Alternatives to HALion
Compare HALion alternatives for your business or organization using the curated list below. SourceForge ranks the best alternatives to HALion in 2025. Compare features, ratings, user reviews, pricing, and more from HALion competitors and alternatives in order to make an informed decision for your business.
-
1
Arturia Synths
ARTURIA
Arturia's Pigments is a versatile software synthesizer that combines multiple synthesis engines, including virtual analog, wavetable, sample-based, and harmonic synthesis, allowing users to create a vast array of sounds. It features an intuitive interface with a color-coded modulation system, making complex sound design accessible. Pigments offer a comprehensive set of filters, effects, and a powerful sequencer, enabling intricate sound shaping and modulation. The software includes over 1,500 presets, providing a wide range of sounds suitable for various musical styles. Pigments is compatible with major DAWs and supports VST, AU, and AAX plug-in formats, making it a flexible tool for music producers and sound designers. Visualize and perfect your sound with an interface that adapts to your creative process. You can be finishing a composition in the play view, retouching a color-rated modulation, or watching a patch or preset come to life with dynamic visualization.Starting Price: $99 one-time payment -
2
UVI Falcon
UVI
UVI Falcon is a comprehensive hybrid instrument that combines advanced sampling and synthesis capabilities within a semi-modular environment. It features 20 oscillator types, including virtual analog, wavetable, FM, additive, and granular synthesis, allowing for extensive sound design possibilities. With over 100 high-quality effects, users can apply various processing techniques such as reverb, delay, modulation, and filtering to enhance their sounds. Falcon's modulation system includes envelopes, LFOs, and step sequencers, enabling dynamic and evolving textures. The software also supports MIDI processing and scripting, providing tools for creating complex performances and custom instruments. Falcon's interface is adaptable, featuring a new browser for efficient preset management and an intuitive workflow for sound creation. It comes with a factory library of over 1,500 presets and offers expansion options through additional sound libraries.Starting Price: $299 one-time payment -
3
Vanguard 2
reFX
Vanguard2, developed by reFX, is a virtual analog synthesizer that offers a blend of classic and modern sound design capabilities. This updated version introduces a cleaner, vector-based user interface that is resizable to accommodate various screen resolutions. It features ten new wavetables, two additional filter types, a new delay mode, an enhanced reverb, and a new distortion effect, expanding its sonic versatility. The advanced librarian system provides three columns for easy navigation, color-coded tags, bookmarks, and favorites, and a dedicated location for user presets, facilitating efficient sound management. Vanguard2 is compatible with all existing Vanguard1 projects and libraries, ensuring seamless integration for users upgrading from the previous version. The synthesizer includes 2,440 sound presets across 23 categories and 63 one-shot drum samples, offering a comprehensive toolkit for music production. It supports major digital audio workstations.Starting Price: $99 one-time payment -
4
Syntronik
Ik Multimedia
Syntronik is a cutting-edge virtual synthesizer that raises the bar in sound quality and flexibility thanks to the most advanced sampling techniques combined with a new hybrid sample and modeling synthesis engine. Syntronik includes 17 amazing Synths, available as a collection or separately, with over 2,000 preset sounds covering a wide selection from 38 of the most iconic to ultra-rare and painstakingly multi-sampled vintage synthesizers. Syntronik’s synthesis engine goes well beyond traditional sampling thanks to a brand new analog modeled filter section created with the utmost expertise from IK, the pioneer in virtual circuit modeling. This is coupled with exclusive DRIFT™ technology to accurately reproduce the behavior of oscillators from real hardware synths. All of this combined with an effects section that is unrivaled in the world of virtual instruments along with advanced features like 4-part Multis, splits and arpeggiators make Syntronik the ultimate source of inspiration.Starting Price: $299.99 one-time payment -
5
Roland Cloud
Roland
Roland Cloud is an evolving cloud-based suite of software synthesizers, drum machines, and sampled instruments for modern creators. Harness the vast power of the ZEN-Core Synthesis System and dive deep into the world of custom sound design with ZENOLOGY Pro. For nearly fifty years, Roland has delivered memorable, genre-defining sounds. And a big part of that sonic footprint is our unique approach to effects processing. The swirling JUNO chorus, feedback-drenched tape echo, and other sounds have left their mark on countless tracks over the decades, and with ZENOLOGY FX, you can now add that flavor to any keyboard sound or instrument track right inside your DAW. With over 90 processors to choose from, there's a wealth of ways to make your synth sounds come alive. Add delays to arps, larger-than-life modulation effects to chord progressions, and twist and distort basses and lead tones that leap from the speakers. -
6
Qithesizer
Robkoo
Qithesizer is a powerful multi-engine hybrid software synthesizer designed with wind controllers in mind, combining virtual analog, wavetable, and physical modeling synthesis into one versatile platform. It features two wavetable oscillators, four physical instrument models, three noise generators, three classical filters, two envelope generators, two LFOs, four modulation slots, 11 modulation sources, and 18 modulation destinations, allowing users to craft their own unique sounds. The app includes a patch library for immediate sound creation and supports playability via keyboards and other MIDI controllers, making it accessible even for beginners without prior synthesis knowledge. Real-time visualizations provide visual feedback synchronized with performances, enhancing confidence during play. Qithesizer is available on iPad, iPhone, and Mac (requiring an Apple M1 chip or later), and supports AUv3 format for integration with hosts on iPad, iPhone, and DAWs like Logic Pro on Mac.Starting Price: $12.99 one-time payment -
