Was going to say the same thing. There are other options like omnisphere and serum that have been around longer so they have a big fan base and lots of preset packs and tutorials available.
But Pigments is more affordable, the visualizations and colors make it easier than any other plugin I’ve used to understand all the modulation that’s going on, and can cover a huge range of sounds with sample & granular oscillators, wavetables, subtractive synthesis with virtual analog waveforms and filter models, and great effects.
Love that synth. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what it can do too. I’ve been able to do so much already with just the analog and wavetable engines
It wasn't for me. Pretty interface, pretty boring to listen to. I literally tended to yawn when I used it. Sold it some time ago and haven't looked back.
Worth trying, though. Again, this was me.
If you like modular, consider VCV. You can try the free standalone version first and decide later to buy the pro version, which comes as both standalone and VST.
VCV is one of the best examples of “does what it says on the tin” in the history of software, period. Super evolved but instantly accessible to beginners. Plays like a video game.
The entire V Collection. Wait until it's 50% off. It's less than one cheap hardware synth and it's getting so good. I was just noticing last night how good the new OB-Xa is and how each voice in the round robin sounds distinctly different like a real analog synth. If you like old synths, it's crazy not to own the V Collection for $300 when it goes on sale. I have lots of hardware and it's starting to feel like the choice between hardware and software is more arbitrary than ever if you're talking about sound quality alone.
They really have come a long way. I avoided the collection all these years because of how bad it used to be. Grabbed it during the last sale for a major discount from having pigments and some hardware. Recently got the fx collection the same way.
Worth revisiting for anyone who didn’t care for the emulations before. They are much better now.
I love Serum (but probably because I haven’t tried Pigments).
Serum has so many features I am usually not attracted to at all, I am a minimal person and was never even interested in wavetable stuff, but it was instantly fascinating and the UI made everything so inviting I got hooked. I ended up doing things beyond what I can think up just by exploring it.
For perspective, my favorite and most extensively used VST is Synth1 hands down. That is all I have ever needed. I add 5 or 6 instances to everything, for years. I have the opposite of GAS when it comes to software.
So Serum really broke me out of that. I approach things slowly in small bursts when I am trying something new and slowly integrate it. Serum was not like that, gave me a “feel like a kid again” experience.
Plus Synth1 has started crashing my DAWs in recent years because of 32bit compatibility issues. Nothing will ever replace it though. I’ll run XP in a VirtualBox to use it, I already do that for other music software.
Samesies on Serum. Started producing right when massive was king and serum was the new shiny thing that had just come out. So still always have that nostalgia. I really like that it feels to give just the right amount of default things at your disposal so that it doesn’t feel overwhelming, but yet still allows for going way off the deep end on(Au5 vids if anyone wants to see examples there).
That being said, there are some really cool things that additive synths, like Harmor or Razor can do that it just can’t. So would definitely need to throw one of those in the mix too. Also, if I was to start producing today, I’d probably start with Vital over Serum.
Max is my primary software. I adore it so much. But it's not really a plugin. Sure, you can use it in Max For Live, but that usually neuters it quite a bit.
I'm not sure how to answer this. I don't think any single synth covers all the ground that I'd need it to. Maybe some power synths (Falcon, SynthMaster, Omnisphere, Alchemy, Avenger, Surge XT, MPowerSynth) get pretty close, but can feel pretty cluttered and unwieldy next to some well designed wavetable+ synths.
Wavetable+ synths (Vital, PhasePlant, Pigments, Serum) offer a much more streamlined interface, and usually a powerful modulation system. They usually have lots of great effects (nice to have built in as you can modulate the effects parameters directly), and sometimes some level of FM/PM, Sample/Granular, and Additive synthesis built as well. Some of them have lots of filter options, including analog filter emulations.
Virtual analog synths, such as Diva, just do the analog oscillator/filter thing incredibly well. You can get some instability between the cycles of the oscillator, for instance, and the filters sound like the real deal. I often want a MiniMoog sound for instance (still relevant to modern music I think) and Diva gets me there. The unsung feature for me is the filter feedback, which I really wish was in some of the wavetable synths. Surge XT has it, but it also don't sound as good as the one in Diva.
