Best synth plugins 2024: 10 of the best polyphonic synth plugins for all genresThere are loads of reasons to opt for a software synthesizer over a hardware one. Software can faithfully emulate and expand iconic models, offer brave new sounds, and even present fresh ways to synthesise audio – all at prices that are typically far lower than their physical counterparts.

READ MORE: 10 of the best freeware soft synths

From legendary models to complex modular setups and newfangled instruments, there are countless software polys to choose from. We’ve rounded up 10 of our favourites, all with their own quirks that will keep you busy for hours on end.
U-he Diva: A synth stalwart that still holds up today

Price: $173/£138
Synthesis: Virtual Analogue/Subtractive

Diva is, without doubt, one of the most popular soft synths out there.
Originally launched in 2011 by U-he – which shows how well it holds up – Diva is renowned for its various emulations of iconic synth components, such as the oscillator sections based on the Moog Minimoog, Roland Alpha Juno-2, Roland Jupiter series, Korg MS-20 and Roland JP-8000. There are also filters based on the Moog Ladder filter, Oberheim SEM filter and more.
Even now, ten years after its original release, producers are taken aback by its pristine, detailed sound, and its performance against vintage analogue synthesizers. The Trimmers panel allows you to go all-out on making Diva sound more analogue, with voice detuning per oscillator, voice drift and more. If you’re in the market for some retro synth flavours, Diva should be one of your first stops.
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Check the latest deals for Diva on Thomann.
Arturia Pigments 5: Inviting and powerful — one of our favourites

Price: $206/£164
Synthesis: Subtractive, wavetable, sample-based & additive

Arturia’s Pigments is now in its fifth iteration and more powerful than ever. This synth plugin looks and feels inviting to play thanks to bright and detailed visualisers and its drag-and-drop-style modulation stacking. It sounds rich and detailed, too, thanks to its five sound engines, which provide a wide range of sonic possibilities for users to explore and manipulate. You’ll also find loads of flexible filters and effects, including eleven filter models and 18 high-quality effects, so you can further shape your sound.
Pigments is so good, that its past three editions have all deservedly been awarded 10/10 by MusicTech. In our review of Pigments 5, we confirmed that it is still “one of our absolute favourite synths”.
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Check out the latest deals for Pigments 5 on Thomann.
GForce Oberheim OB-X: Fat, vintage sounds

Price: $139/£111
Synthesis: Virtual analogue/Subtractive

GForce’s OB-X is the first-ever officially endorsed emulation of Oberheim’s iconic OB-X synth, having been created in close cooperation with Tom Oberheim himself.
The GForce Oberheim OB-X captures its authentic sound, offering monophonic, polyphonic, legato, and unison trigger modes, as well as programmable Aftertouch. It goes further than the possibilities of hardware, with expanded Velocity controls and a robust preset browser offering over 400 production-ready presets. It also incorporates GForce’s X-Modifier technology for comprehensive sound modulation.
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Check the latest deals for OB-X at Thomann.
UAD x Moog Minimoog: The icon in your DAW

Price: $250/£199
Synthesis: Subtractive/Virtual Analogue

Oberheim and GForce aren’t the only brands to have worked together on a software emulation of a legendary synth. In 2023, Universal Audio and Moog officially launched a plugin version of the legendary Minimoog Model D, initially launched in 1970.
This plugin synth, you could argue, is as good as you’re going to get when it comes to recreating this classic synth. Using custom robotics for precise knob measurements, it accurately replicates module-to-module coupling and impedance, resulting in near-zero latency. Universal Audio has also effectively rebuilt Moog’s renowned ladder filters, oscillators and detailed pitch tracking anomalies, making for distinctive, distorted, off-kilter hardware Moog sonics.
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Check the latest deals for UAD x Moog Minimoog on Plugin Boutique.
Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.8: Vast sound palette with an intuitive layout