7
ZENOLOGY
Roland
Synthesizers are in just about every style of modern music, so you need something versatile, authentic, and forward-thinking. ZENOLOGY embodies nearly 50 years of synthesizer research and development. Its roots go back to the dawn of synthesis. Its future will reshape your relationship with sound. For decades, Roland sounds have had a massive influence on music. A string of legendary instruments defined genres like techno, house, rap, trap, and hip hop, and deeply influenced pop, rock, and film music. This experience has culminated in the ZEN-Core Synthesis System. It’s the most advanced sound engine we’ve ever made, powering our professional synthesizers like JUPITER-X and FANTOM, used on stages and in studios around the world. ZENOLOGY is an expandable plug-in version of the ZEN-Core Synthesis System. ZEN-Core is based on discrete synth voices,each containing a flexible oscillator, filter, amplifier, dual step-LFOs, and lush effects. -
8
Roland Zenbeats
Roland
Roland Zenbeats is a music creation app that keeps you in an effortless artistic flow. Get started on any device or platform. With its collection of both modern and legendary sounds, Zenbeats brings Roland’s history of innovation into a new, accessible format. Whether you’re an emerging musician or an established producer, Zenbeats makes music creation easy. Make beats, take lessons, and sample the world around you. Wherever you are, no matter what platform or device you use, capture your creative spark with Zenbeats. ZC1 is a new plug-in synthesizer using Roland’s ZEN-Core Synthesis System. Available in Zenbeats as a free instrument, ZC1 has 60 presets and a sleek touch-based interface. Use the XY pad for Resonance and Cutoff or other parameters. Plus, unlock ZC1 to share sounds with ZENOLOGY and ZEN-Core-compatible hardware and get around 900 additional preset tones and 90 built-in MFX effects. These sounds cover a wide range from acoustic and electronic to ethnic instruments. -
9
Zebra Legacy
u-he
Zebra Legacy is a comprehensive synthesizer suite developed by u-he, encompassing the renowned Zebra2 synthesizer, the ZebraHZ variant, and all associated sound sets, including The Dark Zebra, totaling over 4,300 presets. Zebra2 is celebrated for its versatility, featuring four wavetable oscillators, four FM oscillators, and an array of filters and modulation options, making it a favorite among sound designers and composers, particularly in Hollywood. The ZebraHZ version, initially created in collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer, offers additional features such as Diva filters and polyphonic compressors, enhancing its sonic capabilities. Zebra Legacy supports various formats, including VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP, and is compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux platforms. The suite also includes NKS-ready presets for integration with Native Instruments hardware. Existing Zebra2 owners can access Zebra Legacy and its content at no extra cost.Starting Price: €99 one-time payment -
10
DRC
Imaginando
DRC delivers an amazing, warm analog sound. DRC is a virtual analog synthesizer that emphasizes authentic analog modeling, delivering a warm and rich sound across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. It utilizes the same synth engine on all devices, ensuring consistent, high-quality audio. The synthesizer features a clean, minimalistic interface focused on accessibility, allowing users to concentrate on creativity without visual distractions. DRC supports cloud-based preset synchronization, enabling users to create patches on mobile devices and seamlessly access them on desktop versions. This cross-platform functionality facilitates music production anytime and anywhere. The software includes a range of built-in effects and supports MIDI integration, catering to both beginners and experienced musicians seeking a portable and powerful synthesis tool. DRC uses the exact same synth-engine on all platforms for a consistent, high-quality sound.Starting Price: $93.55 one-time payment -
11
Animoog Z
Moog
Animoog Z is an inspiring 16-voice polyphonic synthesizer that invites you to explore new concepts of multidimensional sound design and performance. Powered by Moog’s Anisotropic Synth Engine (ASE), Animoog Z empowers you to visually traverse new sonic universes and even create your own. ASE utilizes a novel orbit system to expand the concepts of wavetable and vector synthesis, allowing you to navigate dynamically through the X, Y, and Z axes of sound. Sound design with Animoog Z is immediate and intuitive, simply select and drag the orbit path to explore endless sonic configurations. Animoog Z captures the immediate and intuitive experience of Moog synthesizers and applies it to the modern digital paradigm, enabling you to quickly sculpt incredibly fluid and dynamic sounds that live, breathe, and evolve as you play them. Use Animoog Z’s built-in keyboard to control pitch and pressure per voice (or send MIDI out), or connect your favorite MPE controller.Starting Price: Free -
12
Generate
Newfangled Audio
Generate, developed by Newfangled Audio, is a unique cinematic polysynth that combines chaotic oscillators with traditional synthesis elements to create evolving and dynamic sounds. It features eight chaotic generators capable of smoothly transitioning from sine waves to complex, unpredictable textures, offering a vast sonic palette. The synthesizer includes five wave folder types, providing diverse harmonic shaping options. Generate's modulation system is extensive, allowing users to modulate any control with MIDI or MPE, facilitating expressive performances. The built-in effects suite comprises delay, reverb, chorus, and more, enabling further sound enhancement. With over 800 professional and artist presets covering basses, leads, pads, plucks, rhythms, sequences, and textures, Generate serves as a versatile tool for musicians and sound designers seeking innovative and evolving sounds.Starting Price: $49 one-time payment -
