We know it’s possible to make some pretty stellar music with free synth VSTs and those included in your DAW. But aren’t you ready for better sounds and more of them? If that sounds like you, then you’ll want to add a nice synth VST to your home studio’s arsenal of gear. There are many synth VSTs out there, but why not streamline the process? Below is a list of the best synth VSTs for home studios that are available at Sweetwater. Let’s check them out!
Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.6
With over 14,000 sounds and an expanded synthesis engine, Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.6 gives you more ways to create sounds than any previous version of Omnisphere! In its newest version, Omnisphere 2.6 includes 1,600 new patches, an all-new granular synthesis engine, an audio import function, and 500 DSP waveforms. Together, these features open the door for some remarkably unique sounds.
The gold standard for hip-hop and trap production, Omnisphere’s been used on hits from GOOD Music, Wiz Khalifa, The Weeknd, and other major artists. And, as you search through the massive library of presets, you’re bound to find a sound that’s perfect for the project you’re working on. If you’re the type who prefers to craft your sounds from the ground up, the granular synthesis engine lets you take any sound sample and manipulate it into a new one. Who knows, you may just create the world’s next sonic obsession.
Omnisphere 2.6 has hardware synth integration that turns your favorite supported hardware synthesizer into a hands-on controller. Popular models from Roland, Korg, Moog, Dave Smith, Nord, and Novation make up a portion of compatible hardware synthesizers. Be sure to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer to make sure your favorite synth is supported by Omnisphere 2.6.
UVI Synth Anthology 3
Bringing you the distinct sound of 132 acclaimed hardware synthesizers, the UVI Synth Anthology 3 covers practically every type of synth sound imaginable. You get meticulously sampled instruments from iconic synth manufacturers including Yamaha, Oberheim, PPG, Korg, ARP, Waldorf, Teenage Engineering, and many more. Loaded with over 3,400 multisampled patches to explore, this bundle is a comprehensive solution for music production and sound design alike. And because UVI’s sampling process incorporates top-shelf processing from the likes of Manley, Lexicon, SPL, and others, these virtual synths are production-ready as soon as you pull up a patch.
UVI Falcon 2
With its 16 oscillators, a powerful effects engine, and an innovative adaptable user interface, the UVI Falcon 2 software synthesizer offers virtually unlimited sound-shaping capabilities. Falcon 2 delivers big potential for sound designers and composers in particular, with support for up to 10.2 surround sound formats. Forward-thinking electronic musicians will love Falcon 2’s built-in MIDI processors, ranging from simple-yet-potent options like velocity re-mapping to advanced generative tools like Euclidean Tonal Sequencers. And with the ability to create fully scripted instruments with custom interfaces of their own, UVI’s Falcon 2 hybrid synthesizer is like a Pandora’s box of sound design tools.
Arturia V Collection 8
Arturia V Collection 8 is packed full of vintage sound reproductions, effects, and baked-in textures. This virtual instrument bundle includes more than 8,000 sounds from 28 vintage keyboards and synths with realism that only Arturia can capture. V Collection 8 includes a new version of Analog Lab with an overhauled user interface that’s easier to use than ever, tweaked instrument and preset browsing, and enhanced effects performance.
There’s a lot to explore inside V Collection 8! Here’s a quick preview of what’s waiting for you. Emulator II V provides old-school synth-pop textures that would make Depeche Mode envious! Jun-6 V is a modernized take on an ’80s polysynth. Say hello to chart-topping Billy Idol–esque arpeggiation. OB-Xa V’s 16-note polyphony and stadium-sized stereo spread open the door for immersive arrangements. Vocoder V serves up robotic vocal effects in the style of Daft Punk. There are plenty more goodies waiting inside V Collection 8, but you’ll have to find out for yourself. We don’t want to spoil the surprise! Whether you’re a fan of old gear or a forward-thinking sound designer, you need a copy of V Collection 8 for your home studio.