Price: $479/£339
Synthesis: Sample, wavetable, granular, FM

Spectrasonics’ flagship soft synth is not to be overlooked. Omnisphere uses its unique STEAM synthesis and sampling engine to deliver over 14,000 inspiring sounds that you can manipulate using granular, wavetable and FM synthesis, among other timbre-warping techniques. You can load up to 20 oscillators per patch and modulate them using eight LFOs, 12 envelopes and 34 filter types, with the Flex-Mod modulation matrix helping you get detailed with sound design. There are then 58 modulatable effects units to further develop your patches.
In our review of the Omnisphere 2, we said: “Thanks to some genuinely innovative features, not to mention a wealth of extra sonic material to play with, it’s hard to imagine any software instrument delivering the same breadth and sheer sonic excellence as Omnisphere 2.”
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Check out the latest deals for Omnisphere 2 on Amazon.
Kilohearts Phase Plant: Endless playground of sound design

Price: $201/£160
Synthesis: Wavetable, FM, Granular, Subtractive, Sample

From the old and trusty to the new and fresh-faced: Phase Plant is an award-winning, cutting-edge semi-modular soft synth by Swedish brand Kilohearts that lets you modulate your sound in plentiful exciting directions.
Its open modular architecture lets you create everything from simple synth riffs to complex and diverse patches. With Kilohearts’ built-in effects and advanced modulation capabilities, including FM modulation and MPE compatibility, Phase Plant is a solid choice of soft synth if you’re looking to shape your sound in cool new ways.
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Check out the latest deals for Phase Plant on Plugin Boutique.
Vital: Unbelievable free synth

Price: FREE
Synthesis: Wavetable

The 2020-launched spectral-warping wavetable synth Vital by Vital Audio, maintaining itself as a free-to-download piece of software years since its launch, remains one of music tech’s biggest mysteries. Yes, the Basic package doesn’t cost a dime (Pro costs $80, unlocking 400+ presets and 25 wavetables), but even in its free form, it seriously holds up against other high-end soft synths in this list, delivering sonics of a similar quality. That makes Vital a – dare we say it – vital asset for your soft synth library.
The synth is known for its wavetable synthesis capabilities, intuitive user interface, and vast number of modulation options. With features like custom wavetable creation, spectral warping, and intuitive modulation, it acts as a no-brainer for music producers on a budget – or not, frankly.
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Download Vital for free at vital.audio.
Xfer Records Serum: Essential synth for EDM

Price: $189
Synthesis: Wavetable

Deadmau5 and Steve Duda’s Xfer Records spawned a powerful go-to synth for a myriad producers in 2014. Ten years on, it’s still an essential synth for many in the EDM world. It’s consistently top on Splice’s plugins chart, and is used by Deadmau5 himself, Flume, What So Not and Marshmello, among others.
Serum is an advanced wavetable synth with 144 wavetables, 10 effects modules, drag-and-drop modulation routing and custom wavetable creation. Its pristine sound and intuitive interface make Serum a dream to navigate and create with, whether it’s big EDM leads or thick pads. It’s known to be a little heavy on the CPU, though, so do try before you buy and check if your system can handle it.
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Find out more about Serum at xferrecords.com.
Synplant 2 – Best AI-assisted synth

Price: €149
Synthesis: Subtractive

When Sonic Charge released Synplant in 2009, it was hard to tell whether its rather unique approach to synthesis was gamechanger or gimmick. But at the very least, its organic and intuitive approach helped the instrument stand out in the crowded world of synth plugins — and 2023 was the year we finally saw a sequel announced.
Unlike conventional methods, Synplant 2 lets you ‘grow’ sounds by planting seeds and adjusting parameters through a unique interface, assigning various mutations of the original sound to your keyboard so you can rapidly compare them. Find one you like? Simply plant it as a new seed and develop it further.
A particularly exciting feature new to Synplant 2 is its Genopatch technology, which creates synth patches based on user-supplied audio. It’s akin to sampling — except instead of playing back an audio file, Synplant uses artificial intelligence to synthesize the sound. It may not get it right all the time, but with a little serendipity, you could land on something entirely new and unexpected. Read our full review of Synplant 2.
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Find out more about Synplant 2 at soniccharge.com.
Softube Model 84 – Everyone needs a Juno