13
Omnisphere
Spectrasonics
Omnisphere is the flagship synthesizer of Spectrasonics, an instrument of extraordinary power and versatility. Top artists all over the world rely on Omnisphere as an essential source of sonic inspiration. This award-winning software brings many different types of synthesis together into one amazing-sounding instrument that will spark a lifetime of exploration. Omnisphere is the only software synth in the world to offer a hardware synth Integration feature. This remarkable innovation transforms over 65 well-known hardware synthesizers into extensive hands-on controllers that unlock Omnisphere's newly expanded synthesis capabilities. Simply put, this ground-breaking feature makes using Omnisphere feel just like using a hardware synth. By bridging the physical experience gap between software and hardware, users gain intuitive control of Omnisphere by using the familiar layout of their supported hardware synth.Starting Price: €399 one-time payment -
14
King of Digital
AudioKit Pro
AudioKit's King of Digital is an epic 64-voice hybrid synthesizer that combines virtual analog and PCM synthesis, offering over 900 handcrafted presets and 3+ gigabytes of original samples recorded from analog and FM synths over 30 years old. Designed for versatility, it is ideal for creating epic pads, retrowave, digital keys, vaporwave, synthwave, and more. The app features dual layers per voice, keyboard splits, a fun step sequencer, three LFOs capable of modulating each other, and per-voice harmonic key-tracked envelope filters. Its space-saving compression technology compresses all sounds and expansions to a total of 450 MB, ensuring efficient use of device storage. King of Digital is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iOS AUv3 plug-ins, supporting MIDI input from various sources, including customizable on-screen keyboards, USB MIDI controllers, Bluetooth MIDI controllers, and networked MIDI sources.Starting Price: $4.99 one-time payment -
15
NEXUS4
reFX
NEXUS, developed by reFX, is a powerful software synthesizer designed to streamline music production with high-quality sounds and an intuitive interface. It features a vast library of over 2,000 factory presets, organized into categories such as arpeggios, basses, leads, pads, and more, catering to various musical genres. The advanced librarian system offers three columns for easy navigation, color-coded tags, bookmarks, favorites, and a dedicated location for user presets, facilitating efficient sound management. NEXUS includes a comprehensive suite of effects, including reverb, delay, chorus, phaser, and distortion, allowing users to enhance and customize their sounds directly within the plugin. The arpeggiator features 16 layers, each with its own pattern and settings, enabling the creation of complex sequences and rhythms. NEXUS also supports expansion packs, providing access to additional sounds and presets tailored to specific genres or styles.Starting Price: $249 one-time payment -
16
Magix Music Maker
MAGIX
Want to fulfil your dream of being a creative music producer, even without any experience? Music Maker lets you get started right away. Simply choose sounds from a massive collection of beats, tunes and vocals at chart quality level. Combine sounds and loops per drag & drop, play a whole library of software instruments and apply professional effects. Choose sounds and loops from your favorite genre and combine them with virtual instruments on your timeline. Analog synthesizers, drums that pack real boom or elegant strings – they can all be applied with a single click. Form an entire band! Start recording your own melodies or vocals from the get-go. Just connect your MIDI keyboard, drum pad controller or microphone – that's all you need to do. Want to record a live guitar solo? No problem. You're free to customize each and every element for your groove. Create a track that's one of a kind. Drag & drop to apply professional effects to your sounds, loops, instruments and vocals.Starting Price: $59 -
17
Kilohearts Phase Plant
Kilohearts
Phase Plant’s open modular architecture gives you the freedom to design anything from compact synths to complex evolving patches within an ecosystem that is fun and intuitive to use. Combine as many generators, modulators, and effects as you need to create your own unique sounds with precision and ease. Choose from regular waveforms, wavetables, samples, and noise for your source sounds. Make use of an extensive selection of factory wavetables or design your own with Phase Plant’s advanced wavetable editor. Start with solid foundations to create original layers and combinations of sounds within one synth. Phase Plant comes with Kilohearts Essentials, a large range of useful effects plugins. These are all available as snapins to be combined and modulated as you desire in Phase Plant’s three effects lanes. Keep all your FX processing right inside Phase Plant and baked into your presets. Premium Effects are available to buy separately to further bolster your sound design capabilities.Starting Price: $99 one-time payment -
18
Surge
Vember Audio
A digital recording is just a sequence of numbers. Easily quantifiable as ones and zeros, stored on physical media, combined together into larger numbers to form a continuous stream of data. Surge is an instrument capable of generating truly beautiful sequences of numbers. Your ears will agree with us. Architecturally speaking, Surge is a rather complex synthesizer. But because of how it’s put together it’s still easy to learn. Once you do, you will turn the sounds in your head to audio faster than ever. The effortless workflow, attention to detail and sound quality can’t really be appreciated without trying it yourself. We suggest you try the demo! Each patch contain two ’scenes’ which are separate instances of the entire synthesis engine (except effects) that can be used for layering or split patches. 8 versatile oscillator algorithms, Classic, Sine, Wavetable, Window, FM2, FM3, S/H Noise and Audio-input. -
19
Reaktor
