Pg 8x Vst Free
Free is the magic number… particularly when starting your music production journey, or operating on a tight budget.
Adam Hignell takes a look at some incredible VST Plugins you can get for exactly zero dollars.
PG-8X - Developer: sites.google.com/site/mlvst0/.
Award-winning AU + VST plugins for music composition.
- If this helps anyone in debugging: there is a pg-8x.map file that is getting updated correctly as far as I can tell (assigning CC 7 to cutoff with min of 0 and max of 5, clicking 'Make default' and re-loading the VST results in file contents of 20 7 0 0.5 but incoming CC 7 messages still have no effect).
- The VST can be downloaded below in the attachments section. In order to play it as a stand-alone synth, one can use SAVIHost. There is a thread discussing this synth on the KVR forums. Click here for a demo video. If you find this synth useful and want to support the development, feel free to donate something.
- Use Captain Plugins to write your own Chord Progressions, Hooks, Melodies and Basslines
- Export to your DAW
- Available on Mac and Windows.
N.B Unless stated, the following instruments are compatible with Mac and Windows OS, although not necessarily Catalina at time of publishing.
Steinberg Model E
A free clone of a classic synth, that’s so good even Hans Zimmer uses it? Step forward Steinberg’s Model E. It’s an emulation of the legendary Moog Model D, a monophonic synth that is one of the most celebrated of all time.
You know what a Model D sounds like, even if you’ve never played one, because you’ve heard in so, so many songs. It’s got analog power, character, warmth and tone in abundance – something that’s hard to emulate digitally. Many manufacturers have tried and failed to come up with something as big-sounding as Steinberg’s freebie!
It even goes further than the classic monophonic, 3 VCO engine, by adding up to 64 voices and the capacity for 16 multitimbral parts.
Dexed
Disclosure alert; a good number of the best free VST Instruments are clones of famous classics. So it is with Dexed, which is technically a patch editor for the Yamaha DX7. However, it has its own in-built FM synth engine which sounds pretty amazing. It isn’t the easiest to use interface, but it’s a very faithful recreation of the DX7, and it can roll out some amazingly diverse sounds. There are even some decent preset patches to get you started.
U-He Tyrell N6
I hope you’re sitting comfortably, because this one’s a bit of a story…
The Tyrell N6 has no right to be free, it’s that good. If I could only pick one free synth, it would be this. In fact, I often choose it above VST Instruments with a considerably higher price-tag.
It’s not so much a clone, as an homage. Rather than recreating the sound of a particular classic synth, it can recreate many such legends, like the JUNO-106 or the Moog Model D. The 8-voice engine and architecture was created by U-He, so you know it’s gonna sound pretty decent. There are 2 VCO oscillators and a ludicrously deep Sub Oscillator. VCO Oscillator 1 has 4 wave shapes; Square, Triangle, Saw and what looks to be a Super Saw, while Oscillator 2 has either Triangle or the aforementioned Suoper Saw. Interestingly, both oscillators are wavetable, so varying degrees of input can be garnered from each shape. Presumably, the Sub Oscillator is a Sine wave. In lay terms, that just means there are 3 powerful voices to create your patch, which you can mix together in different degrees for tone control.
There are also Noise, Ring Modulation and Feedback engines, plus Vibrato, Glide and a sweet-sounding Pulse Width Modulator. Add in 2 ADSR envelopes, 2 LFOs, a frankly brilliant Chorus and an equally brilliant Ladder Filter. And, a Mod Matrix… Seriously, this is a synth that should not be free!
The interestng back-story to the N6 starts with a bunch of Germans who love the movie Blade-Runner. Inspired by the replicants (AKA Clones) of the movie, they decided to create their own replicant of a classic synth architecture. Most would have stopped there, but thanks to continuous input from U-He, the synth gets regular updates (including Catalina compatibility) and has even been integral to Behringer’s design of their popular DeepMind hardware synth line.
Martin Lüder’s PG-8X
For me, one of the most underrated classic synths is the Roland JX8-P. Full disclosure; I do on one, and am hopelessly biased. That said, if you want creamy, warm leads, pads, organs and electric pianos, it’s one of the most elegant options going. It can also do unique, abrasive and wild sounds thanks to its powerful DCO/VCO oscillators. Although you do have to ignore the clunky user interface.
