Tag Archives: emulation

Free VST emulations of famous synths / hardware

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The magic of software virtual instruments ! Recreating known piece of hardware, emulating famous synth, trying to capture the spirit of a machine, attempting to copy the sound and feeling of an instrument!

Here’s a compilation of all the articles about free VST plugins that try to emulate the most famous synths, plus links to the freeware plugins that are the only one to recreate a kind of machine (they didn’t get an article). Below is a list of best free VST emulations.

TB 303 + cat in space

TB 303 + cat in space

Here you can find free virtual alternatives to the classic analog synths :
MiniMoog, Arp 2600, Arp Odyssey, Synthi VCS3, Obeirheim OB-X

There are also your favorite FM / Vector Synthesis / “digital” synths :
Yamaha DX7, Prophet VS, PPG Wave, Ensoniq SQ80

The usual techno/trance suspects are here too :
Roland TB303, Alpha Juno, Juno 60, JP-8000, Korg Mono / Poly, Clavia Nord Lead 2

We did not forgot the Jazzy/Funky/Rock famous instruments :
Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond B3 organ, Farfisa combo organ, Hohner Clavinet, Wurlitzer E-piano, Mellotron & Arp Solina.

And even the antic Theremin + some funky toys : Speak and Spell & Stylophone.

This is work in progress, i’ll add free VSTi plugin if we find some new free recreation of well known synthesizers.

All the VSTi in this list are freeware.

Here we go :

1. Minimoog

freemoog

https://blog.wavosaur.com/best-free-vst-minimoog-emulation/

 

2. ARP 2600

arppe2600VA

https://blog.wavosaur.com/2-free-arp-2600-vst-emu-preset-banks/

 

3. ARP Odyssey

oddsay

https://blog.wavosaur.com/4-free-arp-odyssey-vst-emulation-128-presets/

 

4. VCS3 Synthi AKS

cynthia

https://blog.wavosaur.com/free-ems-vcs3-synthi-aks-vst-emulations/

 

5. Oberheim OB-X / OB-Xa / OB-8

obxd

https://obxd.wordpress.com/

 

6. Roland TB 303

venom303

https://blog.wavosaur.com/best-free-tb-303-emulation-sotware-vst-plugins-standalone/

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7 free Arp Solina VST emulation

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Let’s go crazy (diamond)

 

1 Cheeze Machine by Big Tick audio

Cheese Machine VST

Cheese Machine VST

http://www.bigtickaudio.com/goodies/cheezemachine

One of the oldest VSTi around the web, but still refreshing. You have the ensemble sound + the phaser + the reverb => you got the ARP Solina string sound. Kind of.
An Audio Unit version is also available for Mac OS X.
It just lacks a 64 bit version.

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3 Free Speak and Spell VST emulations

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That is correct !

The Speak and Spell ! the toy that everybody love to “bend”.
You can hear the sounds of the Speak & Spell in countless songs, from LFO techno anthem “LFO” to obscure Japanese techno pop tracks. The magic of Linear Predictive Encoding + funky electronic = the sound we all need.
We found about three free VST plugins that are inspired by the 80’s speaking toy.
They’re all sample based, but funny :

1. Speak N Spell 80 by GrooveZing

Speak N spell 80 VST

Speak N spell 80 VST

http://www.groovezing.com/en/plugins/speaknspell80.php

Based on samples from the Speak and Spell toy, this plugin let you map the synthetic words on the MIDI keyboard; or play any word / combination of words like a sampler.
React to pitch bend, and is available in 32 & 64 bit for Windows!
The project is recent so let’s hope it will get some update, with more BEND options !

 

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2 Free Arp 2600 VST emu (+ preset banks)

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We have searched on all the web for free VST emulation of the Arp 2600 synth :
unfortunately, there’s really only one. The good news is that it’s a very good emu!
**edit **: une fois n’est pas coutume we have not searched deep enough ! Thanks to BlackWinny (see the first comments), another Arp 2600 like emu is available for the masses!

Come on let’s do it :

 

1. Arppe2600va by Glen Stegner

Arp 2600 VA VST

Arp 2600 VA VST

http://glenstegner.com/softsynths.html

Based on the Richard brooks Synthedit source, the Arppe2600va is a must have, for all semi modular virtual analog lovers. Despite some bugs it has all you need : three oscillators, an ADSR generator, a LFO, a Sample & Hold Unit, a Filter, a spring reverb and many more!