Native Instruments
Experiment with rack-style modular patching using blocks. Discover 70+ included instruments plus thousands of sounds in the user library. Reaktor 6 is the ultimate creative toolkit for deep sound exploration, featuring cutting-edge DSP and high-fidelity sound. Reaktor is the beating heart that gives life to synths like Native’s Razor and Monark, as well as third-party releases from Twisted Tools, Tim Exile, Blinksonic, and many more. It’s a sandbox for sound creation – a limitless platform for experimenting and diving into new sound directions. Simply put, Reaktor lets you build instruments to replicate the sounds in your head – in a way that existing instruments can’t. Reaktor's trademark sound quality is unmistakable. From anti-aliased oscillators and ZDF (zero delay feedback) filters to granular synthesis engines, a team of leading developers builds every component in Reaktor from the core level up.Starting Price: $199 one-time payment -
20
Hive 2
u-he
Hive 2, developed by u-he, is a versatile software synthesizer designed to deliver high-quality sound with a streamlined workflow. It features two oscillators capable of generating standard waveforms or 2D wavetables, each supporting up to 16x unison and tunable sub-oscillators. The synthesizer offers three distinct synth engines, normal, dirty, and clean, allowing users to tailor the character of their sounds. Hive 2 includes a drag-and-drop modulation assignment system, a 12-slot modulation matrix with modifiers, and four user-definable XY control pads for dynamic sound manipulation. Additional features comprise an arpeggiator, a step sequencer with real-time recording, a unique 8-step shape sequencer with four independent outputs, and seven rearrangeable effects, distortion, chorus, delay, phaser, EQ, reverb, and compressor. The interface is resizable from 70% to 200% and offers an alternative Izmo skin. Hive 2 comes with over 2,400 NKS-ready factory presets.Starting Price: €149 one-time payment -
21
Reason
Reason Studios
Reason is a powerful collection of fantastic instruments, synthesizers and effects for you to create endless amazing sounds and music. Use it as a plugin with your favorite DAW or produce music in Reason standalone. Sound Packs are like musical building blocks that just sound perfect together. Sound Packs are filled with Reason patches (aka presets) that are powerful combinations of various Reason devices, made by world-class sound designers. With new Sound Packs every week, you’ve always got somewhere to turn for some inspiration. -
22
KOMPLETE
Native Instruments
Flagship synths, immersive platforms, unique sampled instruments, and sounds for any genre, production, or performance. KOMPLETE 13 packs the very best Native has to offer into a do-it-all production toolkit that includes brand-new GUITAR RIG 6 PRO, SUPER 8, NOIRE, and much more. From beats, to screen scores, to conjuring underground sounds – KOMPLETE 13 is curated for genre-bending versatility and endless inspiration, whatever you create. Get it all for less with a huge saving on the combined cost of each product in KOMPLETE 13. Revamped, redesigned, and reimagined with new amps, effects, and ways to sculpt your sound. An eight-voice, modern take on vintage polysynthesis. Warm tones and a wide sweet spot. The signature sound of Nils Frahm’s evocative concert grand, captured at its home in Berlin’s Funkhaus complex.Starting Price: $599 one-time payment -
23
SunVox
WarmPlace.ru
SunVox is a compact, fast, and powerful modular synthesizer combined with a pattern-based sequencer (tracker), designed for music enthusiasts who wish to compose music anytime, anywhere, on any device or system. It is available for multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux (x86, x86_64, ARM, ARM64), iOS, Android, and Windows CE, with free versions for most systems except Android and iOS. SunVox features highly optimized synth algorithms and a flexible architecture, supporting various sound systems such as ASIO, DirectSound, MME, ALSA, OSS, JACK, Audiobus, and IAA. It functions as an AU instrument/effect on iOS and supports 16/24/32-bit WAV, AIFF, and XI samples, along with multitrack WAV export capabilities. The software offers MIDI In/Out/Import/Export, real-time sample recording, and a powerful microtonal sequencer. Users can import XM (FastTracker) and MOD (ProTracker, OctaMED) files and perform real-time recording of various sound events.Starting Price: Free -
24
BazilleCM
u-he
BazilleCM is a streamlined version of u-he's modular synthesizer, Bazille, offering a compact yet powerful synthesis environment. It features two digital oscillators capable of simultaneous frequency modulation, phase distortion, and fractal resonance, providing a rich palette for sound design. The synthesizer includes a multimode analog-style filter with six parallel outputs, two ADSR envelopes with adjustable sustain slopes, and a low-frequency oscillator with multiple waveforms. A 16-step sequencer with eight morphable snapshots allows for intricate pattern creation. Additional components such as multiplex units for mixing and modulation, a built-in stereo delay, and various audio-rate signal processors enhance its versatility. BazilleCM supports a polyphony of up to eight voices and offers a resizable, skinnable user interface. It comes with over 265 factory presets to inspire creativity.Starting Price: Free -
25
Serum
Xfer Records
The dream synthesizer did not seem to exist, a wavetable synthesizer with a truly high-quality sound, visual and creative workflow-oriented interface to make creating and altering sounds fun instead of tedious, and the ability to “go deep” when desired - to create/import/edit/morph wavetables, and manipulate these on playback in real-time. Serum has a wavetable editor built right in, you can create your own wavetables in a variety of ways. Import audio directly from audio files. Serum has a variety of methods and options for analyzing audio for breaking it apart into individual waveforms. You can import single-cycle wavetables of course, as well as many at once (with in-built sorting options, or manual re-ordering). Morph between various wavetables using standard linear interpolation (crossfading) or via harmonic/spectral morphing. Draw directly on the waveform, with optional grid-size snapping and a variety of shape tools.Starting Price: $189 one-time payment -
