Free Music Synthesizer Programs
How do electronic music producers make certain sounds?
In most dance music, there are similar sounds. How do producers create original sounds. Is it done on a synthesizer, then edited with a music software?
On all music mixing software, there are nice melodic loops that come with the program, but those are copyrighted. How did they make it so unique, and not sound like a piano?
What are some free software I can download and play around with?
Here’s some examples.
Cascada “Every Time We Touch” Instrumental at ONE minute (1:00)
Scarf “Odysee” at about 15 seconds (0:15)
How do they make that instrument sound? The melody.
Those loops are not necessarily under copyright! The last time I was casually browsing I came across a half-dozen sample libraries that clearly said they were 100% free to use.
A google search for “sample libraries” turned up a half-dozen sites that specifically say “free”, for instance.
I’m betting that you’re hearing MIDI loops, and the default instrument for MIDI is a piano… (learn more about MIDI, second and third links)
Oh, but wait, there’s more! You can not only use your default MIDI instruments (which are a little sucky, let’s be honest), but you can use virtual instruments, also known as VSTi’s. You can google “free vsti download” or “free vst instrument download” and find a**-loads of ‘em.
KVR audio’s site is my favorite for searching for vst effects and vsti instruments.
There are tons of synth vsti’s, but a lot for other instruments too, anything from guitar to piano to whatever.
Okay, first, what program? Reaper is free to use, cheap to buy. (6th link) It has some plugins that come with it, and includes a programming language that you can even use to write your own plugins, if you have a bit of programming knowledge. If not, there are already a few dozen written…. the stillwell plugins are great!
Slayer is one of my favorite guitar vsti’s, FWIW. It’s worth buying (or finding a cracked copy). Verbiage is an amazing reverb (effect, not instrument). If you ever get into convolution and impulse responses, SIR is a great place to start. I’ve used a few different drum machines, and I’ll often just end up using a sampling plugin instead of a drum machine, to use just the samples I want to. Too lazy to find an actual drum machine that I like, although there are a ton of them out there. I don’t remember the name of the one that I’ve used most often. Stardust is a good mastering plugin that I’ve used, albeit it’s a little processor-heavy IIRC. Filtershaper is a cool way to mess with your tones and get new textures. PhatBuzz and FerricTDS are two ways to get “fat”. ClassicEQ, FreeeQ, and Overtone GEQ arethree good EQ’s.
I dunno. Google and KVR are two of your best friends from here on out. Use MIDI + a vsti to generate some sounds, use some vst’s to muck around with it, don’t forget to apply some panning, compression, and EQ (in roughly that order) to put your sounds in the right place in the mix, and you should be good to go.
Learning how to use compression carefully (and not just brickwall limiting everything!) is one of the most important skills you can develop… so spend some time tweaking and listening!
Man, running through all of this is making me jones to go compose some more music… I focus so much on music that I can actually turn around and play live that I pass up on opportunities to do electronic-style composition… maybe one of these days….
Saul
Free AU/VST Synthesizer-Plugins Part 1
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Apple Logic Studio [OLD VERSION] $269.99 Introducing Logic Studio, Apple’s comprehensive suite of professional tools that provides musicians with everything they need to create in the studio, on the stage, and for the screen. Logic Studio includes Logic Pro 8, Apple’s professional music application; MainStage, an innovative new application for music performance; and Soundtrack Pro 2 for audio post-production. It also includes acclaimed i… |
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American Idol Jam Trax $10.08 Do you have what it takes to be the next American Idol? Take center stage with American Idol Jam Trax software! It’s the easy and fun way to create and share your own songs. Even if you don’t know anything about music, American Idol Jam Trax software can help you sound like a star. Instruments Drums Electronic, Rock, Pop, Dance, Hip-Hop Percussion Cymbals, Shakers, Hi-hat, Cowbell Gui… |
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Pyle PLTS77DU 7-Inch Single-DIN In-Dash Motorized TFT/LCD Touchscreen Monitor Receiver with DVD/CD/MP3/MP4/USB/SD/AM-FM/RDS $506.99 Features: 7” 16:9 Wide Screen TFT/LCD Display Motorized Drop Full Detachable Front Panel Touch Screen (Graphic Screen Allows Easy Control of Operations By Touch) NTSC PAL Compatible Treble /Bass/Balance/Fader/Encoder/Volume Control Picture Control: Brightness/ Contrast/Chroma/Hue Resolution: 1440×234 Pixels/ Brightness : 400nits Electronic Screen Angle/ Position Memory USB/SD-MMC Reader MP4/JPEG… |