Conclusion: Best Hip Hop VST Plugins. So this will be everything for this post about the best VST plugins for hip hop production. Both paid and free ones have their up and downsides. You choose between the price and the capacity/potential of a particular drum machine or synth VST. With free ones, you can only go so far. The classic Roland JX-8P is emulated by this free synth VST wherein all the parameters are MIDI mappable with MIDI learning. All together, if you seek 80s style analogue pads, bass patches and a marvellous chorus module, the PG-8X is one of the best synth VST plugins on the market. 21) Full Bucket Music FB-3300.
The magic of software virtual instruments ! Recreating known piece of hardware, emulating famous synth, trying to capture the spirit of a machine, attempting to copy the sound and feeling of an instrument!
Here’s a compilation of all the articles about free VST plugins that try to emulate the most famous synths, plus links to the freeware plugins that are the only one to recreate a kind of machine (they didn’t get an article). Below is a list of best free VST emulations.
- For Avid Pro Tools, click HERE. What about the developers? Some of the best creators of paid plugins are also known to have some freebies. Some developers even offer their entire line for free or by donation. These are some of the top developers of VST plugins that also host FREE content.
- And using free tools is a great example of one of my 10 Principles Every Producer Must Know To Achieve The Pro Sound: Use Available Tools To Their Full Potential. Here’s my choice of free effects and processors. If you’re looking for the best free VST synths, see this companion list. Illformed Glitch.
- Logic Pro uses AudioUnits (AU) Plugins and Logic Pro X only uses 64bit AU Plugins. So with that out the way. In my opinion, the best Choir type sounds are found via Kontakt Libraries (along with many other high quality types of sounds) so the investment in the full version of the Kontakt 5 AU plugin is well worth the expense if you.
- Likewise, some VST instruments have standalone versions that don’t require any additional software whatsoever. However, to record and edit compositions, you’ll probably need a DAW. Some industry-standard DAWs for composition and high-quality recording include: Cubase 10, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools 12, and Digital Performer 10.
- Here are the best free drum VST plugins that will give you professional sounds quickly. Producing music is not only time consuming, but sometimes it can be downright expensive. In an effort to save both time and money, music producers will often turn to working with drum samples and synthesized instruments in their tracks.
Here you can find free virtual alternatives to the classic analog synths :
MiniMoog, Arp 2600, Arp Odyssey, Synthi VCS3, Obeirheim OB-X
There are also your favorite FM / Vector Synthesis / “digital” synths :
Yamaha DX7, Prophet VS, PPG Wave, Ensoniq SQ80
The usual techno/trance suspects are here too :
Roland TB303, Alpha Juno, Juno 60, JP-8000, Korg Mono / Poly, Clavia Nord Lead 2
We did not forgot the Jazzy/Funky/Rock famous instruments :
Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond B3 organ, Farfisa combo organ, Hohner Clavinet, Wurlitzer E-piano, Mellotron & Arp Solina.
And even the antic Theremin + some funky toys : Speak and Spell & Stylophone.
This is work in progress, i’ll add free VSTi plugin if we find some new free recreation of well known synthesizers.
All the VSTi in this list are freeware.
Here we go :
1. Minimoog
2. ARP 2600
3. ARP Odyssey
4. VCS3 Synthi AKS
5. Oberheim OB-X / OB-Xa / OB-8
6. Roland TB 303
7. Roland Alpha Juno
8. Roland JP-8000
9. Roland Juno 60 / Juno 106 / Juno 6
10. Korg Mono / Poly
http://www.fullbucket.de/music/monofury.html
11. Yamaha DX7
12. Prophet VS
13. Ensoniq SQ80
14. Waldorf PPG Wave
15. Rhodes MK2 electric piano
16. Wurlitzer electric piano
17. Hammond B3 tonewheel organ
18. Farfisa electric combo organ
19. Clavinet D6
20. Mellotron
21. ARP Solina string ensemble
22. Theremin
23. Speak and Spell toy
24. Dubreq Stylophone
25. Linndrum LM-1
26. Electronic Dream Plant (EDP) Wasp
27. Clavia Nord Lead 2
http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/softsynth/ + check my preset banks for Synth1 !
28. Roland JX-8P
The vocoder is one of the most sought after effects used in the recording studio when searching for new sounds and timbres. Over the last forty years, artists like Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Imogen Heap, and Phil Collins have all used the vocoder on recordings.
The vocoder used to be a hardware-only (analog) instrument, integrated into a synthesizer. Like most analog gear these days, we now have “digital hardware” that we can use right in our computer’s music software — VST Plugins (Virtual Studio Technology).
