BEST "One-Off" Virtual Synths [mostly FREE] | Making sense of it all...

I’d been planning to make this video for a while, for both beginners and experts!
Are all these free plugins good? Are many virtual synths all the same? How many and which VSTs really stand out? In this video, I review 20+ of the best virtual synths to help you decide which are worth keeping and using. I’m focused on the one-off synths instead of the dozens of synths that are included in bundles like NI Komplete 14, Arturia Collection and Korg Collection. I’m not looking at samplers and I’m avoiding the DAW specific synths from Logic, Ableton, Cubase and other DAWs. Yes - some great synths are included in your DAW and it’s wise to use learn them and use them, but 3rd party synths are very common, most are FREE and have unique attributes.
Making sense of what VSTs to keep and which to purge is a personal choice. When synths are free, it’s easy and low risk to download them and try them out. But, if you don’t use them after a few years, it clutters your plugin menu with junk. Furthermore, you need a strategy on which synths to use since there’s considerable over-lap in functionality and sound and even presets. It’s easier to focus on the synths that are best for you and stick to just a few.
Leave your comments. Did I miss anything?
#freeplugins #VirtualSynths #VSTs
Here’s what I included:
Essentials
1. Vital vital.audio/
2. Dexed asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
3. Surge XT surge-synthesizer.github.io/d...
4. TAL Noisemaker tal-software.com/products/tal...
5. Odin II thewavewarden.com/pages/odin-2
Experimental
6. Iris 2 www.izotope.com/en/products/i...
7. Pedulate www.newfangledaudio.com/pendu...
8. u-He Zebra HZ u-he.com/products/zebra-legacy/
Others…
9. OB-X1 www.discodsp.com/obxd/
10. BX Oberhausen www.plugin-alliance.com/en/pr...
11. Synth Expander - Cherry Audio cherryaudio.com/products/synt...
12. PPG Wave 2.2 waldorf-ppg-wave-2-v.updatest...
13. PPG Wave 3V waldorfmusic.com/ppg-wave-3-v...
14. u-He Triple Cheese u-he.com/products/triplecheese/
15. u-He Tyrell NG u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/
16. e-He Zebralette u-he.com/products/zebralette/
UAD Trio of Synths…
17. UAD PolyMax www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/in...
18. UAD Opal www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/in...
19. UAD Mini-Moog www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/in...
Find these on sale at Plugin Boutique pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=65b...
www.pluginboutique.com/search...
Just couldn’t say no….
20. Knifonium - Brainworx www.pluginboutique.com/produc...
21. Synthmaster Player - KV www.kv331audio.com/synthmaste...
22. BLEASS MonoLit www.bleass.com/monolit/
23. Behringer Vintage bedroomproducersblog.com/2024...
24. GForce - Axxess www.pluginboutique.com/produc...
25. Tela by Flors fors.fm/tela
📖 Chapters
00:00 Intro - what’s the problem with so many VST synths?
01:15 The Essentials | Popular, free and must haves.
07:57 Experimental sounding synths
11:56 Others… Oberhiem clones, Unique synths, 80’s wavetable synths, etc.
14:14 Quality free synths from u-He
16:14 UAD Virtual Synth Trio!
22:19 Just can’t say no to some….
28:03 Conclusions and advice
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[@colinowenuk]

Excellent vid. Thanks.

[@TheVillagePeephole-bb7tt]

Great review of all the virtual synths available 👍

[@JeffyG]

Glad you like them!