Free Synth For Mac

Mac

Introducing: Bespoke!

Bespoke is a software modular synthesizer. It contains a bunch of modules, which you can connect together to create sounds.

Bespoke is like a DAW* in some ways, but with less of a focus on a global timeline. Instead, it has a design more optimized for jamming and exploration.

Space Synthesizer Mac v.2.0.2 The Space Synth is a polyphonic AU instrument plugin, with an ambient sound. It is suitable for ambient music, space music, ambient techno and electronic music in general. The bundle inludes 15 other plugins. Kinisis timeline synthesizer for Mac OS v.1.02 The unique Timeline feature lets you ‘animate’ controls. Dexed is an FM multi-platform, multi-format plugin synth. It was designed to emulate the Yamaha DX7 and is also a MIDI cartridge librarian/manager for the DX7. Dexed works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. As such, it’s available as a VST, AU, and LV2. It comes with 144 DAW automatable DX7 parameters, and real time VU meters.

Bespoke is a project I started in 2011 as a way for me to learn more about creating music. Instead of putting in the time to learn the intricacies of an existing DAW, I took on a foolhardy exercise to try to build my own. The software is custom built by me and for me, hence the name 'Bespoke'.

Bespoke's core design is to break everything into separate modules that can be patched together in a custom layout, much like a hardware modular. Bespoke is designed to be highly customizable, with the idea that any of the custom layouts that you create will be 'bespoke' to you as well.

In a way, Bespoke is like if I smashed Ableton to bits with a baseball bat, and asked you to put it back together.


*('DAW' means 'digital audio workstation', which is a fancy term for music production software)

Creating asub bass can be very easy: Open your favorite (bass) synth, turn on a sine ortriangle oscillator and boom, you got a nice and clean sub bass.

Sometimes,a sub bass like this won’t do, though – you might need a little more bombast. Forthis case, I’ve created the following list where I’m collecting free sub bassVST plugins and sample libraries.

Best Soft Synths

Note: Make sure to use headphones or quality speakers to listen to the audio examples. Sub frequencies do not translate well on phone and laptop speakers.

Xsub

Format: VST, 32 bit + 64 bit
OS: Windows, Mac

Audio examples:

Xsub is a free808 sub bass VST brought to you by Hexloops and SimplySounds. According toHexloops, Xsub was created “using analog synthesizers, digital sine waves,guitar amps and other fancy gear.” A total of 36 different bass sounds areincluded, each spanning two octaves. I was surprised by how much the includedsounds differ in character. Some of the sounds include an 808-ish click in thebeginning, while others are smooth bass sounds. Many of the presets are more onthe distorted side – and while this means that Xsub might be a little dirtierthan some might like, this is also what gives some of the sounds their uniquetone and presence.

Xsub has abuilt-in ADSR envelope, a panning knob and even a reverb. There’s also a pitch-modulatingLFO.

You can download Xsub from the Hexloops website.

X-Eight Lite

Format: VST/AU, 32 bit + 64 bit
OS: Windows, Mac

Audio examples:

Free Synth For Mac

X-Eight Liteis the free lite version of X-Eight, an 808 and sub bass VST/AU plugin createdby Thenatan. While the paid plugin contains over 1000 presets, X-Eight Litecomes with a total of 80 sub bass and 808 presets. That’s a good amount ofpresets for a free plugin! What’s even better is that these sounds are all verydistinct, creative and fun to play with.

Synth

For some,the main issue with X-Eight Lite might be that many of the sounds are not subbyor subtle enough and will steal quite a bit of attention as they contain plentyof high frequency content. However, depending on the style of music you’remaking, this might also be a good thing – these samples bang hard!

For

If you wantto remove some of the high frequency content, you can use X-Eight’s built-inlow pass filter. Besides attack and release, you can also dial in the rightamount of glide. This feature makes X-Eight Lite even more useful for creatingengaging beats.

There’sanother issue with this particular preset selection if you’re looking for subbass for layering purposes. Most of the included samples feature a prominentkick or click sound in the beginning. While you can lengthen the attack or pulldown the filter to remove some of the kick/click sounds, this will also shapethe sound in a way that might not be practical for your purpose.

I alsodiscovered an odd behavior that you should be aware of when using the filter:When the filter is completely at 0 and you start turning the knob up slightlywith your mouse, the knob will be sluggish and not move but the filter will, infact, open. (Note: I don’t know if this bug exists just in the context of mysetup or whether it’s reproducible somewhere else.) This is not a big problem,but it’s good to be aware of it.

Free synthesizer for mac

To get X-Eight, you’ll have to add it to your cart on the Thenatan website. You can decide what you want to pay ($0 is okay as well) and are then redirect to a page where you have to type in your email address. After you’ve submitted your information, you will receive a download link in your email inbox.

Alternatives

Not happy with the selection? Here’s more:

  • Beatmaker 808 Bass Module 2 Lite (VST, AU / Windows, Mac / 32 bit + 64 bit)
  • subfreak (useable sound but GUI is TINY) (VST / Windows / 32 bit)

About thispage

Mac Synthesizer

I decided to focus page exclusively on plugins and libraries that have their strength in the sub range. There are many other bass synths and libraries with a wider range of bass tones that I will cover in other articles.

Over to you

If you knowof any other cool sub bass plugins, I’d love to hear from you! Write a commentbelow or get in touch here.