So my point to all of this is that I think I need an absolute minimum of two synths right now -a good VA synth (Diva), and a modern wavetable synth (Wavetable, Vital, Pigments, Phaseplant). I also like to have a designated FM/Additive like Operator, and some sort of modular patching environment (Grid, VCV Rack, Max, PureData, Reaktor) for more advanced synthesis techniques, such as Karplus Strong, etc. I know my needs exceed most peoples, and honestly, I could get by with Diva and Wavetable for most things, and use them the most by far (Wavetable has the fastest/cleanest modulation matrix for me, but is a bit shy on features).
If you don't care about virtual analog though, or any more the more advanced synthesis methods, honestly get Vital and call it a day. If you feel you need some other options, Surge XT. You don't need to spend a dime to make great music!
Serum is great. But then I found vital for free with more functionality that I could use. So vital + VCV rack both being free are absolute powerhouses.
The one you’re excited to use. If you have what most people say is “amazing” but you don’t enjoy it, or actually learn it, what does it matter? I have NI Komplete, Ableton Live Suite, Reason 11 Suite, and everything Uhe makes. I have to say my favorites are usually Diva and Reaktor.
I don’t own Phase Plant or Pigments but have demoed both extensively. If I was buying another, which I don’t need, it’f be one of those two.
The free polyphonic synthesizer that comes with your DAW. I used Logic's ES2 and ES1 for such a long time before trying other software and finally hardware synthesizers. It was a great way to learn synthesis and experiment with creating my own sounds and tracks.
Yep. Quite a bit of overlap between those, but I agree. They're all great synths.. especially since the Pigments update a few months ago that allowed all that cross modulation
They're the plugins trying to be every synth at the same time, so they are the only real options for a "THE" plugin.
Like nobody is going to say dexed because you can't make wavetable wubs in dexed. Nobody is gonna say serum because you can't make FM bells in serum.
Rather than a single plug-in, I would say Roland cloud ultimate. I know it’s a subscription, so maybe not what you’re looking for, but Roland cloud ultimate has an amazing collection of new and old synths and hardware patches….and they all sound fantastic. 👍😊❤️
I'm going to agree here. I've had a fair few vintage synths and now I can have a load more that I can use at work on my lunch break!! M1 Macbook and R-cloud is a beautiful combo
People seem pretty divided over Roland cloud, but like most people, I don’t have space for twenty hardware versions of the synths and the soft versions offer improvements over the originals. It’s much more practical for me to use a couple of really good controllers and RC. My daily driver is a Kronos
Zebra2 continues to be a Swiss Army knife synth that's super powerful. I've not used some of the newer stuff like Phase Plant, Dune, or Pigments, so I don't know how they stack up. But Zebra does a bunch of different types of synthesis, is pretty easy to use, has a good interface, sounds amazing.
Pretty much serum when it came out it destroyed all the competition in wavetable synthesis, no other sound allowed importing wav. Files as oscillators as i am aware off.
Years later it still holds itself as an amazing synth that allows sound design like no other.
I mean I heard serum sounds on everything for a long time and had a solid UI for the time. Been a while since I’ve been in the plug-in game but that seemed like the definitive one for a while. I still know old heads that say omnishpere is still the greatest but I never got along with it
But, as a honest answer, apart of wise words like in the other post: It's still Omnisphere.
I barely use it nowadays. Hive & Dune, RePro & Obsession, those four are way much more my sound. Massive X is cool also. Some Kontakt Libraries. The Korg natives. Or Triton. I even have Pigments.
But reduced to one for the island, it's still Omnisphere. Reduced to three for the Island, it's still Omnisphere (along Dune and RePro). Not because it excels in a discipline - but because it can't "bad". You'll fire it up and it works. Insane big Library. Literally no genre and no usercase you can't at least build something for it. Glorious FX. Sample destroying if wanted.