26
Aparillo
Sugar Bytes
Aparillo is an advanced 16-voice FM synthesizer, tailored for majestic sonic motions. A clever arrangement of synthesis, wave shaping, filtering, FX, and modulation unfolds into a serious sound design tool for epic sonic creation. Make sure to check out the orbiter, a mass controller for immediate, instant blockbuster-sounding themes. Two FM operators give birth to waveforms so complex it's like they have a life of their own. Different FM complexity/and ratio modes, waveshaping, folding, formant shifting, complex LFOs and the orbiter deliver sonic spectacles that are sure to blow you out of your seat. A modulable scale editor creates unbelievable unison spreads with the deepest of harmonic structures, stacking up to a 16-voice orchestra from another planet. Total control for an almost unlimited range of sounds. The orbiter pulls strings throughout the engine putting all the power at your fingertips, with an XY pad to control a massive, record-ready engine.Starting Price: $99 one-time payment -
27
DS Audio Thorn
Plugin Alliance
Thorn is a cutting-edge tool for making cutting-edge sounds. Designed with the modern electronic music producer in mind, DS Audio’s main goal was to develop a top-notch software synthesizer, for creating punchy, snappy, and aggressive sounds that leap out at the listener. The sound engine in Thorn is built on the novel spectral synthesis method, which gives you complete control over the individual harmonics that go into creating a final timbre. Three harmonic oscillators with an additional Harmonic Filter allow you to create a wide range of forward-looking sounds. Two analog-modeled multi-mode filters, with a zero-delay feedback path, are there to help you tailor your tones and make them shine in the mix. Use them to modulate any parameter you’d like to. A set of 9 high-quality effects helps you polish your sound and breathe life into it. For even more fun, check out the pattern-based glitch sequencer to create glitch-effects.Starting Price: $29.99 one-time payment -
28
Beatzille
u-he
Beatzille is a compact version of our monster modular synthesizer Bazille. Although its condensed feature set makes it the ‘little brother’, Beatzille is still an engaging and capable synthesizer. Power and style run in the family. Digital oscillators, analog-style filters,s, and flexible patching will keep you busy for a good while before thinking about tackling Bazille. Striking the balance between too much and too little, Beatzille is the happy medium. It presents an introduction to modular synthesis and a taste of the power of Bazille without being overwhelming. All three synthesis methods run simultaneously, so you can combine them to create an extensive range of sounds. Beatzille is great at generating weird modular blips and squeaks, but you can even coax soft pads and organic keys from the oscillators, as demonstrated by the factory library. Add modulation for even more sound possibilities.Starting Price: Free -
29
Vital
Vital Audio
Give new life to wavetables by using Vital's spectral oscillator warping. Spectral warping acts on a waveform's harmonics and can create drastically different shapes and timbres from a simple source. Turn your own samples into wavetables by using Vital's pitch-splice or vocode wavetable converter. Create wavetables from scratch using the built-in wavetable editor and even generate wavetables from text. Vital is a visual synthesizer. See what's happening behind the scenes with animated controls, filter responses, waveforms, smooth LFOs, oscilloscopes, spectrograms, and more. All animations run at 60 frames per second and are GPU optimized which leaves your CPU to do its real job, the audio processing. Modulate Vital's controls with a fast, drag-and-drop workflow. Vital gives you a preview of the modulation before committing so you can quickly experiment without ruining your sound.Starting Price: $5 per month -
30
Arturia Analog Lab
Arturia
Analog Lab, developed by Arturia, is a comprehensive software instrument that consolidates thousands of world-class presets from a wide array of classic keyboards and synthesizers into a single, user-friendly interface. It offers immediate access to an extensive library of sounds, encompassing pianos, organs, analog synths, and more, all meticulously crafted to capture the essence of the original instruments. The software provides intuitive controls for sound manipulation, allowing users to adjust parameters such as filters, envelopes, and effects to tailor sounds to their specific needs. Analog Lab seamlessly integrates with Arturia's hardware controllers, including the KeyLab and MiniLab series, facilitating a cohesive and tactile user experience. Additionally, it supports third-party MIDI controllers, ensuring flexibility in various studio setups. The software's streamlined interface and powerful features make it an ideal tool for musicians, producers, and sound designers. -
31
Bazille
u-he
Bazille, developed by u-he, is a modular synthesizer that combines digital oscillators with analog-style filters and extensive modulation capabilities. It features four digital oscillators capable of frequency modulation, phase distortion, and fractal resonance synthesis, allowing for complex sound design. The synthesizer includes four self-oscillating multimode filters, each with up to six parallel outputs, providing versatile filtering options. Bazille offers four ADSR envelopes with adjustable fall and rise controls, two LFOs with multiple waveforms and outputs, and a 6-step morphing sequencer with eight snapshots for dynamic modulation. Additional components include mapping generators, multiplex modules for signal mixing and modulation, and built-in effects such as stereo delay, distortion, phaser, and spring reverb. The interface is fully modular, allowing users to connect any output to any input, facilitating intricate patching possibilities.Starting Price: €129 one-time payment -
32
QiBrd
Beppi's
