What is AAX, AU, and VST plugins? AAX, AU (AudioUnit), and VST plugins are software modules that can be loaded inside DAW music production applications such as Cubase, Logic Pro, ProTools, WaveLab, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, and others. Audio plugins,Free plugins for Logic Pro X,Free music software,free audio app and free plug-in downloads,free VST/AU plugins for your PC or Mac,32/64-bit, Freeware.

Last Updated on December 15, 2020 by

What better way to add some embellishments to your songs than with an orchestral plugin? Even better if its free, right?

Orchestral samples, and samples in general, have come a long way.

They were practically unusable back in the day, but now, even though you can hear the difference between a sample software and the real deal, they sound astoundingly similar.

I love finding free software that actually works, so in this post I will go into each of the ones I found and tried, this way you won’t have to do any of the research and try the ones that sucked, like I did!

All of the download links are included!

The Best Orchestral Plugins are:

Best Free Full Orchestra VSTs

While every single one on this list is a good plugin overall, there are two which stand out.

Layers by Orchestral Tools

Layers is an ultra realistic orchestral sample library that features a full orchestra, Brass-, Woodwinds-, and Strings sections.

You can choose between a couple different mic positions and it also features different articulations; different chord types, staccato and sustain unison, and more.

In total, the sample pack is about 17GB and runs on Windows 10 and Mac OS.

Lastly, Layers works with Orchestral Tools’ SINE Player.

You can download Layers here.

Total Composure Orchestra (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Total Composure Orchestra is a full orchestral sample library created using only samples in the public domain.

Total Composure is the first to offer such a library exclusively for the Kontakt format; making use of Kontakt’s scripting capabilities to greatly enhance the playability, realism, and functionality of these public domain samples.

This is a fantastic plugin, it comes with a huge array of instruments from pianos, to brass instruments, strings and percussion.

One bad thing about this plugin is that it runs both on Kontakt Player, which is free, and the full version of Kontakt, but on Kontakt player you can only use the samples for about 30 min before it stops working.

If you want to be able to use them to their fullest extent, you will need to purchase Kontakt.

You can download Total Composure Orchestra here.

Related: List of the best Choir VST Plugins available.

Spitfire LABS

I mentioned Spitfire in a couple of my posts simply because they have some of my top recommendations as far as free plugins go.

LABS is basically a collection of free VST and AU plugins that not only sound fantastic, but that is also being updated consistently, with new plugins being added over time.

Here you will find great-sounding samples of any orchestral instrument you can think of.

You can download LABS here.

The Free Orchestra by Project Sam

Project Sam is behind Symphobia, which is one of the best-rated libraries for film scoring, video games and TV, and they created the Free Orchestra library which contains bits and pieces of all of their paid products.

What struck me the most about this free library is how great it sounds as soon as you load it up; there is little to no tweaking required.

Now, it runs on KONTAKT (6.2. or higher), but luckily it works in the free version which can be beneficial to you if you’re interested in using KONTAKT but don’t want to purchase the premium version just yet.

Parameters such as envelope controls, effects, octaver, and reverse make this library very versatile to use.

All in all, if you’re a beginner tipping their toes into the whole orchestral world, this entry level library could just be what you need.

You can download the Free Orchestra here.

DSK Overture Orchestra (Windows)

DSK Overture is a full orchestral sample VST plugin.

It gives you the ability to choose between 40 different instruments and play 4 of those instruments in the same instance, through MIDI.

The included instruments are; Acoustic Piano, Harpsichord, Bassoon, Celesta, Glockenspiel, Vibes, Harp, Flute, Piccolo, English Horns, Oboe, Clarinet, French Horn, Trumpet, Church Organ, Trombone, Tuba, Cello, Contra Bass, Viola, Violin, Orchestra Drum Kit, Full Sections.

Honestly, what makes this plugin great is the variety of instruments, since there is no shortage of them, plus they all sound pretty damn good!

You can download DSK Overture here.

BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover by Spitfire Audio

Here’s another great addition by Spitfire.

The BBC Symphonic Orchestra Discover actually sells for $49, but you can fill out a form and they will send it to you after 14 days for completely free.

This library is clearly aimed at beginners since it is very simple to use and straight-forward, plus it already comes premixed into one mix signal which gives you less control over it, but makes things easier if you’re just starting out.

It features a total of 33 instruments and 47 techniques, and thanks to Spitfire’s new mode switching technology, you can share and collaborate with fellow composers, regardless of which edition they own.

You can download the BBC Symphonic Orchestra here.

If you’re also Interested in finding the best sounding Free Drum Vst Plugins, then read this article I wrote about the ones I think are absolutely fantastic.

One Track Orchestra (Windows)

One Track orchestra is primarily a sketching tool, meant to be used for songwriting and recording demos and aimed mostly at beginners and songwriters who need a simple tool to create and record music.