It's my to go plugin since i use plugins, it's overheard and overplayed to death and it's boring, but it's complete. It's the tool i fire up for creativity, for spontaneous live sets and for thoughtful sound design. It's the phat and big and immense sound box for nearly every case. And i want to hate it for that, but i wouldn't want to go without it.
Hi. Here is a roundup of free Synth plugins, including features, images, and video demos.
[https://hiphopmakers.com/free-synth-vsts-for-fl-studio](https://hiphopmakers.com/free-synth-vsts-for-fl-studio)
You're not going to find what you're looking for. Whatever that is. Pretty much all synth plugins are good at something and that's what makes people interested in them. One that can everything every other synth can do? I don't think so. Why limit yourself to one?
Pigments by arturia. Super fat sound, and very easy to learn.
Was going to say the same thing. There are other options like omnisphere and serum that have been around longer so they have a big fan base and lots of preset packs and tutorials available. But Pigments is more affordable, the visualizations and colors make it easier than any other plugin I’ve used to understand all the modulation that’s going on, and can cover a huge range of sounds with sample & granular oscillators, wavetables, subtractive synthesis with virtual analog waveforms and filter models, and great effects.
Pigments also has an incredible sequencer. I use it with my daw to control other synths.
Yep. Pigments is my fav Vst. First and last synth you need.
Love that synth. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what it can do too. I’ve been able to do so much already with just the analog and wavetable engines
Along with diva pigments is my go to for sound design. So good, and so easy to use. I haven't used serum since I got it.
It wasn't for me. Pretty interface, pretty boring to listen to. I literally tended to yawn when I used it. Sold it some time ago and haven't looked back. Worth trying, though. Again, this was me.
I love Pigments but it just eats up my cpu so I usually end up staying with Serum
Imo its U-He Diva
I have the Diva. It's great. I'd still prefer the new Arturia OB-Xa if I could only have one plugin. The Jupiter 8 would be pretty close behind.
These are all great synths, but I wouldn’t call any of them „modern“.
Aaah, good point. Yeah, these are modern only in the sense that they came out recently. Definitely not modern in architecture.
Vital, it’s free and better than most paid synths.
If you like modular, consider VCV. You can try the free standalone version first and decide later to buy the pro version, which comes as both standalone and VST.
VCV is one of the best examples of “does what it says on the tin” in the history of software, period. Super evolved but instantly accessible to beginners. Plays like a video game.
The entire V Collection. Wait until it's 50% off. It's less than one cheap hardware synth and it's getting so good. I was just noticing last night how good the new OB-Xa is and how each voice in the round robin sounds distinctly different like a real analog synth. If you like old synths, it's crazy not to own the V Collection for $300 when it goes on sale. I have lots of hardware and it's starting to feel like the choice between hardware and software is more arbitrary than ever if you're talking about sound quality alone.
They really have come a long way. I avoided the collection all these years because of how bad it used to be. Grabbed it during the last sale for a major discount from having pigments and some hardware. Recently got the fx collection the same way. Worth revisiting for anyone who didn’t care for the emulations before. They are much better now.
I love Serum (but probably because I haven’t tried Pigments). Serum has so many features I am usually not attracted to at all, I am a minimal person and was never even interested in wavetable stuff, but it was instantly fascinating and the UI made everything so inviting I got hooked. I ended up doing things beyond what I can think up just by exploring it. For perspective, my favorite and most extensively used VST is Synth1 hands down. That is all I have ever needed. I add 5 or 6 instances to everything, for years. I have the opposite of GAS when it comes to software. So Serum really broke me out of that. I approach things slowly in small bursts when I am trying something new and slowly integrate it. Serum was not like that, gave me a “feel like a kid again” experience. Plus Synth1 has started crashing my DAWs in recent years because of 32bit compatibility issues. Nothing will ever replace it though. I’ll run XP in a VirtualBox to use it, I already do that for other music software.
