Tuning Ableton Live to 432. 432 with VST’s and Third Party Plugins Lately I have heard a lot about 432 tuning and wanted to try it out. I’ve been experimenting with returning in Ableton Live. Before that lets review about the idea behind 432 versus 440 tuning. The idea is that the natural world resonates with 432.
Sometimes it's hard to sort through the thousands of free synth vsti plugins out there. Here are some free high quality synth vst instrument plugins that are.
Digits is a phase distortion synthesizer inspired by Casio’s CZ series, but also takes that form of synthesis to the limit. Create warm pads, glitchy sounds, dirty basses, filthy sweeps, screaming leads, and anything in-between, but the interface is minimal and designed to enable the user to create sounds from scratch in record time, but if you’re too busy for that, don’t fret, because.

NanoHost is a free and minimalist host application which can load VST-synthesizers. It is great for live-performance, testing and sound-design. Furthermore, it can act as a wrapper which converts VST-synthesizers into standalone applications.

Synth VSTs are one of the most exciting things about being a producer today.

Powerful synthesis tools that used to cost thousands are now available in your DAW anytime, anywhere.

And the best part? Many of them are available as completely free plugins.

Software synthesizer plugins are great for everything from ambient pads to massive sub bass.

In this article I’ll break down the top 8 free synth VSTs for producing music in your DAW.

Let’s get started.

1. Digital Suburban Dexed

Dexed is a freeware FM synthesizer based on the legendary Yamaha DX7. It puts all the classic sounds and functions of the original synth in a modern package.

But Dexed makes classic 6 operator FM synthesis much easier to understand and program than it ever was with hardware.

This great free synth VST is perfect for percussive sounds like tines and mallets as well as icy pads or aggressive distorted basses.

2. Matt Tytel Helm

Synthesis is hard to understand even when you have real hardware synthesizer in front of you. It can be even more difficult when you’re working with an abstract software plugin.

That’s why Matt Tytel’s Helm is such a great synth VST.

Helm is a great sounding, two oscillator subtractive synth that’s dead easy for beginners to use.

It’s well laid out with a logical interface and helpful graphics that let you understand every aspect of basic subtractive synthesis.

Helm is perfect If you’re just getting started and need an easy synth to learn on.

3. u-He Tyrell N6

u-He Tyrell N6 is a stylish synth with bold analog sound and simple workflow.

It features a great preset library and modulation matrix as well as handy extras like unison mode, loopable envelopes and built in overdrive.

Overall, Tyrell N6 is a quality freeware synth that any producer can use to make great sounds.

4. DiscoDSP OB-Xd

Speaking of analog sound, DiscoDSP’s OB-Xd models one of the most sought-after instruments in analog synth history—the Oberheim OB-X.

This completely free plugin gives you access to the lush sound of the OB-X in your DAW.

From enveloping analog pads to deep basses and searing leads, the OB-Xd is an inspiring free synth to add to your plugin folder.

5. TAL Noisemaker

TAL’s excellent Noisemaker synth proves that VSTs don’t need to be complicated to work well in a track.

This straightforward synth has a powerful sound and compact, lightweight interface.

It contains a unique visual envelope editor and handy onboard effects including bitcrusher and TAL’s emulation of the Juno 60/106 chorus effect.

6. Vember Audio Surge

Vember Audio Surge is probably the most powerful free VST synth on this list.

Surge is open source which means you’re free to download the code and do whatever you want with it.

It’s fantastic sounding digital synth that can cover all kinds of different sonic territory.

Its highly flexible architecture includes wavetable oscillators, two filters with eight different modes each and routing options for frequency modulation.

If you’re looking to get lost in the possibilities of sound design, Surge is the best way to do it for free.

7. VCV Rack

This next one is a little different, but it’s so exciting that it had to make it to this list.

VCV Rack is a standalone synth program that models nearly every module available for the Eurorack format.

Free Bass Synth Vst

That’s right—those enormous racks of modular gear that creative producers spend thousands of dollars collecting.

VCV Rack lets you create your own dream modular rig right on your desktop. You can even create patches authentically with virtual cables to get the real modular experience.

Integrating it with your DAW is a bit trickier—but using the plugin in standalone mode is just as fun for creating inspiring patches.

Every musician should try using VCV Rack to see what modular is all about.

8. ML PG8X

The 80s are a popular decade for free synth plugin builders. This retro-leaning synth from developer Martin Lüders models the classic Roland JX-8p.

The JX-8p polysynth was one of the most popular keyboards of the time for a reason. It’s classic presets made it onto hundreds of recordings from the golden age of synth pop.

The ML PG-8X plugin version gives you all the vintage mojo of the original for free. It’s a nice analog-style polysynth with a unique retro character.

Pair it up with Dexed for authentic 80s stacked synth textures!

Free to play

You don’t need tons of expensive gear to make a great track. Free synth plugins prove that there’s plenty of capable tools out there to make music that sounds good on a shoestring budget.

Whether you’re looking for classic vintage tones, deep sound design tools or you just want to choose a good synth to get started, there’s a VST on this list to inspire you.

Now that you have some great new synths in your plugin folder, get back to your DAW and keep creating.

I’m new to Ableton (switched from Logic), and I’m looking for a way to pitch tuning down to 432 Hertz. Is there some sort of global project settings for that in Ableton?

Vitaliy

First things off, there is a Max For Live plugin called “Microtuner”. I haven’t used it myself, but according to its description and users comments, it should work exactly as you need — just put it on a MIDI-channel, and your synthesizer’s pitch will be tuned to 432 Hertz automatically.

Open a synthesizer or plugin you’re using, find the oscillator pitch section, and tune it down to -32 cents in Fine tuning knob. I’m using Sylenth1 in this particular example:

Let’s say, if you’ll save tuned Simpler as a default preset, every next time you’ll add a new instance of Simpler, it will come already with 432 Hz, i.e. with -32 cents. As easy as possible! I would advise sticking with that option.

Soft Synth Vst

Fellow producers out there! How do you tune your plugins? And what do you think about 432 Hz tuning in general as an alternative to the standard pitch? Share it in the comments box below.

Free Synths 432 Hz Vst