A curated list of free and open source resources for learning synthesis.
Subtractive
- OB-XD - Oberheim emulation.
- Pendulate – Buchla inspired synthesizer
- TAL NoiseMaker - 2 oscilator subtractive synth
- TyrellN6 - 2 oscilator subtractive synth
- Full Bucket FB-3300 - KORG PS-3300 emulation
- PG-8X 2.0 - Roland JX-8P Emulation
- VK-1 - Moog Voyager emulation.
- odin2 - 24 voice polyphonic synth.
Frequency Modulation
- Dexed - yamaha dx7 emulation
- Exakt Lite - 4 operator fm synth
Wavetable Synthesizers
- Vital - spectral warping wavetable synth
- Helm - 2 oscilator wavetable synthesizer
- Surge - Hybrid synthesizer / MPE compatible
Modular
- VCV Rack - Eurorack simulator.
- Automatonism - Virtual modular synthesizer for Pure Data.
- Bespoke - A cross-platform modular DAW.
- Ossia - cross-platform sequencer compatible with Max, Pd, OpenFrameworks, Processing...
- Sonic Visualiser - Visualisation, analysis, and annotation of music audio recordings.
- MFreeFXBundle - Plugins: loudness analyzer, oscilloscope, spectral analyzer, etc.
- s(M)exoscope - Oscilloscope plugin.
- Google - AR Synth - Augmented reality synth studio.
- Web Audio Modules - obxd, dexed, tal noisemaker, and many other synths as web browser instruments.
- Subtract One - three oscillator subtractive synth.
- Ableton - Learning Synths - interactive tutorial for learning synthesis.
- Perfect Circuit - Learn Synthesis - series of articles explaining syntesis with a focus on modular equipment.
- Moog Foundation - Synthesis Fundamentals - posters explaining synthesis fundamentals.
- Sound On Sound - Synth Secrets - in depth series of articles explaining synthesis and synthesizer programming sound design.
- Learning Modular - series of articles and videos explaining several modular synthesis.
- Moog - Fundamentals of Synthesizer Programming - Moog's video series for learning synthesis.
- Moog Foundation's - Foundation of Synthesis - Marc Doty's foundation of synthesis.
- Catalogue of FM Materials - Ratios and fm algorithms used for getting metal, wood and air sounds.
- Andrew Huang - FM Synths in under 4 minutes - Vibrato / FM Explanation, very basic.
- Sounds Good - Granular Synthesis - a producer focused explanation and documentary on granular synthesis.
- White Noises - Granular synthesis - eurorack explanation on granular synthesis.
- Loopop - Loopop is all about in-depth electronic music & synth ideas tips, tricks and reviews!
- Red Means Recording - synthesizer demos, music, guides and tutorials.
- mylarmelodies - Eurorack focused interviews, demos and suggestions.
- Air Windows - Freeware AUs and VSTs with no GUI, mostly audio effects.
- Sitala - Free drum sampler.
- Valhalla DSP - Reverbs and Delays
- [sforzando - Sample Player] - Free sample player for sfz files, for orchestral libraries.
- SFZ - Sample based musical syntheizer.
- VSCO - Free orchestral library.
- MIS - University of Iowa Music Instrument Samples