Therefore, the sound quality and usability aren’t the best ones out there.

The plugin was created using samples from VSCO Community Edition and assembled with Maize Sampler.

It is available as 32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows.

You can download One Track Orchestra Here.

Related: I love free plugins, so I put together a list of the best Free Synth VST Plugins out there which you can check out here,

Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra (Windows)

The Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra Module contains the full SSO by Mattias Westlund, in one simple VST plugin (32 & 64bit)

The SSO samples are stereo, 16 bit, 44kHz.

While it’s not the most professional Orchestral Sample Plugin out there, it will certainly provide the building blocks for creating some astounding virtual orchestra sounds.

Melodic instruments and chromatic percussion are sampled in minor 3rds and all samples have varying amounts of stage ambience, depending on their front-to-back placement.

SSO is the one plugin on this list that provides the highest number of instruments.

You get loads of String instruments, Brass instruments, Woodwind instruments, Keys and Choirs, Chromatic Percussion and Regular Percussion.

You can download it here.

DSK Virtuoso (Windows)

DSK Virtuoso allows you to play a combination of 6 layer instruments, or to play a composition up to 6 different parts, through the MIDI channels selectors.

The included instruments are;

Acoustic Piano, Harpsichord, Church Organ, Celesta, Glockenspiel, Vibes, Harp, Flute, Piccolo, English Horns, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba,
Cello, ContraBass, Viola, Violin, Orchestra Drum Kit, and more.

You can download DKS Virtuoso here.

You may also be interested in trying out some Free Bass Amp VST Plugins which should help you achieve a better sounding mix!

VSCO2 – Chamber Orchestra 2 (Windows, Mac)

The Community Edition, which is the free edition of these samples, comes with a total of 19 instruments, ranging from Woodwinds to Brass, Keys, Mallets, Strings and Percussion.

Decades of work have gone into creating these samples using nothing but the best equipment to capture them.

You can download the VSCO2 library here.

Learn how to Produce music

If you want to learn how to produce music at home the right way and without making too many mistakes, then I’d recommend that you read these posts;

Conclusion

The reason I like these kinds of plugins so much is that you can create complete song just by using virtual instruments.

You will need a good MIDI controller to do this properly and fast, even though you can manually add in every note in your DAW.

I hope this information was useful!

See you on the next one.

Last Updated on December 15, 2020 by

Finding great synth plugins can be a challenge…

So, I decided to create this list of the best 15 synth vstplugins that I think sound great.

Let’s get straight to it…

Diva by U-He (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Diva is a synth that captures the spirit of various analoguesynthesizers by letting the user select from a variety of alternative modules.

The oscillators, filters and envelopes closely model componentsfound in some of the greatest monophonic and polyphonic synthesizers.

Diva is pretty easy to use despite of the Interface lookinga bit complex.

The one issue I found with Diva is that it’s quite CPUintensive… Soundbridge free vst plugins.

However, this is worth it since it sounds absolutelyfantastic!

You can find out more about Diva by U-He here.

Are you looking for a new DAW? Here’s a list of the best DAWs currently available!

FM8 by Native Instruments (Windows, Mac)

Native Instruments is known for creating excellent pluginslike ElectricGuitar Amp Simulators, however one of their most iconic plugins must be theFM8.

The FM8 soft synth uses frequency modulation synthesis, justlike the Yamaha DX-7 which was responsible for the iconic sound of the 80s.

This isn’t a plugin that I would recommend to the absolutebeginner since it’s not the easiest to use.

However, with just a little practice you should be able tocreate fantastic sounds!

This synth was even used by Skrillex, which is a cleartestament to its quality.

You can find out more about Native Instrument’s FM8 here.

Note: FM8 can be bought on its own or as part of the Komplete 12 Bundles.

These bundles are far more expensive than the single FM8plugin, but you get loads of high-quality instruments when purchasing them.

Spire by Reveal Sound (Windows, Mac)

Used by famous artist Armin Van Buuren, Spire is a simpleyet great sounding hybrid synth that covers everything from analog to Hard FM.

It comes with loads of presets as well as all the onboardmixing tools you could ever need…

Spire may be mostly geared towards trance and otherelectronic music; however, it is also very capable of creating more unusualsounds which you didn’t think were possible for the typical virtual analoguesynth.

You can find out more about Spire by Reveal Sound here.

Related: Looking for guitar VST/AU plugins? Here are the 21 best ones.

Hive 2 by U-he (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Hive 2 is quick and uncomplicated, without sacrificingflexibility or audio quality.

It is a lightweight multipurpose synth with tons offunctionality.

Hive 2 is also super easy to use which means that you’ll becreating great sounding patches in no time.

You can add movement and life using the shape sequencer, orinstantly record, rotate and arpeggiate note sequences.

