Synth Software

[HDJ]

Anyone know of some synth software that is not too expensive or possibly free on the internet?

I'll be useing it with Cakewalk's Pro Audio 9.

[Digit]

Most of the 'free' stuff is pretty awful. Like, cheesy 80's sounding synths.
Even some of the 'good' synths are pretty cheesy sounding too... a lot of them are virtual copies of 80's synths.
Personally I think you'd be better off with a decent sampler like Halion or Reactor. At least that way you'll get realistic sounds like piano and strings, plus loops and drum kits.

[Kevin Taylor]

Yeah, I was really disappoied in most of the VSTi synths,
The notable exceptions were the B4 and Absynth.
The B4 has excellent organ sounds with leslie effects and the Absynth is great for atmospheric backgrounds. It's got some decent rock patches and the editing features are really tough to figure out but if you're looking for something that's great for providing mood it's awesome. Expensive tho..

Here's some examples if you wanna check out some differences:

Absynth with guitar and drum loops:
http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/InharmonicMemory.mp3

Halion using factory patches and my guitar sampled to duplicate the electronic version
http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/RockSplosion.mp3

The cheesy sounds of free synths
http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/Groovy.mp3

[HDJ]

Thanks guys. Sounds like I need to really check out Halion and Reactor. I'm going for organs, strings, piano's, etc. for background mood sounds.

[Kevin Taylor]

Another synth you should get for sure is Absynth.
It's by far the best synth I've ever used. It's got pads and other synth sounds but drums and loops that that you can tweak around with.

Try these out. They were done mostly on the Absyth and Halion.

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/Rocksplosion.mp3

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/StarGate.mp3

[Azrael]

the samplers/synths included in Logic Audio Platinum are over the top.
(EVB3, EXS24mkII, EVB88, ES1, ES2, etc.....)