Price: $159
Synthesis: Virtual analogue, subtractive

Softube’s Model 84 may not be the first software iteration of the Roland Juno-106, but it’s definitely one of the best, capturing the character of the beloved synthesizer with remarkable precision. This plugin doesn’t just mimic the sound of the original hardware — it enhances it with modern capabilities such as additional modulation options, and an expanded filter section and envelope controls.
From silky pads to punchy basslines to shimmering leads, the Model 84 delivers buckets of authentic Juno tone, including a faithful reproduction of the instrument’s chorus effect that’s famed for its lush, wide stereo presence. Check out our full Model 84 review for all the details.
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Find out more about the Model 84 at softube.com.
Softube Model 77 – Best way to get the Yamaha CS synths

Price: $71
Synthesis: Virtual analogue, subtractive

The second Softube plugin in our list, this developer knows a thing or two about recreating hardware synths in the digital realm. The Model 77 takes inspiration from Yamaha’s iconic CS series, delivering the same expressive sound that has defined countless classic tracks.
At the heart of the plugin is a meticulous recreation of the original analogue circuitry found in three models — the CS-50, CS-60, and CS-80.
The plugin goes beyond emulation by adding features like flexible modulation routing and more detailed envelope controls. What’s more, the intuitive interface makes patch programming more accessible than it was on the original CS instruments. If you’re looking for a workhorse that excels in rich pads and ethereal textures, the Model 77 is an excellent choice. See our full review of the Model 77 for more information.
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Find out more about the Model 77 at softube.com.
Read more Buyer’s Guides via MusicTech.
The post Best synth plugins 2024: 10 of the best polyphonic synth plugins for all genres appeared first on MusicTech.

Solana price recovers from sharp sell-off, is $300 SOL possible?Solana’s onchain and derivatives data suggest that SOL could make a run back toward its all-time high in the short term. 

Uber’s subscription service reportedly target of FTC probeThe Federal Trade Commission is investigating Uber over whether it broke consumer protection laws by allegedly automatically signing people up for its Uber One subscription service and making it hard to cancel, according to Bloomberg News. The investigation was opened earlier this year after the FTC received customer complaints. Uber told Bloomberg that its cancellation […]
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Acon Digital Black Friday Sale Acon Digital are currently running their biggest ever Black Friday Sale, with significant discounts applied across their range of high-quality editing, restoration and mastering software solutions.

Spotify paid Warner Music Group $1.16bn in FY 2024. (That’s around the same amount the streamer’s execs have cashed out in stock this year.)Warner's financial filings reveal Spotify's contribution to the company's revenues in the 12 months to end of September
Source

Key Spotify executives have cashed out more than $1 billion in stock this year… including $283 million for Daniel Ek.Following a series of blockbuster earnings reports, Spotify's stock is trading near all-time highs
Source

Would an Indexing Feature Benefit Your Next Hinge Design?[Angus] of Maker’s Muse has a video with a roundup of different 3D-printable hinge designs, and he points out that a great thing about 3D printing objects is that adding printable features to them is essentially free.
These hinges have an indexing feature that allows them to lock into place, no additional parts needed.
A great example of this is his experimental print-in-place butt hinge with indexing feature, which is a hinge that can lock without adding any additional parts. The whole video is worth a watch, but he shows off the experimental design at the 7:47 mark. The hinge can swing normally but when positioned just right, the squared-off pin within slots into a tapered track, locking the part in place.
Inspired by a handheld shopping basket with a lockable handle, [Angus] worked out a design of his own and demonstrates it with a small GoPro tripod whose legs can fold and lock in place. He admits it’s a demonstration of the concept more than a genuinely useful tripod, but it does show what’s possible with some careful design. Being entirely 3D printed in a single piece and requiring no additional hardware is awfully nice.
3D printing is very well-suited to this sort of thing, and it’s worth playing to a printer’s strengths to do for pennies what one would otherwise need dollars to accomplish.
Want some tips on designing things in a way that take full advantage of what a 3D printer can achieve? Check out printing enclosures at an angle with minimal supports, leveraging the living hinge to print complex shapes flat (and fold them up for assembly), or even print a one-piece hinge that can actually withstand a serious load. All of those are full of tips, so keep them in mind the next time you design a part.

