Synth arpeggios are popular in many different genres, including synth pop, trance and synthwave. While you can create arpeggios manually, they’re typically created by using an arpeggiator. But where do you get one of those?
THE NATURAL EVOLUTION OF AN ARPEGGIATOR ADAPTED TO OUR TIMES Nora is a groundbreaking arpeggiator with DAW technology that employs advanced editing tools to create phrases with ease. It allows the creation of quality solo melodies, rhythmic bass lines, or stabs, instantly. Windows XP or higher (32/64-bit) VST Mac OSX 10.8 or higher (32/64-bit) VST, AU, MIDI FX. And what you play or sequence gets turned into arpeggios. That’s how it works. Now let me give you my top 5 recommendations for MIDI Arpeggiator Plugins. My Top 5 Arpeggiator VST Plugins 1. Cthulhu by Xfer Records. This is actually both a chord generator and arpeggiator in one single plugin. Acts either as a VST or Audio Unit plugin for your DAW, or as a standalone application The original hypercyclic won 2nd place in the KVRAudio.com Developer Challenge ‘07 The sweetspot for hypercyclic is the narrow border between chaos and regularity. Best Free arpeggiator VST? I am looking for something like Reason's Dual arpeggiator, but anything close is fine. About transitions and bass/guitar parts on my metal tracks I simply went and wrote a whole electronic version with only VST plugins out of a existing metal song from me as soft. The Grey Apparatus 2 - Ambient Vst Plugin: Price: Free. Rhythm-arpeggiator, ping-pong delay + randomization knob. LFO-filter Cutoff-Resonance-Tracking + randomization knob. Envelope filter + randomization knob. Envelope amp + randomization knob. 16 steps rhythm-arpeggiator. Effect of smooth for rhythm-arpeggiator. Free VST Plugins are one of the most exciting things about mixing. In the past it was impossible to imagine that so many quality tools could be available at no cost. Today there are more great free plugins than ever before, but the freeware scene is always changing.
Many synthsand sequencers, as well as many modern DAWs, have built-in arpeggiator effects.If you’re not happy with these or your synth or DAW doesn’t come with an arpfeature, this page is for you. In the following list, I’m collecting the bestfree arpeggiator VST and AU plugins available today.
Note: The plugins on this page do not create any sound on their own – you will need a sound source (for example a synth plugin like Serum or Massive) to hear anything.
How to usean arpeggiator in your DAW
Before weget to the list, here’s something a lot of new producers struggle with:
How do you usean arpeggiator plugin in your DAW?
While it’s hard to give a general answer, in most DAWs you will have to find a way to insert your arpeggiator plugin into the signal chain before your synth (or other instrument). Arpeggiators are not audio effects like reverbs or compressors, they are MIDI effects and should affect the MIDI data before it arrives at your synth. If you put an arpeggiator after a synth in the effect chain, you will typically not hear an effect at all! If you’re not sure how to add MIDI effects to your DAW, a look into the manual or a Google/YouTube search should help.
The Best Free Arpeggiator Plugins – A Collection
Arpimedes
Format: VST, 32 bit
OS: Windows
Audio examples:
Best Free Vst Synthesizer
You want to get the traditional arp sound but don’t want to spend a lot of time tweaking settings? Then you should check out Arpimedes by Tobybear. While it is the simplest arpeggiator VST on this list, it is also easiest to use. Set the speed, the number of steps (eight is the maximum), the number of octaves and the mode (up, down, up-down, down-up, as played, random) and you’re set!
This plugin is a good starting point when you’re new to arps but will probably not be sufficient if you need a little more control over your arp sound. As this one is an older release, it’s only available for Windows and runs in 32 bit.
Arpimedes is part of the Tobybear MIDIBag, which you can download here.
RandARP
Format: VST2, 32 bit + 64 bit
OS: Windows
Audio examples:
The cleanly designed RandArp is a VST plugin by CodeFN42. After choosing rate, note order and octave order, you have the possibility to play with certain settings that can then be randomized to your liking. These include number of octaves, velocity, gate, shift and swing. You can also choose the percentage of the note probability – this refers to how likely it is that a note is generated. Setting this below 100% means that more notes will randomly be skipped.
