ZynAddSubFX is a powerful real-time, software synthesizer with many features, including polyphony, multi-timbral and microtonal capabilities. It includes randomness of some parameters, which makes warm sounds, like analogue synthesizers. It has system/insertion effects too, and much more.
ZynAddSubFX is a SYNthesizer with ADDitive, SUBtractive engines and effects.
The software is released under an open source license.
Key Features
- Intuitive and easy to use Graphical User Interface with Clipboard and many objects has user presets.
- Realtime synth.
- Polyphonic synth.
- Mutlitimbral synth.
- Microtonal capabilities with any scale, up to 128 notes per octave, and key mapping.
- Three hybrid synthesizer engines:
- “ADsynth” or “ADnote” is a complex engine which makes sounds by adding a number of voices. Each one has filters, envelopes, LFOs, morphing, modulation (Ring Modulation, Phase Modulation… the modulators can have any shape), resonance, etc. Each voice includes a very powerful waveform generator with up to 128 sine/non-sine harmonics. You can use Fourier synthesis or if you don’t like it you can wave-shaping/filtering of functions. This engine includes anti-aliasing.
- “SUBsynth” or “SUBnote” is a simple engine which makes sounds through subtraction of harmonics from white noise.
- “PADsynth” or “PADnote” is engine that makes very beautiful pads and other instruments. (these instruments can be exported for use with other programs too).
- Legato, Poly, and Mono modes.
- Instruments can be organized in kits, which allows you to make drum kits or layered(mixed) instruments; this makes possible to use more than one instrument for a single part. It is possible to choose what items from the kit should be processed by the Part’s effects.
- Effects:
- Reverb, Echo, Chorus/Flange, Phaser, AlienWah (it’s a kind of vocal morpher), Distortion(Wave-shaping), EQ, DynamicFilter.
- The effects can behave as System Effects or as Insertion Effects; this allows to use many effects at the same time. You can put any insertion effect on any part(or more insertion effects to same parts, if you like so) or you can put the insertion effect to Master output (very useful if you use the EQ effect). Also, you can have instrument’s effect (which save with the instrument).
- Filters up to 60dB/octave (or more..); filters can be analogic (LPF,HPF, BPF,etc.), formant (advanced formant filters) and state variable (SVF).
- Envelopes can have ADSR (or ASR, etc..) modes or can be free modes (with any shape)
- Many settings have a “randomness” option, which you can make instruments that every time produces a subtle different sound; this produces a very pleasant effect (like analogue synths or natural instruments that can’t produces exactly same sound twice).
- Midi support (supports many controllers) and (if you want) JACK support.
- Built-in Virtual Keyboard which let you to use it even if you don’t have a real midi keyboard.
- Option to disable the graphical user interface.
- LASH support.
- DSSI audio output.
- Over 300 high quality instruments included.
Website: zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.io
Support: Forums
Developer: Nasca Octavian Paul, Mark McCurry, Hans Petter Selasky, Christopher Oliver, and many contributors
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
ZynAddSubFX is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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