QiBrd is a free synthesizer app designed for live music, offering ease of use and powerful on-stage performance. It allows users to evolve and modify 19 free sounds for maximum expression, enabling synth solos without prior musical training. Each patch is associated with a scale and specific controllers tailored to work with that particular sound, ensuring every touch alters the timbre or pitch while maintaining harmony. QiBrd is ideal for electronic music across various genres, providing leads for progressive rock, bass for techno, and versatile sounds for pop, trance, or sound effects. Notable artists such as Jus Primae Noctis, Brian Redfern, and Alobar Music have utilized QiBrd in live performances. The app is based on the free CSound for Android library, acknowledging the contributions of its developers. Assign the most possible dramatic timbral change to each control. Show an easy interface to make the sounds evolve and change even with one single hand.Starting Price: Free -
33
LMMS
LMMS
Compose music on Windows, Linux and macOS. Compose songs, create sequences, mix and automate in one simple interface. Play the notes with a MIDI controller or using your computer keyboard. Consolidate instrument tracks using the Rhythm + Bass Editor. Fine-tune patterns, notes, chords, and melodies with the Piano Roll Editor. Full automation based on user-defined tracks and computer controlled automation sources. Import MIDI files and Hydrogen projects. Built-in support for 64-bit VST instruments via 32-bit VST bridge (Windows 64-bit). Support for LADSPA plugins. Support for VST® Effects Plugins (Linux and Windows). Built-in compressor, limiter, delay, reverb, distortion, and bass booster. Graphic and parametric equalizers included. Built-in spectrum analyzer / viewer. Create music with your computer, making melodies and rhythms, synthesizing and mixing sounds, arranging samples, and much more. -
34
UAD Spark
UAD Spark
Our reverb, delay, and modulation plug‑ins are the standard by which all others are judged, giving you timeless dimension and space. Studio pros use analog mic preamps and EQs, to warm up their tracks and give them character. Explore the world's best analog brands below, exclusively on UAD. Each one has a unique personality and tone. Our compressors perfectly emulate classic studio units, giving your music a professional punch. UA's expertise in modeling, sampling, and synthesis gives our virtual instruments the realism to inspire your next masterpiece. Add punch, warmth, and cohesion with the musical, mixable sound of tape. Give your recordings the pro analog tones heard on your favorite albums, get exclusive new instruments and tools with our ever‑expanding library. -
35
KAOSSILATOR PRO+
Korg
The Korg KAOSSILATOR PRO+ is a dynamic phrase synthesizer and loop recorder that allows users to create and perform multi-layered music across various genres with a simple touch of the X/Y touchpad. It features 250 sound programs, including 62 new additions, covering styles such as hip-hop, house, dubstep, and rock. The loop recording function supports up to four measures, enabling intuitive performance and track creation with four infinitely stackable loop banks. Users can set musical scales and keys to ensure accurate performances, and the gate arpeggiator function facilitates easy phrase control via a slider. The device includes line and mic inputs for recording external audio sources, and its USB MIDI capability allows it to function as a versatile MIDI controller. Additionally, the KAOSSILATOR PRO+ supports saving loop data and external WAV files on SD/SDHC cards, with dedicated editor software available for managing sample data and settings.Starting Price: $9.99 one-time payment -
36
Voice Synth
Voice Synth
Voice Synth is a professional live instrument designed to create incredible new voices, choirs, rhythms, sounds, and soundscapes based on your own unique voice. Speak, sing, hum, or beatbox into the mic to transform your voice live into various forms, such as a baby or tenor, a pop star with AutoPitch, a robot from Cylon to Dalek, a church or close harmony choir, animals from birds to dogs and lions, musical instruments like organs, guitars, and groovy bass to percussions, and rich 70's vocoders. The app includes over 200 factory presets to get you started. It offers two play modes, live mode and sampler mode. The vocoder features three voice modes, natural, robot, and breath. The Vocoder Designer provides tools to design your own vocoder with four oscillators and various synthesis options. Additional features include a pitch tracker, formant shifter, pitch and scale shifter, stroboscopic vocoder gating, and classic effects.Starting Price: Free -
37
Caelum Audio
Caelum Audio
Plugins, samples and free stuff. Distortions and effects for making big sounds. Premium pack containing crunchy summertime cassette stems. Multi-FX tape plugin with a huge amount of custom control. RMS compressor plugin with a bold and aggressive sound. Peak compressor plugin with a transparent and elegant sound. Premium 808 sample pack. Premium organic sample pack from the British countryside. Synchronized amp and filter custom envelope. Improved and rebuilt plugin that recreates the classic sound of tape cassettes. Even more synth loops, MIDI and WAVs are provided. More sounds from the human body, dry and processed WAVs. Finger cracking samples, dry and processed WAVs. Please ensure your DAW can load VST3 format plugins and is set up to see the containing directory. If you used the installer's default location this should be fine. Ensure that VST3 is turned on in your DAW.Starting Price: $16.47 one-time payment -
38
Music Maker JAM
Loudly
With Music Maker JAM, anyone can create amazing music, and instantly release it to a community of millions. Join the music revolution now. Make it yours, you can choose from hundreds of mix packs across all genres, from hip hip to rock. Or remix the tracks of hot artists and producers to create your own take on a song. Combine studio-quality samples in our 8-track mixer, then add FX to make your own sound. You can even add your own vocals. Take your music to the next level with PRO, bringing you exclusive access to all of our best JAM features. Choose from 300+ Mix Packs with a 100k+ loops library. Become a producer who records live with a perfect mixdown on the 8-channel mixer. Access thousands of studio-quality loops; from beats and vocals to synth leads and bass lines. Compose your own unique sound by combining samples from different music genres. Remix free/premium audio loops from our store. Add vocals to your track on top of studio-quality beats.Starting Price: Free -
