The 10 best software synth plugins
…AND HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM
From semi-modular behemoths to authentic virtual analogue, via shifting wavetables, sampled soundscapes, modulated effects stacks and beyond – join us as we celebrate the best synthesis tools the software realm has
Music production’s shift into the software realm over the past few decades has done a lot to democratise electronic music. Back in the ’70s or ’80s, if you wanted to be at the cutting edge of sound design or synthesis technology, you’d need access to a large studio and some deep pockets. Instruments such as Moog’s early modular systems, Fairlight’s cutting edge CMI workstations or the early wavetable synthesis of the PPG Wave each allowed musicians to explore completely new territory, but came with the kind of price tags you’d expect to see on a car or even a house.
While it’s not like there isn’t still innovation happening in the realm of top-end hardware synths, its certainly true that these days, the most innovative and feature-packed new instruments tend to arrive in plugin format. Modern ‘power synths’ tend to be do-it-all affairs too; stuffed with so many sound sources, effects and modulation tools that they can do percussion synthesis, analogue emulation, digital soundscapes and everything in between. Realistically, in 2020, with a moderately powerful laptop and around £200 to spend on a plugin, you can have all the tools you could possibly need to create some cutting-edge electronic sounds.
This issue, we thought we’d take a dive into the best that the software realm has to offer. Our top ten compiles the most innovative, usable and powerful synth plugins out there. That said though, picking just ten instruments has meant that there’s a whole world of quality instruments that we’ve had to leave out. We’ve limited ourselves to just one instrument per-developer, and only original synths too, so we’ve not even touched on the wealth of excellent emulations on the market. We’ve also stuck to cross-platform instruments, so not touched on the excellent synths that come stocked in modern DAWs (Alchemy, Operator, etc, etc.)
Join us over the next few pages as we take a trip into the inner workings of 2020’s must have software instruments...