For whatever reason, nobody seems to have wanted to create a VST version, until Martin Lüder. He created an open source VST version that doubles as a patch editor for the hardware – similarly to Dexed. And it sounds great. It even has an additional Chorus effect and greater polyphony (12 voices, not 6). If you’re after deep pads or classic 80s style synth sounds, this free plugin instrument might be a secret weapon for you.
Spitfire Audio – LABS
Spitfire Audio are a London-based collective of musicians, producers, engineers and composers who are all active in the industry at large, and contribute their skills and sounds to the ever-expanding LABS platform. Part sample library, part VST Instrument collection, delve into the world of LABS and you’ll discover a rich collection of instantly useful sounds. Regularly updated, and with collections as esoteric as ‘Granular Whalesong’ and ‘Moon Guitar’, it’s a stunning repsoitory of pro-grade sounds and samples.
To use LABS, you need to install the app from their website, open it and install the sound packs you desire – ie all of them! Then, open your DAW and load the LABS VST Instrument. All your downloaded/installed packs are available as sampler instruments.
Choose a sound and play with your MIDI or computer keyboard. You can control velocity and volume, plus a couple of effects per pack. LABS can be assigned to any MIDI channel just like a regular synth.
NI Komplete Start
Funnily enough, my description of Spitfire LABS applies almost verbatim to NI Komplete Start. Like LABS, it’s a sample-based VST Instrument that you download and install sample packs to play in the UI. Unlike LABS, however, Kontakt Start also comes with 18 effects, plus several full synths, and a bunch of loops and samples. It’s more than enough for any rookie producer to get up and running withoput spending a penny!
Looking for free effects plugins? Check out our top selections here
About the author:
Adam Hignell is a music producer, mastering engineer, DJ and label-owner based in Brighton, UK. When not providing content and tech support for Mixed In Key, he produces music under the alias Don Dayglow, provides professional mastering and mixing services, and runs the independent Disco/House label Particle Zoo.
Write Your Own Original Compositions With Captain Plugins
It’s super easy to create your own ideas from scratch. Visit the official Chords homepage and see how it will help you explore music and write your own original productions.
We covered the best free synthesizer plugins in a recent article. But what are the best free retro synthesizers? Find out in the list below and return to free VST plugins for more software.
The retro 80s sound is more popular than ever. Genres like synthwave and chillwave are the perfect soundtrack for working from home while daydreaming about night rides on open highways.
But you don’t have to be a retro synth geek to love the sound of vintage synthesizers. One can hear the emulated sounds of retro polysynths in the chart-topping hits from mainstream artists like Dua Lipa and The Weeknd.
If you’re into making synthwave music, chances are you’ll need a good virtual analog synthesizer for your digital audio workstation. Help yourself to our Top 10 list of free retro synth VST plugins.
Free Retro Synthesizers: Top 10
These are the best free vintage synthesizer emulation VST plugins:
- PG-8X (Roland JX-8P)
- OB-Xd (Oberheim OB-Xa)
- Mono/Fury (Korg Mono/Poly)
- Fury-800 (Korg Poly-800)
- TAL-U-No-62 (Roland Juno-60)
- Tyrell N6 (Roland Juno-60)
- Dexed (Yamaha DX7)
- Viking (Moog Voyager)
- Synth1 (Nord Lead 2)
- Nils K1v (Kawai K1)
Read more about each instrument below and scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Honorable Mentions.
PG-8X
PG-8X emulates Roland’s legendary JX-8P analog synthesizer. The original JX-8P sounded huge, but it lacked in the hands-on control department. Users had to dive through menus to program new sounds.
That’s why Roland released the PG-800 controller. It was an external hardware device that made programming the Roland JX-8P and Super JX synthesizers a far more user-friendly affair.
The free PG-8X synthesizer by Martin Lüders gives the best of both worlds. You’re getting a detailed emulation of JX-8P’s analog synthesis engine and the control layout borrowed from the PG-800 controller.
PG-8X truly shines as a synthwave instrument. It’s one of those rare virtual instruments that sound analog-like almost effortlessly.