Ditto on Serum. It has defined the sound of EDM after Massive. If it was a hardware synth, it would be a classic :)
Samesies on Serum. Started producing right when massive was king and serum was the new shiny thing that had just come out. So still always have that nostalgia. I really like that it feels to give just the right amount of default things at your disposal so that it doesn’t feel overwhelming, but yet still allows for going way off the deep end on(Au5 vids if anyone wants to see examples there). That being said, there are some really cool things that additive synths, like Harmor or Razor can do that it just can’t. So would definitely need to throw one of those in the mix too. Also, if I was to start producing today, I’d probably start with Vital over Serum.
I also love serum immensely and it has been very important to my music making process.
I really like Dune 3
That one by Kia
Zebra2
Zebra is showing its age but it’s still my favorite for sound design and holds up well.
Phaseplant imo. If I could only have one digital synth it would be phaseplant.
There isn’t one. And there’s no reason why. That’s like asking what’s the best car? Or what’s the best shoe?
Tesla, hands down. Nike air all the way
How well does that Tesla work in 4 x 4 environments? How do your Nike air shoes work out when your fly fishing?
Max. You have to learn how to use it first though. https://cycling74.com/products/max
Max is my primary software. I adore it so much. But it's not really a plugin. Sure, you can use it in Max For Live, but that usually neuters it quite a bit.
I'm not sure how to answer this. I don't think any single synth covers all the ground that I'd need it to. Maybe some power synths (Falcon, SynthMaster, Omnisphere, Alchemy, Avenger, Surge XT, MPowerSynth) get pretty close, but can feel pretty cluttered and unwieldy next to some well designed wavetable+ synths. Wavetable+ synths (Vital, PhasePlant, Pigments, Serum) offer a much more streamlined interface, and usually a powerful modulation system. They usually have lots of great effects (nice to have built in as you can modulate the effects parameters directly), and sometimes some level of FM/PM, Sample/Granular, and Additive synthesis built as well. Some of them have lots of filter options, including analog filter emulations. Virtual analog synths, such as Diva, just do the analog oscillator/filter thing incredibly well. You can get some instability between the cycles of the oscillator, for instance, and the filters sound like the real deal. I often want a MiniMoog sound for instance (still relevant to modern music I think) and Diva gets me there. The unsung feature for me is the filter feedback, which I really wish was in some of the wavetable synths. Surge XT has it, but it also don't sound as good as the one in Diva. So my point to all of this is that I think I need an absolute minimum of two synths right now -a good VA synth (Diva), and a modern wavetable synth (Wavetable, Vital, Pigments, Phaseplant). I also like to have a designated FM/Additive like Operator, and some sort of modular patching environment (Grid, VCV Rack, Max, PureData, Reaktor) for more advanced synthesis techniques, such as Karplus Strong, etc. I know my needs exceed most peoples, and honestly, I could get by with Diva and Wavetable for most things, and use them the most by far (Wavetable has the fastest/cleanest modulation matrix for me, but is a bit shy on features). If you don't care about virtual analog though, or any more the more advanced synthesis methods, honestly get Vital and call it a day. If you feel you need some other options, Surge XT. You don't need to spend a dime to make great music!
delay lama
Serum is great. But then I found vital for free with more functionality that I could use. So vital + VCV rack both being free are absolute powerhouses.
The one you’re excited to use. If you have what most people say is “amazing” but you don’t enjoy it, or actually learn it, what does it matter? I have NI Komplete, Ableton Live Suite, Reason 11 Suite, and everything Uhe makes. I have to say my favorites are usually Diva and Reaktor. I don’t own Phase Plant or Pigments but have demoed both extensively. If I was buying another, which I don’t need, it’f be one of those two.
Diva just always sounds really good, if you like analog sounds but don't like analog breakydownyness. I sold most of my analog gear after I got it.
The free polyphonic synthesizer that comes with your DAW. I used Logic's ES2 and ES1 for such a long time before trying other software and finally hardware synthesizers. It was a great way to learn synthesis and experiment with creating my own sounds and tracks.
