We review 8 free VST synths to add to your music production toolkit. If you want to get your head around sound design, Syntorial is an excellent platform to learn synthesis on (read our review). There is a myth that money buys quality and therefore anything free is guaranteed to be flimsy, shoddy, or downright useless. Synthesizer Software Instrument - Mac/PC AAX, VST, AU, Standalone $149.00. Feel free to call us toll free at (800) 222-4700, Mon-Thu 9-9, Fri 9-8, and Sat 9-7 Eastern. Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! Sign Up For Email Offers! Exclusive deals, delivered straight to your inbox.
Introducing: Bespoke!
Bespoke is a software modular synthesizer. It contains a bunch of modules, which you can connect together to create sounds.
Bespoke is like a DAW* in some ways, but with less of a focus on a global timeline. Instead, it has a design more optimized for jamming and exploration.
Bespoke is a project I started in 2011 as a way for me to learn more about creating music. Instead of putting in the time to learn the intricacies of an existing DAW, I took on a foolhardy exercise to try to build my own. The software is custom built by me and for me, hence the name 'Bespoke'.
Software Synthesizer Freeware Mac
Bespoke's core design is to break everything into separate modules that can be patched together in a custom layout, much like a hardware modular. Bespoke is designed to be highly customizable, with the idea that any of the custom layouts that you create will be 'bespoke' to you as well.
In a way, Bespoke is like if I smashed Ableton to bits with a baseball bat, and asked you to put it back together.
*('DAW' means 'digital audio workstation', which is a fancy term for music production software)
Analog-Style Software Video Synthesizer
Lumen is a Mac App that makes it easy for you to create engaging visuals in real time. Use the same process with Lumen as you would with a hardware video synth, but with modern features only software can provide. With a semi-modular design that is both playable and deep, Lumen is the perfect way to get into video synthesis.
Apologies!
License activation is currently unavailable in macOS 10.14 and below. Fix estimated in Lumen 1.1.2 by October 11th, 2021. Technical info available here.
macOS 10.9 or later
Software Synthesizer Mac Free Online
orMade for synthesists
Lumen expands on the techniques of the past to bring you an entirely new process for manipulating video. You won't be in the dark, though - our comprehensive Lumen Guides and a preset library of 150+ patches will get you up-to-speed in no time.
Patchable back panel
Lumen is semi-modular, which gives you the power to reroute the synth’s signal flow. Every component is broken out, so you can create custom video effects and mind-bending feedback patches.
Plays well with others
Lumen features Syphon input & output, for interacting with other video apps. Webcam input and full-screen output let you create external feedback loops. All synthesizer knobs and buttons can be mapped to your MIDI controller, and we have plans to add audio-reactivity via a free update.
Subscribe to the Paracosm® News Bulletin to be the first to know about our newest products, features, and tutorials.