All in all, it should be noted that RandARP focuses (as the name suggests) almost completely on randomization features. There is no step sequencer where you can draw in notes and there is no feature to transpose notes (you’ll have to do that via MIDI), for example. So, if you want to design your arp sequences step by step, this will not be the right VST plugin for you. However, if you’re looking for an arpeggiator that helps you create ever-changing sequences, you definitely should check RandArp out.
RandARP canbe scaled up to 200% and comes with different skins for optimal usability. Althoughthe plugin is mostly self-explanatory, the download folder contains a 25-pagemanual that goes into detail on every feature and setting – perfect for anyone whowants to know how to get the most out of this free arpeggiator plugin.
You can download RandArp on the CodeFN42 website.
BlueARP VST
Format: VST, AU, 32 bit + 64 bit
OS: Windows, Mac
Audio examples:
You want to have maximum control over your arp sequences? Then you should try out BlueARP VST by Oleg Mikheev (also known as Graywolf). When I first opened this plugin, I was a little overwhelmed by all the settings and boxes. However, after playing around with it a bit and watching the following video by howtomakeemusic, I found it’s actually quite easy to use:
Besides atypical arp engine where you can control settings such as gate time, swing andnumber of steps, there is also a detailed step sequencer that gives you theoption to change velocity, step type and transpose the note (octave orsemitone). Step type includes normal, off, rest and tie. I particularly likethe tie feature, which creates a gliding effect between steps.
If you wantto play chords, you have the option of playing all the notes of the chord atthe same time or you can choose exactly when each note of the chord will beplayed.
Additionally,BlueARP has countless advanced features, like setting a range for filtering outinput notes or forcing the arpeggiated notes to a particular scale. If you usearp sequences a lot in your music, BlueARP will give you plenty of features to getthe exact sound you’re looking for. You can find more information about thedifferent features in the manual that’s included in the download files.
BlueARP can be downloaded on Graywolf’s website.
If you find yourself enjoying BlueARP, you might also want to check out these five free skins by satYatunes or these 20 free skins by Valentin Zechiu.
Kirnu
Format: VST, AU, 32 bit + 64 bit
OS: Windows, Mac
Audio examples:
BeforeBlueARP appeared on the radar, Kirnu by Arto Vaarala was pretty much the numberone recommendation when it came to free arpeggiator plugins. Like BlueARP,Kirnu boasts a powerful step sequencer which can help you modulate settingslike note length, gate time, accent, transposition and shift.
Of course,you also have control over the rate, note type (normal, dotted, triplet), sortorder (when you’re playing multiple notes) and octaves. You can even choosefrom a long list of scales (including modes) if you’d like your arp sequences tostick to a certain scale.
Despite itscompact design, Kirnu is a powerful arpeggiator that can do a lot of funthings. Here are some examples from the developer:
I found Kirnu a little confusing in the beginning because not all of its features are self-explanatory. The download files don’t include a manual either – luckily, I found it on the developer’s website. After reading more about its many features, I found it much easier to create interesting sequences with it.
Note: Kirnu isn’t the same as Kirnu Cream, which is its commercial successor (if you’re interested in the paid version, please be aware that some stability and compatibility issues have been reported lately).
Alternatives
Looking foralternatives? Here are some more arpeggiator plugins you can try:
- mucoder hypercyclic (note: more step sequencer than arp) (VST, AU / Windows + Mac / 32 + 64 bit )
- Xoxos arp4midi (VST / Windows)
Over toyou…
Your favoritefree arpeggiator plugin was not included in this list? Let us know what you’reusing!
Which are the Best MIDI Arpeggiator Plugins? Let me share my Top 5 recommendations.
Hello, Mike here, and I am a composer.
Just. Like. You. 😃
I love using arpeggiators, for coming up with cool rhythms & patterns that add more energy and drive to my music.