39
Triple Cheese
u-he
Triple Cheese is a unique freeware synthesizer that employs comb filters for sound generation instead of traditional oscillators or wavetables. It features three comb filter modules arranged in series, each offering eight different modes, allowing for a wide range of sound design possibilities. The synthesizer supports polyphonic (up to 16 voices), duophonic, monophonic, and legato modes, with adjustable portamento time. It includes two ADSR envelopes with customizable sustain stages, two host-sync-able LFOs (one regular and one "vibrator" with delay and amplitude modulation), and a VCA with amplitude modulation and pan controls. Triple Cheese also offers five built-in effects, including chorus, flanger, phaser, delay, and reverb. Modulation sources encompass wheels, velocity, pressure, breath, key follow, and random inputs. The user interface is scalable from 70% to 200% and skinnable, providing flexibility in appearance.Starting Price: Free -
40
99Sounds
99Sounds
99Sounds is an indie sound design label launched by Bedroom Producers Blog in 2014. Our mission is to provide free sound effects and sample libraries of commercial quality, at no charge. All of our products will always be 100% royalty-free and offered as such for both commercial and non-commercial use. Subscribe to 99Sounds and get a notification whenever we release a new freebie. 99 Sound Effects is a free collection of cinematic impacts, braams, earth-shattering subs, and other modern sound effects. Free drum samples are crafted from scratch using various analog and digital sound sources. Premium drum sample collection. The sounds hosted on 99Sounds are completely royalty-free. You can use them for music and video production, game development, and any similar creative projects. Our sounds may not be redistributed or resold as part of another sound library or virtual instrument. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. -
41
SynthGPT
Fadr
SynthGPT, developed by Fadr, is a VST audio plugin that enables users to create playable instruments through text descriptions. By simply describing the desired sound, SynthGPT generates 100 options to choose from, streamlining the sound design process and fostering creativity. The plugin is compatible with all major Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and operating systems, available in VST3 format for Windows and both VST3 and audio unit formats for Mac. Currently in active development, SynthGPT is accessible in its beta version to Fadr plus subscribers, who can download it from their account page under the "plugins" tab. Fadr Plus is a subscription service priced at $10 per month or $100 per year, granting access to Fadr's advanced music technology, including SynthGPT. While an internet connection is required for initial login and sourcing new sounds, once a sound is loaded, it can be used offline indefinitely.Starting Price: $10 per month -
42
Dreamtonics Synthesizer V
Dreamtonics
Warmth and tonality are hallmarks of the human singing voice. Behind the scenes, Synthesize V leverages a deep neural network-based synthesis engine capable of generating incredibly life-like singing voices. Plus, unlike other solutions that utilize neural networks, our first-of-its-kind synthesizer is 100% offline yet runs at lightning-fast speeds. Bad connection? No worries, you will never lose access to your work. Experiment with an expanding inventory of voices ready to plug and play with Synthesizer V Studio. Dive deeper and customize voices with dynamic vocal modes like chest, belt, and breathy. Visualize your modifications in waveforms in real-time via the live rendering feature, helping you minimize hearing fatigue and reduce the idea-to-sound cycle. Synthesizer V AI voices are available natively in English, Japanese and Chinese. Plus, the cross-lingual synthesis feature breaks the language barrier, empowering any voice to sing in any of our three languages!Starting Price: $79 one-time payment -
43
Repro
u-he
Repro dives into the past for analog inspiration, meticulously modeling two famous synthesizers. Every detail of the original was captured using component-level modeling technology to create the most authentic model possible. All the subtle characteristics and quirks found in the originals are present in Repro. One product, one installer, two synths. The classic design gives you immediate access to all the raw power. Two oscillators, a self-oscillating 4-pole lowpass filter, an arpeggiator, a step sequencer, the unique modulation section, and five stomp-box effects can be arranged in any order. Hard-working, raw sounding, and immediately playable, it's a simple and intuitive synthesizer that belies a deep feature set capable of a wide range of sounds. Our plug-in version includes all the lovable quirks of this classic synth, but with a much more capable sequencer, lots of presets, several under-the-hood tweaks, and more modulation options.Starting Price: €149 one-time payment -
44
Klevgrand Slammer
Kleverb
Slammer is a multi-sampled drum plug-in that contains 30 different instruments made from a large number of carefully recorded and edited samples. Integrated custom-built real-time effects combined with some clever routing makes Slammer a versatile and flexible virtual instrument that is capable of rendering anything from natural acoustic to heavily distorted and compressed drum sounds. Each sound can be customized with a wide array of settings like pitch, filtering, effect sends, decay time, velocity mapping and much more. There’s also a “Dirt” section for distortion and compression, a reverb and tone control. The amount of “dirt” and reverb can be tweaked individually for each instrument. On top of all, Slammer comes with a set of factory presets, covering anything from light and slick to heavy and gritty. If you're looking for a drum instrument, giving you 'instant gratification' from the first hit, this is it.Starting Price: $39.99 one-time payment -