Create an original remix of Richie Hawtin’s EXhale on the new interactive platform, KORUSRichie Hawtin’s 2014 track EXhale, released under his Plastikman alias, recently received a fresh remix treatment from the Innervisions label boss, Dixon, and now you can provide your own remix treatment, too. By acquiring the remix pack through KORUS, you can use the KOR Protocol software to add your flare to the music.
Using the KORUS interface, you can alter five main elements within the song — drums, bass, chords, melody, and harmony — in what the brand calls a ‘DNA Pack’. KOR Protocol’s press release says that each DNA pack features “a variety of elements that represent their unique identity, from individual samples and stems to visual graphics, and more.”
READ MORE: Best synthesizers to buy in 2024: 17 of the best hardware synths under $600
For each element, you can mute, swap for different stems, or apply different effects using an intuitive cursor function. The UI features an XY graph with a different effect on each of the four ends. Leaving the cursor in the middle means there are no effects. Moving in any one direction will apply the associated individual effect or combine two.

“The release of EXhale on KORUS opens a new frontier in the relationship between artists and their fans,” says KOR Protocol. “Fans can not only enjoy Dixon’s remix of this iconic track but also create their own remixes using the interactive tools on KORUS, powered by KOR Protocol’s advanced AI and IP management solutions. This approach aligns with KOR Protocol’s mission to empower creators and fans to interact with IPs freely, bringing new value and creativity to music by removing traditional barriers to remixing and production.
Three other remix packages are also available on the Korus platform: Imogen Heap’s, What Have You Done To Me?; Sound Fractures, My Love For You; and the Black Mirror, Transmoderna & TRI/XON pack which features a track entitled Grin from TRI/XON which is a project devised by Dixon and fellow Innervisions artist, Trikk. KOR Protocol launched in 2023 as BeatKOR, backed by deadmau5, Hawtin and Beatport.
Earlier this year, Richie Hawtin spoke about the potential of stem separation in live remixing. Speaking to MusicTech, he said “My shows are all pretty spontaneous. I’ve been reluctant to use any stem separation because it all has to be done beforehand. But real-time, high-quality stem separation is coming very shortly, and I’m excited because that will allow for even more fluid mixing.”
However, the Canadian-British producer isn’t so sure all artists will adapt to the emerging tech. ““Once tech like stem separation is inside the CDJ, people will get a bit more creative,” he adds. “But will we see a whole generation of DJs working on their own unique setup? I’m not sure that that’s going to happen.” You can read more in our digital cover feature interview with Hawtin.
Access the EXhale remix pack on KOR Protocol.
The post Create an original remix of Richie Hawtin’s EXhale on the new interactive platform, KORUS appeared first on MusicTech.

Layering synths for a larger sound (free Ableton Effect Rack included)
Expert producer John Grand showcases how you can experiment with layering synths to achieve a larger sound.

Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation Launches 3rd Annual '7 Days of Giving' AuctionThe Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA), led by four-time GRAMMY-nominated blues-rock artist Joe Bonamassa, has announce its 3rd Annual “7 Days of Giving” Auction in celebration of GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement. This special auction, starting Tuesday, November 26 and runs through GivingTuesday, December 3, features an exclusive array of signed guitars, autographed vinyl, fan packages, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia—all aimed at raising funds to preserve and enhance music education. For more information and to place a bid, visit here.GivingTuesday, celebrated worldwide, encourages acts of kindness and charitable contributions. KTBA’s auction aligns perfectly with this mission, offering supporters an opportunity to secure unique items while directly contributing to music education programs.Highlights from the “7 Days of Giving” Auction include:Signed Epiphone SG Custom Joe Bonamassa Guitar

Joanne Shaw Taylor Signed Guitar Package

Robert Jon & The Wreck Fan Package

KTBA at Sea IX Autographed PosterFor more details or to bid, click HEREFor more information about the “7 Days of Giving” Auction or to contribute to the foundation’s efforts, visit ktba.org.The post Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation Launches 3rd Annual '7 Days of Giving' Auction first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Get Wavesfactory Trackspacer dynamic processor plugin for $29!
With Black Friday approaching, we’ll surely see many great deals this week. Plugin Boutique is currently offering Trackspacer by Wavesfactory for only $29. This popular plugin is currently 50% off until December 1st. So, if you’ve been wanting to grab it, now would be a great time. Trackspacer is an award-nominated, one-of-a-kind plugin that is [...]
View post: Get Wavesfactory Trackspacer dynamic processor plugin for $29!

