

Lush, evolving, complex timbres are this instrument's stock in trade. Today, the K5000 is recognised for its capability to generate unique sounds. Great sounding plugin with very flexible. A rack version was issued as well, alongside an optional knob box also suitable for use with the K5000W. I have acquired so many others since that when I went back to play this, I had forgotten how enjoyable it is. Admittedly, the K5000's keen bank of 20 front-panel knobs was in keeping with the trend toward real-time control. It came in for a bit of derision as a result, despite the fact that the additive synthesis engine was identical to that on the better-received GM-free K5000s (pictured). This may well have been down to its being marketed as a workstation, with its General MIDI bank of bread-and-butter patches and a rather excellent sequencer.
#Most overlooked free vst synths software#
You might be mad not to.Furthermore, simple resynthesis of audio files was possible via software editors, and a selection of PCM waves was included to easily provide timbres that might be difficult or tedious to create using additive techniques.ĭespite the innovative system Kawai had created, the K5000W was rather misjudged at the time. The cloud-based subscription model through which Zenology is licensed may not be to everybody’s taste but you can get the Lite version simply for joining the service, without paying a subscription fee. In our review of Zenology, we said: “Roland’s new offering isn’t the only option in its field but it’s one that’s backed by almost 50 years of synth-design and sound-design know-how – and this experience shows in the quality of the instrument’s sounds. Of course, Roland enjoys doing the same, and with Zenology there is plenty of the brand’s library to explore, with over 7,000 patches, 80 drum kits and 90 effects taken from vintage and modern instruments. As we’ve mentioned in this guide, software developers enjoy basing their software synths on Roland’s sounds and effects. Roland’s vintage synths are incredibly sought-after, from the Junos and Jupiters to the 808 and 303. Price Requires Roland Cloud Core subscription, $2.99/month or $29.99/year Synthesis Virtual analogue, In the hands of virtually any synth enthusiast, OB-E is capable of earth-shaking basses, massive and impossibly wide pads, and lead sounds big enough to reach the halls of Valhalla. It also makes getting excellent sounds swift and efficient.

Critically, the performance controls and ease of programming make it enormous fun to use. The emulated analogue filters are rich and smooth, and the oscillators are fat and punchy. In our review, we said: “OB-E is, quite simply, brilliant. This is a wonderful sounding synth, and is sure to please anyone who has ever wanted to get their hands on this historic icon. GForce’s authentic recreation will give you the same Octophonic architecture with modern additions such as an eight-step sequencer, unison chords, and 600 presets. The Oberheim Eight Voice was a behemoth subtractive synth in the 80s with a huge, thick sound courtesy of eight stacked Oberheim SEM modules.

With the addition of a vintage sample library, vocoder and two iconic synths, this is a must-have for anyone chasing the vintage synth sound.” V Collection 8 ticks all the analogue and digital boxes. In our review, we said: “We thought it couldn’t possibly get any better than this staggering collection of vintage instruments (and wealth of patches). You may not have access to hardware versions of Jupiter-8, OB-Xa, Moog System-55 and a Mellotron but, with Arturia’s V Collection, you can fit it all in your laptop. It’s not the most affordable product on this list, but the investment will keep you tweaking and designing patches for years. There are plenty of polysynths in this collection, but also some emulations of electric keyboards, monosynths, and a piano. Speaking of emulations, Arturia’s V Collection comprises a whopping 28 virtual instruments, all emulating classic synths and instruments. Price $439 Synthesis FM, AM, virtual analogue, modular, sample, vocoder No matter what blend of engine modes you are using, the wide choice of filters, extensive modulation and top-notch effects make for a sublimely versatile synthesizer that’ll be as satisfying for sound designers as it surely will be for musicians and producers.” In our review, we said: “Pigments is an exceptionally deep and powerful synthesizer, oozing with capability and flexibility. You’re given a wealth of modulators and effects to choose from and an advanced sequencing engine to transform your unique patches into musical movements. Considering how deep and intuitive it was before these additions, it’s now one of the more capable soft synths out there, by far. Pigments 3 takes it to new levels with additive synthesis, 64 new wavetables and a new Utility engine. Price £179 Synthesis Virtual analogue, wavetable, additive, sample and granularĪrturia’s Pigments has been a roaring success, with the previous iteration being voted as the best soft synth of the year by our readers in 2020.