I’ve used several vocoder VST plugins over the years. Today I will share with you my favorites and a little about each one.
Table of Contents
1) Izotope VocalSynth 2
VocalSynth 2 is an incredible VST from Izotope. It’s the most plug-and-play vocoder plugin I’ve ever used.
If you’ve ever used a vocoder plugin before, you’ll know that the routing to make it function can be rather tedious. You have to send MIDI information to the vocoder on a separate track and make sure the vocoder understands it before you’ll hear any sound.
Izotope VocalSynth 2 works a little different, as you can manipulate existing audio with or without MIDI input. The plugin is excellent for auditioning effects quickly when working with an artist — they can get impatient.
The presets sounds remarkable, and the interface is clean and slick. Izotope’s VocalSynth 2 is by far my favorite vocoder VST to date because how ease of use and how perfect it works when getting creative with a mix.
Izotope VocalSynth 2 is available from Plugin Boutique.
2) XILS V+ Vocoder VST
The V+ has been around for several years but remains to be one of my favorite picks. While not a vocoder VST exclusively, the XILS V+ fuses a ten band vocoder with strings or human voice synthesis.
The synthesizer is a somewhat accurate emulation of the original model (Roland VP-330 Vocoder) but does require a more advanced user to understand the knowledge of routing on a hardware-based instrument.
I’m not the biggest fan — while I do like learning a lot of technical aspects when it comes to recording, it comes at the expense of creativity. There is enough to learn regarding production. Adding complex synthesis to the list is something I’d instead not do.
For those who like tinkering and learning about synthesizers and hardware emulation, check out the V+ synth and vocoder VST.
XILS V+ is available from Plugin Boutique.
3) Morphoder Vocoder VST by Waves
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I’m a huge fan of plugins from Waves. There’s not a single session I’ve worked on in the past five years that hasn’t utilized something from Waves (most notably, the SSL Channel).
Waves follows Apple’s logic when it comes to plugins — there’s one for everything, including a vocoder.
The Morphoder was the first vocoder VST I tried. I had a tough time figuring it out. For a new producer, it will take practice to wrap your head around how the routing works, once again.
Aside from that, the vocoder sounds excellent, though you are limited to only ten factory-provided synth sounds.
4) Vocalizer Pro by SONiVOX
Looking for an affordable vocoder VST? Look no further.
Vocalizer Pro by SONiVOX is on sale (at the time of publishing) for USD 14.99 from Plugin Boutique.
Vocalizer Pro is comparable to VocalSynth 2, as it operates similarly. The plugin re-synthesizes audio from any given source — you’re not limited to only vocals.
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Some of the most unique and exciting sounds I’ve heard from the VST are not vocals. Plugging a drum loop through Vocalizer yields fresh sounding results.
The VST is also light enough to be used in real-time in a live situation.
Vocalizer Pro is available from Plugin Boutique.
Free Vocoder VST Plugins
For all the young and budding producers out there who need to save a little case, I’ve got you covered. There are a bunch of free vocoder plugins available online.
Though I haven’t tested any of these VSTs personally, they’re still worth a mention.
- Voyager by Arguru
- Vocovee by g200kg
- Syncoder 32
- Talkbox by mda
Stay Away From Cracked VSTs
This section of the article is a disclaimer more than anything. No surprise to most, I am entirely against the use of cracked plugins. They’re dangerous and immoral.
Don’t even search for illegal or cracked plugins. Not only are you ripping off the plugin developers, but malicious code is also often included with these cracked plugins. Malware and ransomware are still a real threat.
As a rule of thumb, always be careful when looking for free downloads online. Make sure the download comes from a trusted and reputable source. Ensure the website uses SSL encryption (see the little lock at the top address bar?).
Things to Consider When Looking for a Vocoder VST
Some DAWs include a stock vocoder — While this isn’t the case with my DAW of choice Cubase, some digital audio workstations may come with a vocoder. Check your DAW’s manual to see before buying an additional VST plugin.
Be aware of the complexity — Lots of vocoder plugins are often just synthesizers that contain a vocoder. Your skill level with synthesis determines how easy these types of plugins will be for you.
Wrapping Up
As stated before, my favorite vocoder VST is Vocal Synth2 by Izotope. It’s super simple to use and produces excellent results with ease.
Do you use a vocoder plugin? Which one is your favorite? I’d love to hear from you down below in the comments. Thanks for reading, once again!
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