45
Nanologue
Steinberg
Nanologue brings the power of VST 3 technology to the iOS platform. As a streamlined version of the acclaimed VST 3 synthesizer Retrologue, Nanologue sports a straightforward multi-touch interface and a great-sounding virtual analog synthesizer for monophonic leads and basses and can be used stand-alone and in connection with your iOS host application. Boasting a wide scope of inspiring sounds and professional sound effects, the Nanologue is your first-choice monophonic synthesizer for all things music on iOS. Under the hood, Nanologue boasts a cross-modulation oscillator with two waveforms, glide, a VCF envelope, LFO, delay, and a filter section with cutoff, resonance, and distortion. With 50 presets the library offers a range of sounds and effects including leads, booming basses, and astonishing effects. User presets can be exported to the Retrologue VST instrument, included in Cubase and Cubase Artist. -
46
SampleTron
Ik Multimedia
SampleTron 2 combines the powerful sound engine of IK’s award-winning SampleTank 4 with our industry-leading tape modeling technology to recreate the distinctive, ultra-vibey sounds of tape-based samplers from the ‘60s and ‘70s, along with quirky early digital sample players and vocoders. This comprehensive collection features deep sampling of vintage Mellotron® and Chamberlin tapes, a collection of new acoustic “non-Tron” sounds with tape processing, and now enables you to load your own samples and create modern audiophile Tron sounds that are uniquely yours. 8GB virtual instrument collection of sought-after vintage and tape-based samplers. Over 400 tracks sampled from vintage Mellotrons, Chamberlins, Optigans and other rare pieces. Each preset can load three tracks to split, layer and solo from over 400 available. Features a collection of modern non-Tron and vintage digital sample-based instruments.Starting Price: $249.99 one-time payment -
47
Krotos Weaponiser
Krotos
Stun your audience with unique sound effects. Create original sound effects in a matter of seconds. Weaponiser is a powerful sound design sampler that lets you design, customize, and perform a huge range of sound effects quickly, all from within one plugin. Create assets and fully-fledged sounds quickly and effortlessly with a drag-and-drop, multi-sample interface. Hundreds of presets and thousands of assets, with the ability to easily import your own sounds. Four powerful sample engines that can trigger up to 80 audio files in countless variations. Plus, with three built-in synthesis engines also included, the sound design possibilities are truly endless. Trigger your sounds with MIDI for speed and precision. Perfect for spotting pictures as well as designing sounds. Choose from a diverse range of included sound libraries, all of which are easily accessible through the built-in browser. Incorporate them into your design via simple drag-and-drop functionality.Starting Price: $199 one-time payment -
48
Pendulate
Newfangled Audio
Pendulate, developed by Newfangled Audio, is a free chaotic mono synth that introduces a novel approach to sound generation through its double-pendulum oscillator. This unique oscillator design allows for seamless transitions from pure sine waves to complex, chaotic textures, enabling the creation of biting basses, searing leads, and gritty soundscapes. Inspired by the designs of synthesizer pioneer Don Buchla, Pendulate incorporates a wave folder and low pass gate, further expanding its sonic capabilities. The user interface features an innovative modulation system, permitting modulation of every control directly from the main page, with support for up to 325 simultaneous modulation routings. Additionally, Pendulate offers MPE support, enhancing expressive control with compatible hardware. The synthesizer comes equipped with 136 presets, including contributions from professional artists.Starting Price: $49 one-time payment -
49
Mixcraft
Acoustica
Created by musicians, for musicians, Mixcraft is unrivaled in the industry for its ease of use and raw power. Record and mix your tracks to perfection, in record time, with Mixcraft's incredibly intuitive interface, the lightning-fast sound engine, reality-defying pitch-shifting, and time-stretching technology, and nearly-universal support for third-party plug-ins, audio interfaces, and hardware controllers. Don't just take our word for it. There's a reason Mixcraft has been honored with so many awards from so many respected magazines, including Electronic Musician, Computer Music, MusicTech, and Keyboard Magazine. Record an unlimited number of audio and virtual instrument tracks, edit, crop, and crossfade sounds effortlessly, add tons of effects and automation, and mix and master your project to WAV, MP3, and other formats. Mixcraft's massive loop library features over 7,500 professionally-produced loops, music beds, sound effects, and percussion samples, in a massive array of genres. -
50
ACE
u-he
Compact, clear, careful selection of modules and semi-modular architecture makes ACE easy to learn. Simple but not simplistic. Compact but not limited, clear but definitely not underpowered. With the ability to connect any output to any input, ACE is a powerful synth with tools and features ready for beginners or seasoned users. The “boxes and cables” philosophy of modular synthesizers gives you the freedom to create your own custom instruments. Once you start connecting the sixteen modules in ACE, exploring new combinations, and cross-pollinating ideas, the vast potential of modular soon becomes clear. The two VCOs act as the main sound generators, but as ACE does not differentiate between audio and control (modulation) signals, the full-range LFOs can also be used to generate audio frequencies. ACE’s oscillators are modeled on analog circuits, including instabilities and various non-linear characteristics.Starting Price: €69 one-time payment