Output Exhale Modern Vocal Engine
With Output’s Exhale vocal synthesizer, the human voice is your oscillator. This 10GB sample instrument includes 500 presets to show you its vast sonic potential, covering everything from ethereal soundscapes and pads to synth-like textures with an undeniably human element to them. Suitable for everything from music production to film scoring, Exhale is a sound design playground with unique character. If you already have your bases covered when it comes to traditional synth sounds, Output Exhale will be the perfect complement to your virtual instrument collection.
Spectrasonics Keyscape Collector Keyboards
Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) affects most of us here at Sweetwater. For some of us, GAS has gotten so bad that hardware synth units have taken up entire rooms. If you have GAS and love vintage hardware synthesizers, then you’ll want to buy Spectrasonics Keyscape Collector Keyboards before your home fills up with dusty, old gear. Keyscape includes a horde of vintage equipment from famous to forgotten, each rendered in full definition by the gear junkies at Spectrasonics. Keyscape’s emulations are so good that they even have the sonic impurities and quirky noises that made each machine a classic. With Keyscape’s in-depth controls, every patch is totally customizable! You can spend hours tweaking and fine-tuning each patch to fit your playing style. If sound design isn’t your jam, Keyscape’s massive library of presets will ensure you have enough sounds to keep you sated for years to come. Best of all, Spectrasonics Keyscape functions as a plug-in in all major DAWs and fully integrates into Omnisphere 2.6 for ease of use. For fans of vintage keys, there’s no better VST for your home studio than Keyscape.
u-he Hive 2
With distinct synth engines, up to 16x unison, and tunable sub-oscillators, u-he Hive 2 is optimized for epic synth sounds. A 12×2 modulation matrix offers modifiers for curvature, rectification, sample & hold, and other modulation tweaks that open up a vast world of non-linear sound design. Hive 2 also provides some innovative workflow tools you don’t normally see on software synthesizers — you can solo individual oscillator or filter signals for in-depth sonic analysis of complex patches, and each synth module (oscillator, filter, matrix slots, etc.) can be saved, copied, and loaded as its own preset. Also notable are four user-definable X/Y control pads, perfect for mapping to external controllers for hands-on sonic manipulation. Best of all, u-he Hive 2 is optimized for low CPU usage, giving you massive production power without overloading your DAW session.
u-he Diva
The sheer variety of sounds offered by an analog synth is enough to make your head spin. And, if you want to create your very own analog synthesizer but don’t want to spend a fortune doing it, u-he Diva is the way to go. Diva (Dinosaur Impersonating Virtual Analog synthesizer) features cutting-edge modeling technology and circuit simulation that reproduce the analog character that many musicians love.
u-he outfitted Diva with five different filter models (Ladder, Cascade, Multimode, Bite, Uhbie) that make it a must-have VST for home studios. Each filter is derived from a classic hardware synthesizer and includes its own modulation options and cutoff and resonance controls. And, with the eccentricities of each filter, your tracks will benefit from dynamic filter sweeps without the filter-stepping or aliasing that plagues other synth VSTs. Filtering isn’t the only remarkable thing about Diva. It also has five classic oscillator modules (Triple VCO, Dual VCO, DCO, Dual VCO Eco, Digital) to give you tons of possibilities to experiment with. Mix and match different filters and oscillators to create the synthesizer of your dreams. The sky is the limit when it comes to the u-he Diva.
Arturia Pigments 2
Arturia Pigments 2 is an incredibly impressive wavetable and virtual analog synthesizer. It has mighty processing power, wavetable and granular synth engines, and Arturia’s analog-modeling technology for an ocean of available tones. Soft synths with this power commonly lack accessibility controls that home studios prefer. However, Pigments 2 has a control layout that makes tweaking your sound intuitive and easy.
Pigments 2 has plenty of tricks hidden within its code. We especially like the possibilities provided by the wavetable oscillator, Turing and binary generators, and quantized pitch modulation. That’s not all that Pigments 2 is capable of, but we don’t want to spoil all the fun for you! Plumb the depths of Pigments 2 and discover everything this VST synth can really do. If your home studio requires a forward-thinking VST synth, then you need Arturia Pigments 2. And, since it costs so little, this triple-threat VST synth is accessible to home studios everywhere.