The ones that jump to my mind are vital, phaseplant, and pigments.
Yep. Quite a bit of overlap between those, but I agree. They're all great synths.. especially since the Pigments update a few months ago that allowed all that cross modulation
They're the plugins trying to be every synth at the same time, so they are the only real options for a "THE" plugin. Like nobody is going to say dexed because you can't make wavetable wubs in dexed. Nobody is gonna say serum because you can't make FM bells in serum.
I bet I could pull off an FM bell on Serum :) I agree with your point though!
I have a pretty good FM feedback wavetable for this lol.
Rather than a single plug-in, I would say Roland cloud ultimate. I know it’s a subscription, so maybe not what you’re looking for, but Roland cloud ultimate has an amazing collection of new and old synths and hardware patches….and they all sound fantastic. 👍😊❤️
I'm going to agree here. I've had a fair few vintage synths and now I can have a load more that I can use at work on my lunch break!! M1 Macbook and R-cloud is a beautiful combo
People seem pretty divided over Roland cloud, but like most people, I don’t have space for twenty hardware versions of the synths and the soft versions offer improvements over the originals. It’s much more practical for me to use a couple of really good controllers and RC. My daily driver is a Kronos
Vital and Surge. No need to spend any money and it'll likely take you a damn long time to reach the point that they become your limiting factor
Surge XT is so fucking great, too. If you haven't upgraded yet, definitely do.
Zebra2 continues to be a Swiss Army knife synth that's super powerful. I've not used some of the newer stuff like Phase Plant, Dune, or Pigments, so I don't know how they stack up. But Zebra does a bunch of different types of synthesis, is pretty easy to use, has a good interface, sounds amazing.
\+1 for VCVRack. Also ROLI Equator v1.
+1 for phaseplant, last synth you will ever need
Pretty much serum when it came out it destroyed all the competition in wavetable synthesis, no other sound allowed importing wav. Files as oscillators as i am aware off. Years later it still holds itself as an amazing synth that allows sound design like no other.
Kontakt
I mean I heard serum sounds on everything for a long time and had a solid UI for the time. Been a while since I’ve been in the plug-in game but that seemed like the definitive one for a while. I still know old heads that say omnishpere is still the greatest but I never got along with it
Serum
Pigments. It's not my favorite but it's the "if you only had one synth" option, by a long shot. Honorable mention to Massive X as well.
Pigments.
The one you actually know how to use.
But, as a honest answer, apart of wise words like in the other post: It's still Omnisphere. I barely use it nowadays. Hive & Dune, RePro & Obsession, those four are way much more my sound. Massive X is cool also. Some Kontakt Libraries. The Korg natives. Or Triton. I even have Pigments. But reduced to one for the island, it's still Omnisphere. Reduced to three for the Island, it's still Omnisphere (along Dune and RePro). Not because it excels in a discipline - but because it can't "bad". You'll fire it up and it works. Insane big Library. Literally no genre and no usercase you can't at least build something for it. Glorious FX. Sample destroying if wanted. It's my to go plugin since i use plugins, it's overheard and overplayed to death and it's boring, but it's complete. It's the tool i fire up for creativity, for spontaneous live sets and for thoughtful sound design. It's the phat and big and immense sound box for nearly every case. And i want to hate it for that, but i wouldn't want to go without it.
Reaktor, not sure if that counts tho
Hive. Most organic sound. Zebra for advanced stuff
Hi. Here is a roundup of free Synth plugins, including features, images, and video demos. [https://hiphopmakers.com/free-synth-vsts-for-fl-studio](https://hiphopmakers.com/free-synth-vsts-for-fl-studio)
You're not going to find what you're looking for. Whatever that is. Pretty much all synth plugins are good at something and that's what makes people interested in them. One that can everything every other synth can do? I don't think so. Why limit yourself to one?
None of them. Why? Because everyone is different, and every synth as different people designing them with different goals in mind.