This page brings together our latest posts on free music software, including VST, VSTi and AU plugins; free music applications for Windows, Mac and Linux; free mobile music software for the iPhone and other portable devices; and free audio loops and samples.
terminatorX is a realtime audio synthesizer that allows you to “scratch” on digitally sampled audio data (*.wav, *.au, *.ogg, *.mp3, etc.) the way hiphop-DJs scratch on vinyl records. It features multiple turntables, realtime effects (buit-in as well as LADSPA plugin effects), a sequencer and MIDI interface – all accessible through a gtk+ GUI. This software… Read More Free Linux DJ App – TerminatorX
Glitch is a genre of electronic music derived from a fascination with the sound of technology failing in interesting ways. While the music originated with musicians exploring things like CDs skipping, the sound of glitch has been absorbed into all types of electronic music, with musicians using glitch noises and effects within a rhythmic framework.… Read More 7 Free Ways To Get Your Glitch On
ixi audio is an experimental project concerned with the creation of free digital musical instruments and environments for generative music. ixiQuarks is a software environment designed for live improvisation that allows for user interaction on hardware, GUI and code level. The environment enables innumerable setups with flexible loading of tools and instruments. The ixiQuarks consist… Read More ixi audio – Free Experimental Electronic Music Software
Mario Paint Composer is a remake of the music system from the original Mario Paint for the Super NES. It is a free music application made by unFun Games. It’s available for both Windows and Mac. It’s a pretty limited app – but that’s part of the fun. Here’s the Mario Paint version of Bohemian… Read More Free 8-Bit Music App – Mario Paint Composer
Ammobox:lite is a free ensemble for Reaktor that promises to be “the shift in the way people will think about turntablism”: With ammobox you can layer samples into a ‘stream’ and scratch the stream, this allows for asyncronous sample triggering and layered effects that would be impossible otherwise. Microscopically you could say that ammobox is… Read More Free Turntablism Ensemble For Reaktor
Robin Schmidt’s Music Engineering Tools has released a public beta version a new free synth VST for Windows, Straightline. Description: Straightliner is a straight-lined subtractive synthesizer in a modern guise. You will find the well known building blocks of classic analog synthesizers (4 oscillators, a filter, 2 envelope generators) patched together in the traditional way.… Read More Free Subtractive Synthesizer
I posted earlier about a free Commodore 64 synth VST. Pretty much instantaneously, reader BlueBrat let me know about a free Atari synth VST for Windows. YMVST emulates the Atari’s built-in YM2149 sound chip, and sounds pretty awesome, too. Preview the YMVST’s sound below.
Rough Diamond Productions has a large collection of free VSTs for the PC, including delay, gate, ducker and compressor. I’m on Mac – so if you give them a try, let me know what you think.
Ardour 2.4, the latest version of the free digital audio workstation for Linux & OS X, is finally released. Features on OS X, direct support for import of all file types supported by CoreAudio, including MP3 and AAC. Linux users can take comfort: there is ongoing work to offer similar capabilities on their platform. per-track… Read More Free Digital Audio Workstation Updated
Synthtopia’s been slow for a couple days, and there’s a good reason why – Native Instruments’ new Kore Player. Here’s what NI has to say about Kore Player: KORE PLAYER is a free software instrument designed for use with KORE SOUNDPACKS. Built on the same principles as the flagship KORE 2 Super Instrument, KORE PLAYER… Read More Awesome Free Virtual Synth