The 12-slot matrix even lets you modulate effectparameters, encouraging you to explore a whole new world of creative options.

Hive 2 includes Wavetables…

These appear as multiple waveforms, and are controlled inthe central hexagon.

You can manually select wavetables, modulate the waveposition via the matrix, or even scan through them automatically using theenvelope and loop options.

You can find out more about Hive 2 by U-he here.

Massive by Native Instruments (Windows, Mac)

Native Instruments is one of the best companies that createplugins out there, and Massive is no exception to this rule.

It has been around since the early days of soft synths andis one of the people’s favorites.

Massive was designed to create basses and make them asMassive as possible.

The interface is fairly clean, easy and intuitive to use,which means that if you’re completely new to the world of synths, this onemight be a good choice.

Massive is one of the go-to synths for bass music as well aselectronic music.

You can find out more about Massive by Native Instruments here.

Important note: Native Instruments came out with Massive X recently.

Massive X is a completely rethought and rewired version of Massive which you should also consider.

Serum by Xfer Records (Windows, Mac)

Serum is one of the most famous soft synths out there, andfor good reason.

It is a Wavetable synthesizer and it has virtually noprocessing limitations, which makes it incredibly powerful.

It can load up sounds and transform them into wavetables,plus it’s super easy to use since the UI is very easy to understand andnavigate.

Serum also features 10 effects, drag and drop routing, andloads of presets.

You can find out more about Serum by Xfer Records here.

Circle2 by Future Audio Workshop (Windows, Mac)

Circle2 is a wavetable synthesizer which focuses on astreamlined workflow and creativity, and which has been consistently used byartists such as David Guetta and Deadmau5.

One cool thing about Circle2 is that everything you need isin the main window.

This means that there are no submenus or other extra windows…You got everything you need right there!

The UI is super intuitive since it allows you to drag anddrop anything you need.

Not only does Circle2 feature 110 wavetables, loads ofeffects and over 300 sounds, but it also offers a step sequencer, NativeInstruments NKS Support, an arpeggiator, and a lot more.

You can find out more about Circle2 by Future Audio Workshop here.

SEM V by Arturia (Windows, Mac)

The Arturia SEM V is an emulation of the classic OberheimSEM.

The SEM module was originally made to compliment othersynthesizers but later came into its own as a great sounding synth.

At the time the unique filter that allowed continuouslyvariable operation from low pass to high pass gave it a sound that no otherhad.

SEM V delivers all the deep analog sounds that made itsancestor so unique and praised by recreating the tone, waveshapes, and otherdetailed characteristics.

If you want to be able to have some of that analog goodnessfor your music, then give SEM V a shot.

You can find out more about SEM V by Arturia here.

VPS Avenger by Vengeance Sound (Windows, Mac)

Avenger is a very powerful synth that unites analog,wavetable, and sample-based synthesis.

It comes with over 1000 presets, loads of effects and filtertypes, and more…

Not only is it a powerful synthesizer but it also featuresan onboard drum sequencer, arpeggiator, step sequencer, chord detection module,and a lot more.

You can import and convert ANY 1 cycle waveform sample intoan Oscillator shape.

Once the waveform is imported, you can transform it in everydirection possible.

You can freely draw your own OSC shapes – use a pencilor draw lines, use smoothening parameters or normalize, fade in/outs tohelp create every shape imaginable.

In regards to the drum kits, Avenger comes with more than160 Drum-Kits from all possible genres, while each drum-kit holds 12x perfectlymixed and matched drum samples.

You can find out more about Avenger by Vengeance Sound here.

Native Instruments Reaktor 6 (Windows, Mac)

If you like building patches from scratch, then Reaktor 6 isdefinitely for you.

Its previous version, Reaktor 5, is one of the few pieces ofsoftware that could survive for up to ten years without receiving any updatesand still be relevant, which is impressive.

/the-best-free-vst-plugins.html. Reaktor 6 also provides a platform for modular synthesis inthe form of Blocks – a range of sound generating and sound shaping modules.

You can patch them together to create new and unique modularsynthesizers, effects chains, complex sequencers, and more.

With its various oscillators and filters, which soundfantastic, as well as its analog-style sounds, Reaktor 6 is one of the bestSynthesizers you could ever get.

The only cons I can think of with this plugin is that it canseem a little complicated to use at first, and it’s a bit CPU intensive as well…

You can find out more about Reaktor 6 by Native Instruments here.

Synthmaster One by KV331 Audio (Windows, Mac)

SynthMaster One is an easy to use wavetable synthesizer withan intuitive workflow.

Although it shares the same engine with its bigger brotherSynthMaster, it comes with new features like wavetable synthesis.

With its simple layout, rich wavetable/waveform content andinspiring factory presets library, designing new sounds with SynthMaster One isextremely easy to do.