Create eye-watering lush pads and earth-shattering analog basslines in the blink of an eye. Turn on the Unison mode for instant fat leads. Also, the included chorus module applies an immediate retro-boost to any sound.
More info:PG-8X Free vst fruity loops mac.
Pg 8x Vst Free Plugins
OB-Xd
OB-Xd takes inspiration from the Oberheim OB-X analog synthesizer. The original was the analog weapon of choice for brass sounds, pads, and punchy bass.
Thankfully, this freeware plugin from discoDSP nails that classic Oberheim sound. It also comes with an extensive collection of presets that serve as an instant source of legendary analog sounds.
Even better, OB-Xd is easy to program thanks to its user-friendly interface. Beginners and sound design experts alike shouldn’t have any issues with building custom synth patches from scratch.
2Dat originally developed the OB-Xd. He later provided the source code to discoDSP, who are now handling the development and support.
You can use OB-Xd for free. The developers are accepting an optional $49 donation from users who want to support their work.
More info:OB-Xd
Mono/Fury
Full Bucket Music’s website is a treasure trove of emulated analog synthesizers. Even better, all of their vintage-inspired virtual instruments are free. We had a hard time selecting just two Full Bucket Music plugins for this article.
That said, be sure to check out everything else this talented developer has to offer. And be sure to support their work with a donation if possible.
Our first Full Bucket Music pick is the Mono/Fury plugin, which models the Mono/Poly analog synthesizer by Korg. Mono/Fury emulates all the original instrument’s quirks and peculiarities, including the unique polyphony mode. Each voice triggers a different oscillator, resulting in some complex multi-layered timbres when playing chords and melodies.
At the same time, Mono/Fury comes will all the handy features of a modern-day audio plugin. It has a preset manager, supports MIDI learn and automation, and features a state-of-the-art zero-delay feedback low-pass filter with self-oscillation.
Mono/Fury operates as a VST and Audio Unit plugin in all compatible digital audio workstations on PC and Mac.
pokemon emerald randomizer mac downloadMore info:Mono/Fury
Fury-800
Ah, another Full Bucket Music plugin and another Fury. This one is a personal favorite of mine as it models the Korg Poly-800, a cheap analog hybrid synthesizer that I owned back in the day. It featured digitally controlled oscillators and a terrible (in a charming way) analog filter.
The original Poly-800 is the exact opposite of what you’d expect from an analog synthesizer. It sounds lo-fi, thin, and plasticky. But sometimes that is precisely the type of sound you need for an 80s-inspired music track.
The killer feature here is Poly-800’s chorus module. It’s super noisy, and the pitch goes all over the place. If Korg manufactured the Poly-800 in 2020, I think they would label the effect as “VHS mode” instead of a chorus.
Pg 8x Vst Free Download
Anyway, the Fury-800 takes all of these charming Poly-800 features and packs them in a convenient virtual instrument for PC and Mac. By all means, the Fury-800 plugin is a must-have if you’re into synthwave production.
More info:Fury-800
TAL-U-No-62
TAL-U-No-62 is an old-school virtual instrument that emulates an old-school analog synthesizer. It is a virtual recreation of Roland’s legendary Juno-60 synth.
Togu Audio Line’s freeware Juno is more than a decade old. As a result, it doesn’t offer the latest and greatest DSP technology and analog emulation. However, TAL-U-No-62 is still a pretty solid virtual analog instrument that undeniably captures that classic Juno-60 vibe.
TAL-U-No-62’s oscillators and the low-pass filter won’t blow you away. But, the chorus module is where this virtual Juno-60 keeps its secret sauce. Turn on the chorus effect, and TAL-U-No-62 instantly sounds much closer to the original hardware.
Even better, you can download that same chorus as a standalone effect from Togu Audio Line’s website. Use the free TAL-Chorus-LX in combination with any virtual instrument for that lush 80s sound.
It’s also worth noting that the same developer offers a more advanced (but still fairy priced at €51) version of this instrument. The paid version is called TAL-U-NO-LX, and it’s the best Juno-60 emulation on the market.
More info:TAL-U-No-62
Tyrell N6
Tyrell N6 by U-He is loosely based on the Juno-60. We originally included it in the “Honorable Mentions” section of this article because Tyrell N6 isn’t a 1:1 recreation of any analog synthesizer. However, we decide to move it to the Top 10 list, following the suggestion from one of our readers (thanks, BenJ!).
