen on startup. To remove the nagscreen and enable SSE.....(more)
Crystal 2.4 Type: synths About: Crystal may be my favorite free VST synth of all time. It's huge with a very easy to use interface, and about 70 cool presets. Each voice may now have ring modulation applied. To turn on ring modulati.....(more)
RubberDuck 303 VST Type: synths About: Rubber Duck is a virtual bassline for Windows from D-Lusion 'Acid for the masses !' Also other mod tracker software. It is the best 303 VST Plugin or Standalone instrument for making those clasic acid.....(more)
BV MUSIC - BV25 Sublime Type: synths About: 3 Multi Osc, 3 Wavetable Osc, PM, Pre-amp, 3 Detuners, 3 Pan pots, 1 Step LFO, 1 Multi LFO, 1 ADSR, 1 Filter cutoff envelope, Echo, Delay, Flangus, Mono switch, Scope analyzer, Master Octave, Maste.....(more)
BV 29 STINGRAY Type: synths About: 6 Wavetable Osc, Noise Osc, Wavetable Pitch modulator, Wav

Free Synth Vst Plugins