Best "modeled" Synth apps For MacOS?

[pax-eterna]

Not sure what is available in the category for MacOS at this stage, so wanted to ask those experienced users here.

What would be the best modeled synth apps (AU - or mebbe VST3 at a pinch) For MacOS? Must be modeled, not sampled!

 

[Ben J.]

best modeled synth AU

There are so many, and you'll have to expand on what you mean by 'best'.

What are you looking for? Modeled retro synths? Modern workstation-like synths? What kind of music? Ambient, EDM?

You'll get a lot of pointers from AI with a search.

Here's one place to start:

https://gearspace.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/

Search tip:
add site:gearspace.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/ to any search and all search results will be filtered to that site only. Works for any site.

Most audio plugins, including VIs (virtual instruments), come in both AU and VST formats.

One of my favourites is u-he Diva. It simply sounds like it has a bit of extra power and depth. I'm a long time producer and musician, so I know my audio, but never really a synth guy.

Also; there's tons of free stuff, like here:

The best free synth plugins you can download right now

With these best free synth plugins in different categories, you can take your productions in different directions

musictech.com

 

[pax-eterna]

There are so many, and you'll have to expand on what you mean by 'best'.

What are you looking for? Modeled retro synths? Modern workstation-like synths? What kind of music? Ambient, EDM?

You'll get a lot of pointers from AI with a search.

Here's one place to start:

https://gearspace.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/

Search tip:
add site:gearspace.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/ to any search and all search results will be filtered to that site only. Works for any site.

Most audio plugins, including VIs (virtual instruments), come in both AU and VST formats.

One of my favourites is u-he Diva. It simply sounds like it has a bit of extra power and depth. I'm a long time producer and musician, so I know my audio, but never really a synth guy.

Also; there's tons of free stuff, like here:

The best free synth plugins you can download right now

With these best free synth plugins in different categories, you can take your productions in different directions

musictech.com

Thanks - tbh I am not sure probably just retro synths I think...I am trying to maintain a compact size system hence wanting to, where possible, run modelled software instead of needing large sample libraries.

 

[Ben J.]

I am trying to maintain a compact size system hence wanting to, where possible, run modelled software instead of needing large sample libraries.

Just so you know, we are lots of people in the music industry dealing with sample player software and their large libraries everyday. The makers of these VIs are well aware of the need to customize the management of tons of samples, and they provide settings for storage location, so you don't fill up your boot drive. It's really easy, you just need the external drive.

Orchestral, choirs, drums, exotic instruments etc sound pretty fantastic these days, but they do require large, fast drives to not take minutes to load. I think I have about 1TB on my 40Gbit/s NVMe drives. Loads in seconds.

 

[theluggage]

Thanks - tbh I am not sure probably just retro synths I think...I am trying to maintain a compact size system hence wanting to, where possible, run modelled software instead of needing large sample libraries.

Cherry Audio have a large range of relatively cheap "classic" retro-synth simulations (plus a couple of original concepts).
Here's a good start for free: https://cherryaudio.com/products/synthesizer-expander-module

The Oberheim 8-voice is awesome - but you have to pay for that.

 

[pax-eterna]

Cherry Audio have a large range of relatively cheap "classic" retro-synth simulations (plus a couple of original concepts).
Here's a good start for free: https://cherryaudio.com/products/synthesizer-expander-module

The Oberheim 8-voice is awesome - but you have to pay for that.

Nice, thanks for that link!