This is one of the most affordable plugins on this wholelist, plus it’s so easy to use that anyone, even without prior experience, canuse it!

This is why I’d absolutely recommend it to all the beginnersout there.

Not only that, but if you like it and you want some added functionality, you can purchase upgrade bundles.

You can find out more about Synthmaster One by KV331 Audio here.

Pigments by Arturia (Windows, Mac)

Pigments is an immensely powerful wavetable and virtualanalog software synthesizer.

It features a twin audio engine, letting you mix virtualanalog and wavetable oscillators to create the perfect starting point for yourpatch.

You can even morph wavetables, or import your own.

Experiment with 3 envelopes, 3 LFOs, and 3 functiongenerators…

Process your patch with contemporary effects like wavefolderand multifilter, or vintage studio reverbs, delays, and EQs.

If you can imagine a sound, Pigments can probably create it!

Find out more about Pigments by Arturia here.

Repro-1 by U-he (Windows, Mac)

Repro-1 would be the lightweight counterpart of U-he’sfamous plugin “Diva”, which is the first one of this list.

When you download Repro you not only get Repro-1 but alsoRepro-5.

Repro-1 is a monosynth: Two oscillators,self-oscillating 4-pole lowpass filter, arpeggiator, step sequencer, the uniquemodulation section, and five stomp-box effects which can be arranged in anyorder.

Repro-5 shares a lot of sonic DNA with Repro-1, butadds new flavors and characteristics.

First of all, it’s Polyphonic: Play rich pads, shapethem using the resonant lowpass filter, drive the polyphonic distortion unit ashard as you like, and finally polish your sound with five built-in effects.

Repro-5 adds new dimensions to the familiar classicsound while keeping analogue authenticity.

You can find out more about Repro-1 by U-he here.

Absynth 5 by Native Instruments (Windows, Mac)

Absynth 5 is one of those synthesizers that has earned thereputation of being one of the go-to choices for any serious music producer.

It’s one of the most powerful synths out there, with theonly issue being how difficult it is to use since the interface doesn’t reallyallow you to navigate it easily.

Having said that, if you know your way around synthesizersor if you don’t mind investing some time into it, then Absynth 5 is an absolutemust.

You can find out more about Absynth 5 by Native Instruments here.

Harmor by Image-Line (Windows only)

Harmor, which was developed by the same people who createdFL Studio, is driven by a powerful additive synthesis engine.

Its modules will look familiar to subtractive synthesizerenthusiasts: oscillators, filters & phasers, these are featured in Harmorbut, because performed through additive synthesis, offer more freedom.

Just like with the previous synth on this list, Harmor canseem a bit intimidating on first sight.

However, what it lacks in ease-of-use it more than makes upin overall quality of the sounds.

You can find out more about Harmor by Image-Line here.

Dexed by Digital Sub Urban (Windows, Mac)

Dexed is a Free multi platform and multi format frequency modulation Synth which is based on, or closely modeled to, the Yamaha DX7.

It isn’t the simplest synth to use… there is definitely a learning curve to it, but I honestly think that it’s well worth it to do the effort and learn it properly.

It is also a MIDI cartridge manager for the DX7 meaning that any of the .syx files in the cartridges will be available from the “Cart” window.

You can access this directory by pressing the “Cart” button and then the “Show Dir” button.

You can find out more about Dexed by Digital Sub Urban here.

Top 3 Choices

If you don’t mind investing time into learning a complex but extremely good synth, then Absynth 5 is a great choice.

If you are completely new and want something that’s easy to learn and also affordable, then Synthmaster One might be the one.

Lastly, an overall great synth plugin is Serum.

And last but not least…

How can you learn to use a Synth the right way?

If you really want to learn as much as possible about synthesizers without wasting too much time, then I’d recommend enrolling in an online course like Beginner’s Guide to Synthesis.

This course covers all the basics and all the essential knowledge you need about synthesizers in order to produce modern music.

You’ll need a MIDI Controller

In order to be able to use these plugins properly, you will need some sort of MIDI Controller.

While you can use your mouse to map the MIDI in your DAW, it’s a lot faster and easier to do it with a keyboard/controller.

Au Plug-ins For Logic

My recommendation here is for you to get something like the M-Audio Oxygen 25 MK IV MIDI Controller which you can find at Amazon at a very affordable price, plus it comes with some extra software like Pro Tools First.

Conclusion

No matter which of these synths you choose, they are allextremely good.

Some of them are extremely affordable while some other arequite pricy.

Which one you decideto go with entirely depends on your needs and budget.

Au Plug-ins Free

I hope this information was useful…

Have a wonderful day!

Free Vst And Au Plug-ins

F.A.Qs.

What is a synth VST?

Vst Au Plugins Mac

Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is an audio plug-in software interface that integrates software synthesizers and effects units into digital audio workstations.