If you are not familiar with the Arp 2600 you may have a look at the manual before programming some patches :
http://soundprogramming.net/manuals/Arp_2600_Manual.pdf

This (free!) eBook by Samuel Ecoff is also a must :
https://blog.wavosaur.com/download/arp2600fundamentalsofmusictechnology.pdf

The matrix on the Arppe2600va VST is less fun that “patch chord” but is very powerful and easy to use.

Bonus !! 2 Free Preset Banks for Arppe 2600 va :

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4 Free VSTi emulations of Farfisa Organ

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Good old transistor organs from the 60’s, the Farfisa manufacturer is associated to the portable combo organ, the characteristic sound of the electronic organ is all you need.
So we compiled some free VSTi that are able to emulate electric organ.
portable organ 4 all !

1. Combo F by Martinic

Comob Model F

Comob Model F

http://www.martinic.com/combof/

The most popular free Farfisa VST emulation, it’s modelled after the Farfisa Combo organ, and available for Windows and Mac OSX, both 32 & 64 bit.

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7 Free VSTs for Hammond B3 emulation

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The Hammond B3 organ.
Additive synthesis at its best !
Suitable for Jazz, Rock, Gospel, Blues, Ballad, House, Funk, Cheesy reprise of anything, Ballad, Dance, Pop, Hard Rock, etc..
Some history here : http://theatreorgans.com/grounds/docs/history.html  + some facts

i have selected 7 free drawbar organ VSTi emulations of the Hammond B3.
Let’s groove :

 

1. AZR3 by Rumpelrausch

AZR3: B3 organ VST

AZR3: B3 organ VST

http://untermkittel.de/rumpelrausch/?PLUGINS

Not only free, it’s also open source.
This is a very good drawbar emulation, with onboard FX, nice saturation, and the speaker leslie emulation. Perfect for emulating gospel organ and rock organ. And check the “NHL” preset!

WhiterShadeOfPale

As all the other plugins in this list are 32 bit, it could be nice to compile a 64 bit version.
** EDIT** => here is the 64 bit version for Windows : download  Azr3 B3 organ VST 64 bit
and the sources

There’s also a MAC version here 

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3 Stylophone VSTs !

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13.

“The famous Dubreq Stylophone !”

 

 

The stylophone is a toy synth, created by Brian Jarvis in a psychedelic era.
It was used by Kraftwerk, David Bowie, Pulp, Erasure and Dimitri from Paris.
We have found 3 virtual instruments on the interweb that try to capture the crunchy sound of the stylophone.

Let’s go:

1. Superwave Stylophone VST

Stylophone freeware

Stylophone freeware

http://www.superwavesynths.co.uk/product_stylophone.htm

The best one ! the most fidel, with vibrato.

Who needs a Clavioline when there’s a Stylophone:

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6 free VST emulation of Roland Juno 60 Juno 160 & Juno 6

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Some free VSTi try to emulate (more or less faithfully) the sound of the Roland Juno‘s synths (Juno 60, Juno 106 & Juno 6). All these synths were and are still popular. The Juno 106 were used by Acrid Abeyance and can also be heard in countless techno trax.
Get ready for fat chorus ! here’s a selection of freeware plugin :

1. TAL U-NO-62

TAL U-NO-62 VST

TAL U-NO-62 VST

DL : http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-u-no-62

Available in 32 & 64 bit for Windows and MAC OS X (in VST & AU format).
The best VSTi to get Juno60ish sounds, trust the chorus ! trust the chorus.
dont forget to check out the other plugins by TAL, the chorus is available as a separate VST effect !
Check the “power pad” preset : the sound is full.
Great for bass and pad, few controls for easy tweaking. Pump up the bass!

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Free EMS VCS3 & Synthi AKS VST emulations

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Back to the 70’s !
EMS created the VCS3 (also called ‘the putney’ ), then, based on the VCS3, the Synthi A and Synthi AKS. A portable synth in a suitcase ! A James Bond suitcase.

Some VST plugins (freeware) tried to recreate the original semi modular design of this synth, here’s the list :

 

1. Cynthia VST by NineCows

Cynthia VST

Cynthia VST

http://ninecows.dk/cynthia/

Cynthia is a free EMS VCS3 VST emulation. It was developed with Synthedit, so it’s for Windows (32 bit) hosts.
Don’t forget to read the manual it’s clear and instructive.
The Cynthia VST come with two dll files : it can also be used as effect, for processing your audio input.

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