FLOSS Weekly Episode 811: Elixir & Nerves – Real Embedded LinuxThis week, Jonathan Bennett and Lars Wikman chat about Elixir and Nerves — a modern language that’s a take on Erlang, and an embedded Linux approach for running Elixir code on devices.

https://underjord.io
https://elixir-lang.org/
https://nerves-project.org/
Introducing Elixir and the ecosystem from Oredev 2023
Introducing Nerves from Oredev 2024 (just released)
The Soul of Erlang & Elixir, by Sasa Juric

Subscribe to catch the show live, and come to Hackaday for the rest of the story!

Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show Right on our YouTube Channel? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or contact the guest and have them contact us! Take a look at the schedule here.

Direct Download in DRM-free MP3.
If you’d rather read along, here’s the transcript for this week’s episode.
Places to follow the FLOSS Weekly Podcast:

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Theme music: “Newer Wave” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

The 15 best Black Friday deals for music production (2024)
We've identified 15 of the best Black Friday deals for music producers in 2024—find some of the top deals on plugins, virtual instruments, hardware, and more.

Yraki announces SABOTAGE Max for Live device SABOTAGE works in the same way as a sequencer, but takes control of Ableton Live’s tempo, creating a production grid that shifts in real time. 

The best Black Friday deals at Plugin Boutique: the biggest savings on plugins from Universal Audio, FabFilter, Native Instruments and moreIf you’re in the market to expand your plugin collection, there’s no better time to do that than on Black Friday, and there’s no better place to do it than at Plugin Boutique. Black Friday itself isn’t until this Friday 29 November, but Plugin Boutique is already offering killer savings on both individual instrument and effects plugins and bundles alike. In some cases you can even grab up to 90% off some plugins. Below, we’ve gathered the very best deals available at Plugin Boutique so far.
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Some of FabFilter’s superb range of plugins are available with an awesome 25% off right now. This takes such favourites as the Pro-Q 3, Saturn 2 and Pro-MB as well as many others down to record low prices starting from just £55 in some cases. Be sure to bag a bargain while you can.
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Universal Audio’s UAD plugins are some of the best in the game, and here’s your chance to get a bundle off a bundle! All month, the Signature Edition is available for £299 and the Producer Edition for just £79 representing up to a staggering 80% discount. Meanwhile, the UAD Studio Classics Bundle is available with a 96% discount. It’s the perfect time to stock up on high-end plugins.
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Plugin Boutique has knocked a cool 50% off Arturia’s powerful and comprehensive V Collection X of classic software instruments – 39 in total with over 10,000 presets. £248.59 for a limited time only.
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Select software instruments by Native Instruments are available now with 50% off. They include Monark, Massive X, Reaktor Spark and loads more.
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IK Multimedia’s gargantuan Total Studio 4 MAX comprises a whopping 19,000 presets, 670GB of sounds and pretty much its whole product lineup into a single bundle. Incredibly, PB is temporarily applying a monster 74% discount making this huge collection just $150 for a limited time. They say it’s the biggest single plugin bundle around – who are we to argue?
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Plugin Boutique is offering some great discounts on products including 30% off the comprehensive Korg Collection 5, the M1 software for just $49 and the option to crossgrade from any Korg product to receive up to $150 further discount.
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Get up to 94% off select Brainworx plugins. Highlights include the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor down 90% to $30, and the AMEK 909 down to $30.
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Plugin Boutique is knocking 70% off its big bundle comprising eight highly-regarded plugins. For $109 you get the Scaler EQ, Scaler 2, BigKick, Carbon Electra synth and more, representing an amazing saving on this powerful bundle of instruments and processors.
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Grab XLN Audio’s LIFE AND XO bundles exclusively via Plugin Boutique at 55% off.
Browse the full range of Black Friday discounts over at Plugin Boutique.
The post The best Black Friday deals at Plugin Boutique: the biggest savings on plugins from Universal Audio, FabFilter, Native Instruments and more appeared first on MusicTech.