Virtual Synth: A Complete Guide to Software Synthesizers
Updated Edition – July 2025
The virtual synth has become an essential tool for modern music creators. Whether you’re composing for film, crafting electronic beats, designing interactive soundscapes, or exploring experimental textures, the right software synthesizer can elevate your sound — and your workflow.
In this guide, we’ll explore how virtual synths work, the key types of synthesis, and a handpicked list of the best free and paid options. You’ll also discover how ONE Instrument® lets you manage and play them all through a single, intuitive interface.
What is a virtual synth?
A virtual synth, or software synthesizer, is a digital instrument designed to generate or emulate synthetic sounds. It can be loaded inside any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) or used as a standalone app — as with ONE Instrument®.
Virtual synths rely on various synthesis methods:
Subtractive – sculpt sounds by filtering frequencies from a rich waveform.
Additive – layer multiple sine waves to form complex timbres.
FM (Frequency Modulation) – use one waveform to modulate another, producing harmonically rich, metallic textures.
Wavetable – morph between waveform snapshots for evolving, modern tones.
Granular – split samples into micro-fragments (“grains”) and recombine them creatively.
Each approach offers a distinct palette — and combining them opens new sonic territories.
Why use a virtual synth?
Virtual synths are now a cornerstone of music production because they are:
Affordable and accessible — many are free or cost a fraction of hardware.
Extremely versatile — from analog warmth to synthetic alien worlds.
Automation-ready — every parameter can be mapped and modulated.
Project-friendly — save and recall presets across sessions instantly.
Compact and flexible — no hardware, no cables, just sound.
From ambient to techno, cinematic to trap, there’s a virtual synth for every style — and the quality rivals high-end hardware.
Best Free Virtual Synths (AU-Compatible)
Chosen by the creators of ONE Instrument®
These free synths aren’t just alternatives — they’re real creative tools. Each one has been selected and tested for sound quality, usability, and AU compatibility. All work seamlessly with ONE Instrument®, allowing you to tag, preview, layer, and play without switching plugin windows.
Surge XT
A modular, open-source synth that covers it all: subtractive, FM, wavetable, and more. Deep and expandable, it’s perfect for those who want total control.
Vital
A sleek, next-gen wavetable synth with spectral morphing, flexible modulation, and a visual interface that makes it as fun as it is powerful.
Pendulate
Developed by Newfangled Audio in collaboration with Eventide, Pendulate features a unique chaotic oscillator that breaks away from traditional synthesis. Its nonlinear waveforms create wild, unstable, and richly animated tones — perfect for distorted basses, glitchy textures, and experimental leads. With a bold interface and flexible modulation system, it’s one of the most innovative free synths available today.
Dexed
An exacting Yamaha DX7 emulator. Load vintage FM patches or design your own — it’s perfect for bell-like tones, metallic keys, and glassy pads.
Tyrell N6
Built by U-He with Amazona.de, this analog-style synth delivers classic warmth with dual oscillators, powerful filters, and lush onboard effects.
Zebralette
A single-oscillator version of Zebra2, with spectral morphing and rich modulation options. Ideal for atmospheric pads and shimmering textures.
ZebraCM (Baby Zebra)
Released with Computer Music Magazine, ZebraCM is a powerful semi-modular with two oscillators, dual filters, and extensive modulation — a brilliant free intro to the Zebra family.
Podolski
Simple subtractive structure — one oscillator, one filter, one envelope — but deeply musical. Clean, CPU-light, and great for arpeggios and leads.
Triple Cheese
A quirky synth that uses comb filters instead of traditional oscillators. Smooth, synthetic, and sometimes strange — perfect for ambient and abstract textures.
Helm
Subtractive synthesis with a modern UI. Clean layout, detailed modulation matrix, and a sound that spans from raw basses to spaced-out FX.
TAL-NoiseMaker
A creamy analog-style synth with built-in chorus, reverb, delay, and more. Great for vintage keys, synth pop lines, and dreamy chords.
Cardinal
A fully modular environment based on VCV Rack — no restrictions, no modules locked behind paywalls. If you like patch cables and endless routing, this is your playground.
Full Bucket Music Synths
A suite of emulations from Korg and beyond: Mono/Fury, PS-3100, string machines, and more. Lightweight, stable, and very usable in modern sessions.
Perfetto, ecco la sezione finale da inserire nel post, con il titolo coerente e le schede sintetiche dei paid synths preferiti dal team di ONE Instrument® — tutte verificate e con una descrizione pensata per valorizzare l’uso creativo.
Our Favorite Paid Synths
Used and loved by the creators of ONE Instrument®
While free synths are powerful, some tools push the boundaries of sound design, realism, and modulation to a level only possible through advanced engines and years of development. Here are our personal favorites — the synths we keep coming back to.
The Legend HZ – Synapse Audio
A deeply enhanced version of the Minimoog Model D, developed with Hans Zimmer. The saturation, filter behavior, and oscillator drift make it one of the most expressive analog emulations ever made.
DUNE 3 – Synapse Audio
A powerhouse combining subtractive, FM, and wavetable synthesis with an insanely deep modulation system. Huge sound with surprisingly low CPU usage.
Zebra 2 – U-He
Modular, flexible, and sonically infinite. Zebra is a sound designer’s dream — ideal for film scoring, evolving pads, and custom instrument building.
Diva – U-He
One of the most accurate analog emulations ever coded. Diva models classic synth circuits with obsessive detail, and the result is a fat, rich tone that feels alive.
Pigments – Arturia
A vibrant hybrid synth with wavetable, virtual analog, harmonic and sample engines. The interface makes complex modulations clear and intuitive.
Hive 2 – U-He
Fast, punchy, and modern. Hive is perfect for EDM, pop, and anything that needs huge leads or basses — with a fast workflow and a surprisingly wide palette.
Falcon – UVI
A complete sound design workstation. Combines synthesis, sampling, scripting, and FX. If you need one instrument to do it all, this is it.
Serum – Xfer Records
The go-to wavetable synth for modern music production. Its drag-and-drop workflow, real-time visual feedback, and high-res oscillators make it a favorite for electronic and hybrid producers.
Omnisphere – Spectrasonics
A titan in the synth world. Omnisphere blends sampling and synthesis into cinematic textures, playable instruments, and evolving pads — unmatched in scale and sound diversity.
How ONE Instrument® simplifies your synth setup
Managing multiple plugins can get messy. ONE Instrument® brings order to the chaos by offering:
A unified interface where all your synths can be browsed, played, and layered.
Instant sound preview without opening each plugin.
Tag-based organization to search by tone, genre, or function.
A built-in recorder for capturing spontaneous ideas on the fly.
Direct access to official and community sound banks, plus the ability to upload your own.
Whether you’re layering pads, designing cinematic sequences, or just jamming, ONE Instrument® becomes your creative hub.
Choosing the right synth for your sound
Use this cheat sheet as a guide:
Granular / wavetable → best for evolving pads, drones, and cinematic soundscapes.
Subtractive / analog → classic basses, leads, and warmth.
FM / hybrid → metallic textures, glitchy effects, and experimental tones.
With ONE Instrument®, you’re not locked into one path — you can explore all of them in a single session.
Virtual synths have reshaped music production — turning laptops into limitless sound generators. And with tools like ONE Instrument®, managing them has never been easier.
Your synths, your way.