Drumcore Free from Sonama Wireworks is not strictly a soft synth, it’s a virtual drum module. In common with the other instruments in this series it’s a “cut down” version of retail product, in this case Drumcore and Drumcore deluxe. Weighing in at just over a gig Drumcore Free is hefty download but that’s not surprising when you consider what it comes with. Drumcore Free includes two kits, a rock/pop kit and a hip hop kit, plus a large selection of midi loops to get you going.

Drumcore Free is available for Mac and Windows as an AU, VST and RTAS and a list of compatible ( tested ) hosts is available on the product page. The advantage of this type of drum software over “audio loops” is that you drag the midi into the arrange page of DAW and if you’re happy with the pattern you can leave it at that but as it’s midi it’s also tempo flexible and completely editable. Drumcore Free is also multi output allowing you to pipe individual drums to their own output for mixing.

You can download Drumcore free here.

At number four in our list of free soft synths is Native Instruments Reaktor Five Player, which features three distinct distinct synths boasting over two hundred sounds. Of these Carbon 2 is the most traditional, a subtractive synthesis engine yields what NI describes as “neo-classical edgy sounds”. Space Drone creates “atmospheric pads ranging from light rain to howling storms”. And “the highly unconventional” Newscool, a drum module.

Reaktor Five Player can be additionally upgraded with add on sound packs including Razor, Prism and Tim Exile’s The Mouth and The Finger. 

The full version of Reaktor has the reputation, perhaps a little unfairly, of being arcane and complicated bordering on the esoteric. Reaktor Five Player provides a, free, way of dipping your toes in stormy waters. With Space Drone you’ll have the perfect soundtrack and Carbon 2 and Newscool might come in handy too.

You can download Native Instruments Reaktor Five Player here.

Zebralette from U-HE is an incredibly editable synth derived from the well regarded Zebra 2. Available for Mac as an AU, VST and RTAS and for PC as a VST (32 and 64bit) most of the bases are covered. Featuring a powerful oscillator and built in effects chorus, delay and eq Zebralette is a tweakers delight.

Of course there’s a good selection of presets - organised by type - available to get you started. You can download Zebralette here.

To quote U-HE “The idea is to use Zebralette to demonstrate the virtues of Zebra2’s oscillators to everybody out there, and perhaps even convince some of them that upgrading to Zebra2 might be a good idea”

Camel Audio Alchemy Player

Camel Audio’s Alchemy Player is sample based software instrument boasting 150 sounds on download. This swells to 200 sounds if you sign up for a free account. Alchemy Player is additionally expandable with purchased packs.

The standout feature is the remix pad, a two by four grid of pads that can subtly or dramatically alter the patch. The range of parameters altered are sensitively selected so even at extreme settings it rarely sounds anything other than excellent. This feature provides easy access to 1600 variations of the 200 bundled sounds.

Alchemy Player is available for both Mac and PC as an AU, VST and RTAS. You can download it here.

On our MakeMoreNoise site and YouTube channel we’ve been pretty clear that we like a free plug-in. The sharp eyed amongst you may have noticed that we haven’t done much on synths. So without further ado here’s five free soft synths you should definitely add to your audition list.

IK Multimedia SampleTank Free

Available from IK Multimedia SampleTank free is, as the name implies, a sample based softsynth. It’s a hefty download at over 500 meg but that gets you over 200 sounds. Available as an AU, RTAS and VST for Mac and Windows it will work with all the major hosts. SampleTank also includes 33 DSP effects so you can modify sounds to suit your own taste.

The bundled sound set represents most of the important areas and could be described as a good “bread and butter” set. You can read a complete list of presets here. The SampleTank 2 sounds are augmented by taster sets from Sonik Synth 2, SampleMoog and Miroslav Philharmonik. Which add variety and give you an idea of what you’d get if you’re prepared to open your wallet.

Another free plug-in, this time it’s IK Multimedia’s Amplitube Free. Although Amplitube is a software emulation of a complete guitar rig we’ve chosen to look at on everything except guitar.

Amplitube Free is useful for everyone, producers, programmers, beat makers and keyboard players, not just guitarists.

New video time, in this screencast we take a further look at Logic’s Automation functions with three quick tips. Using the marquee tool with automation, creating curved automation and adjusting the automation of a whole track.