KV331 Audio SynthMaster One
Loaded with tons of wavetable content, dual oscillators, and zero-delay feedback filters, the KV331 Audio SynthMaster One software instrument packs big creative potential into a simple and approachable interface. Of special note are the filters, whose zero-delay processing results in analog-like filter character. Its 16-step multimode arpeggiator/sequencer is perfect for generating rhythmic patches. SynthMaster One’s semi-modular architecture gives you comprehensive control over your synthesis signal flow, while a total of six effects insert slots give you that final polish without having to incorporate separate plug-ins. And with 500 factory presets created by a team of veteran sound designers, SynthMaster One makes it easy to explore its vast sonic range.
Native Instruments MASSIVE X
With its approachable wavetable synthesis engine combined with vast modulation options and creative effects, the original MASSIVE virtual synthesizer stood out in a crowded software market. And with MASSIVE X, you have even more sound-shaping potential with innovations such as playable modulation, ten different operating modes with unique contextual controls, pitch- and velocity-based modulation, and much more. Beyond wavetable synthesis, you also have all the tools you need to craft classic subtractive synth sounds. Complete with three insert effects that you can place anywhere in the signal path, MASSIVE X offers an amazing amount of creative potential.
Native Instruments Komplete 13
For home-based sound designers and music producers, Native Instruments Komplete 13 is an invaluable resource. With Kontakt 6, Massive X, Symphony Series Collection, and Session Guitarist at your disposal, almost any sound is within your grasp. From wobbling dubstep bass to clean and classic orchestral arrangements, Komplete 13 can do it all. And, if you have a Kontrol keyboard controller or a Maschine creation tool, this VST synth integrates seamlessly into your workflow with hands-on control. Whether you’re using it for music production or for cinematic sound design, Komplete 13 has the tools to take your creations to new heights.
Komplete 13 is available in a range of prices and features. If you’re just starting out, Komplete 13 Select gives you the essentials — over 50GB worth of sounds, Reaktor 6, and Kontakt 6! Komplete 13 ups the ante with more synthesizers, instruments, and 24 Kontakt expansions. Komplete 13 Ultimate offers a complete sound-design platform with upward of 840GB of content. And, to get it all, choose Komplete 13 Ultimate Collector’s Edition. It’s the ultimate production tool kit and contains more sounds than you could dream of using in your lifetime. Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer to talk about which version of Komplete 13 is right for your home studio.
Toontrack EZkeys
Toontrack’s EZkeys is your ticket to top-drawer piano parts — even if you’re not a piano player! With its professionally played and recorded sound samples, EZkeys sounds like the real thing. It’s super simple to use EZkeys to turn a simple idea into a fleshed-out arrangement, thanks to the songwriting function! The professionally played parts are easy to slice, chop, and slot into new places to make the performance wholly unique. EZkeys will even transpose your music into a new key for you! It’s not too good to be true — EZkeys is just that easy to work with. Finally, EZkeys works in standalone mode for performers or within a DAW for recording in your home studio.
There are multiple versions of EZkeys to choose from. Here are some favorites around Sweetwater. EZkeys Classic Electrics comes with a plethora of samples, most notably from Rhodes MK I and Wurlitzer 200A electric pianos. We also like EZkeys Upright Piano, which puts a premium Östlind & Almquist upright piano right into your home studio! If you decide that you need more sounds, then purchase the EZkeys Sound Expansion and download more sounds right away!
Unleash Your Creativity!
Any one of these VSTs will hold its own in your home studio, which is why it’s so hard to say which synth VST is the best in the world. If you find yourself designing your own sounds, then options like Omnisphere, Diva, and Pigments will serve you well. Those who prefer usable presets will welcome the wealth of possibilities provided by Komplete, V Collection, EZkeys, and Keyscapes. If you’re ready for a new synth VST but aren’t sure where to start, call Sweetwater at (800) 222-4700. We’re synth-savvy music makers and gear geeks just like you and can help you determine the best synth VST for your home studio in no time at all. And remember, no matter what VST you’re using in your home studio, it’s how you use your VSTs that counts.