I have found that it can help with experimentation and creative accidents, that you might not have come up with using only the standard piano roll and sequencer.
Let me start by sharing a list of my top 5 MIDI Arpeggiator effects, and then I will give you some information about each plugin.
My Top 5 Arpeggiator VST Plugins
- The Arpeggiator in your DAW
Let’s first define what a MIDI Arpeggiator Plugin is. Basically it is a MIDI insert effect that you add to any track in your DAW, and then you use presets or program patterns that are triggered from the chords or notes you perform on your MIDI keyboard or in the main sequencer. And what you play or sequence gets turned into arpeggios. That’s how it works. Now let me give you my top 5 recommendations for MIDI Arpeggiator Plugins.
1. Cthulhu by Xfer Records
This is actually both a chord generator and arpeggiator in one single plugin. The chord module lets you turn single notes into full chords, and it comes with a great number of presets and scales. It is also very quick and easy to manually record (save) your own chords with the learning mode, and then trigger them with one key.
The arpeggiator module is very powerful, because it gives you step by step control over the notes, including note duration, velocity, transpose, harmony etc.
All in all Cthulhu has been designed very well, because even if it has lots of rich features and amazing possibilities, it is one of the MIDI Arpeggiators (and chord plugins) that is easy to get started with right away with a low learning curve compared to others.
2. Thesys by Sugar Bytes
Thesys is actually a full MIDI step sequencer plugin, with lots of deep features. This is a double-edged sword, because yes it will give you way more control for arpeggiators and much more, but at the same time it adds more complexity in practical usage.
I personally like the fact that it shows 32 steps on screen, because 16 steps can sometimes feel a bit restricted. Another great thing about Thesys is that it supports MIDI drag-and-drop.
The performance section is simply a MIDI programmers dream, because of all its features: octave, note rolls, pitch-bends with custom shapes, chord trigger and randomization…for each step. That’s crazy cool in my book!
It even has a modulation matrix to sequence CC-values, for example: modulating filters etc.
3. Kirnu Cream by Arto Vaarala
Kirnu Cream is a MIDI performer plugin with a lot of deep features. It can be a bit daunting to learn how to use effectively, but if you don’t mind switching a lot between sequencer tabs, and diving deep into its capabilities, this plugin can be just what you need.
It has features like chord memory, gate, swing, accents and much more. It also comes with a pattern sequencer, and you can even choose the step length for each individual pattern.
4. BlueARP by Oleg Mikheev
Let’s get to this plugins main plus: it is free! Oleg has developed BlueARP as an independent project for many years, and kindly gives it away for free (at least at the moment).
Best Free Arpeggiator Vst
It might not win any graphic design award, but wow is it fun to use, and you might be surprised at how cool this plugin is to use in practice! =)
It has step by step control over which note or notes of the chord is triggered. This means that you don’t have to use those boring up/down or down/up motions for your arpeggios, but can actually customize the pattern as you wish, and even add harmonies to the steps you choose.
On top of that, BlueArp comes with lots of presets that you can try out as a starting point, to get new ideas, or simply use straight away for your sequences.
5. The Arpeggiator in your DAW
I know. I’m pretty sure you have a “doh!” reaction now. But hear me out please. 😃
The reason is that we always look for the new shiny thing, which makes us often forget how great the tools are, that we have right in front of us. I know I forget this all the time myself.
Your DAW most certainly comes with a very capable MIDI arpeggiator. I know Logic Pro X does, because that’s my main DAW. I also know Propellerhead Reason does, because I’ve used that DAW for many years.
Free Arpeggiator Vst
So check out the built-in MIDI arpeggiator that comes with your DAW, and go deep into its features to learn its potential. It is often greater than you might first think.
Summary: My Top 5 MIDI Arpeggiators
- The Arpeggiator in your DAW
Your Time to Take Action! =)
I recommend that you start experimenting with the built in MIDI arpeggiator plugin in your DAW, and then continue by installing the demo or trial version of some of these third party arpeggiator plugins. Good luck and have fun with arpeggiators! =)
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