You can think of Tyrell N6 as an 80s analog synth on steroids. All the usual components are there (a couple of analog oscillators, a multi-mode filter, a lush chorus), and you get a few valuable extras like a modulation matrix, ring modulation, feedback, and more.
A dream to program, thanks to its intuitive interface, Tyrell N6 also has dozens of freely downloadable sound banks. Some of these were created by professional sound designers.
Coming from the developers of industry-leading virtual analog synthesizers like Diva and Ace, the freeware Tyrell N6 is an absolute must-have in any analog synth aficionado’s plugin collection.
More info:Tyrell N6
Dexed
Dexed is a virtual recreation of the Yamaha DX7 and the only FM synth on this list. The plugin emulates the original DX7 so well that it supports its SysEx messages. As a result, Dexed can work as a patch editor for the hardware DX7.
Now, the unfortunate thing about FM synthesizers is that they’re hard to program. But, the good news is that there are thousands of Yamaha DX7 patches available online. And yes, you can load them in Dexed.
Use Dexed for 80s electric piano sounds, pads, FM bells, and let’s not forget the Lately Bass patch.
More info:Dexed
VK-1 Viking Synthesizer
VK-1 Viking Synthesizer emulates the Moog Voyager analog monosynth. Now, the Moog Voyager isn’t exactly retro, but it dates back to 2002. And Moog discontinued the Voyager in 2015 with over 14,000 units sold.
The Voyager combined a pair of Moog’s signature ladder filters with three continuously variable wave oscillators, putting a modern twist on the classic Moog sound.
The free VK-1 Viking Synthesizer from Blamsoft is a rather precise emulation of the Voyager.
VK-1 Viking Synthesizer uses zero-delay feedback filters and advanced techniques for avoiding oscillator aliasing. Also, the developers matched the oscillators and envelopes to their hardware counterparts through precise and extensive measurements.
More info:VK-1 Viking Synthesizer
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Synth1
Ichiro Toda’s legendary Synth1 is one of the oldest freeware synthesizers around. Released almost two decades ago (on October 9th, 2002), there’s no denying that Synth1 is a vintage plugin. But it aged incredibly well.
Despite it being a retro plugin, Synth1 emulates the Nord Lead 2 very well. And its deceptively simple-looking user interface offers a surprising amount of synthesis firepower.
Even ten years ago, users praised Synth1 for its low CPU usage. Can you imagine how well it works on modern multi-core processors? You can use dozens of Synth1 instances in a project without hurting your computer’s performance.
However, Synth1’s most significant advantage is the incredible amount of available presets. There are hundreds of Synth1 soundbanks out there, making it the perfect choice for users who don’t like programming sounds from scratch.
More info:Synth1
Nils K1v
Nils K1v faithfully emulates the Kawai K1 digital synthesizer. It includes K1’s original factory bank and all ROM card expansions, and all this adds up to 768 presets.
The user interface mimics the original Kawai K1 module, with additional on-screen controls for parameters like envelopes and filters. This combination works quite well in the plugin format. Accessing the presets is easy, and tweaking the Kawai K1 sounds in real-time is fun.
The coolest feature in Nils K1v is the ability to morph the preset using the XY controller. It’s a fun way to add movement to pads and huge atmospheric sounds that the Kawai K1 was known for.
More info:Nils K1v
Free Retro Synthesizers: Honorable Mentions
These are retro synth plugins that haven’t made our Top 10, but they’re still worth checking out:
- SQ8L (Ensoniq SQ80)
- Cobalt (Korg DW8000, Ensoniq ESQ-1, and Kawai K3)
- Phuturetone Phutura (Roland Alpha Juno-1)
- Steinberg Model-E (Moog Model D Minimoog)
- Tal-Bassline (Roland SH-101)
- Manx Gigmate(Concertmate MG-1, thanks to Christian H. for the tip!)
- K Brown Synth Plugins (various synthesizers)
- Syntronik Free(various synthesizers)
Feel free to suggest additional plugins for this article in the comments section below.
Return to free VST plugins.