Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation, which is also known as a digital audio workstation (aka DAW).
This workstation allows the musicians to create and to mix music tracks by using various tools and sounds.
Sampler – The best freeware VST plugins for audio samples. Sound Module/Workstation – A round-up of virtual instruments that function as romplers. SoundFont Player – If you’re feeling old school, load your old SF2 files with these free plugins. String Machine – A collection of string ensemble instruments. In terms of free options, for better or for worse, yes. There are more premium options if you don’t mind paying a little money for your harmonizer. There are also a lot of top quality free plugins that do other things. But this category of plugins isn’t like EQ, reverb, or compression where you have a dozen or more options to choose from. How To Delete Vst Plugins Mac Ableton Free Bypass Audio Units plug-ins. If you're having an issue in a particular Logic Pro project or MainStage concert that uses third-party plug-ins, bypass each third-party plug-in in the project one-by-one, testing the project after you bypass each plug-in.
It has been around since 2001, and Ableton has used revolutionary interfaces to help and manage the audio workflow, unlike other DAW applications.
What Are Ableton Plugins?
Plugins are additional software components and help to enhance or add to the functionality of the application.
When it comes to Ableton, the plugins help to add instrumentation or effects.
Do You Need Plugins For Ableton?
Ableton has quite a lot of useful features for your music projects.
This fact may make you wonder, then, whether you need plugins in the first place.
It all depends on what types of music projects you are working on and what sounds work for you.
Ableton is already packed with plenty of features and has sound generating tools, for example, wavetable, echo, and drum bass.
Digital musicians can use these for creating perfecting sounds for music projects.
4 Best Free Ableton Plugins
If you are still looking to improve the features of the Ableton which you are currently using, or add to its functionality, then you can undoubtedly go for plugins.
The best way to start is to go for free Ableton plugins, and that way, you can know whether you want to spend money and buy a plugin for it or not.
There are some great free Ableton plugins available which you can choose from, as mentioned below.
Guitar Rig 5
This product is an instrumental VSY from Native Instruments.
It’s great for guitar studio and is suitable for all kinds of sounds such as metal, jazz, rock, and more.
There are two versions of this plugin; the Guitar Rig 5 is the free one while the Guitar Rig Pro is the full, paid version.
Check it out here.
Digital Suburban Dexed
This product is a freeware FM synthesizer that mirrors the classic Yamaha DX7, and it puts all the legendary functions and sounds of the original synthesizer in one deal.
It makes the traditional six operators FM synthesis easier for understanding and for programming more than it was ever with the hardware.
This feature is ideal for percussive sounds like mallets and ties and has a great free synth VST and is suitable for aggressive, distortedbasses.
Check it out here.
DiscoDSP OB-Xd
The Oberheim OB-X is one of the most popular instruments in analog synth history.
It’s entirely free and allows the user to access the brilliant sound of the OB-Xd right in your DAW.
It is a great new addition for your plugin folder for enveloping analog pads and for searing leads and deep basses.
Check it out here.
TAL Noisemaker
This noisemaker synth proves that VSTs do not need to be complicated to work well on a track.
It is quite a straightforward synth and has a sturdy, compact, and sound, along with a lightweight interface.
It T5is equipped with a visual editor, which are unique and handy onboard effects, which also includes TAL’s and bit crushers‘ emulation of the Juno chorus effect.
Check it out here.
Conclusion
There is no need to get pricey gear for making a track, which sounds good.
With plenty of these synth plugins, it proves that there are a lot of tools, which are capable of producing brilliant music, which looks great even on a tight budget.
Everything is available, whether you want deep sound design tools or classic vintage tones.
All you need is to choose an excellent synth to get started, and the list above should inspire you and help you!
The Best Vocoder Plugins: Here is an awesome list of the 7 best free vocoder VST/AU plugins for Windows and Mac! You want to make some robotic voice effects and speech synthesis? Get one of those free vocoder VST and start generate powerful robotic harmonies and design your own unique vocal effects!
- Mixing AU and VST versions of different plug-ins should not be a problem however. Installing plug-ins Some plug-ins may install themselves using an installer, others may not need to be installed but just downloaded and moved to the correct folder.
- Mixing AU and VST versions of different plug-ins should not be a problem however. Installing plug-ins Some plug-ins may install themselves using an installer, others may not need to be installed but just downloaded and moved to the correct folder.
This post is for the Mac users.
When it comes to Mac OS X, the number of freeware plugins is very low, compared to the Windows world.
The popular “Save as VST” softwares (Synthedit and Synthmaker) are Windows only.
The “upgrade” politic of Apple is a sort of nightmare for developers (and sometimes users!), so many old free plugins don’t work anymore…
I have searched for free MAC plugins over the web and then tested !
– only free synth (not effects), in VST and or AudioUnit (AU) format
– the OS used is Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
– i tested the plugins in Ableton Live 9 / Renoise / some free VST & AudioUnit host softwares (Pedalboard, the JUCE open source plugin host, VSTLord, AULab, Ugly VSTi Interface…)
It’s a selection with free virtual analog synths, organ emulations, epiano emulations, drum synth, bass synth, FM synth, emulation of Oberheim / NordLead / DX 7 synth, chip synth, guitar emulation…
and here a list of 25 free synth plugins for Mac OS X :
1. Synth1 AU/ VST
The must-have free synth plugin is available for Mac since one or two years, it is in beta state, it still have some minor bugs with the UI, but it’s usable and you can benefit from the incredible amount of presets created for Synth1, including these 😀
=>
https://blog.wavosaur.com/synth1-presets-chris-bank-volume-2/Â &
https://blog.wavosaur.com/chris-bank-synth1-reup/
I had some problems for saving preset in Ableton Live.
Synth1 can do an incredible variety of sounds.
The most versatile Synth in this list
2. OBXD AU / VST
OBXD AU
The free Oberheim OB-X OB-Xa OB-8 emulation !
work without any problem in my AudioUnit / VST hosts on Mac.
3. Tyrell N6 AU / VST
http://www.u-he.com/cms/tyrelln6Â
DL here : http://www.amazona.de/amazona-de-freeware-synthesizer-tyrell-n6-v3/
U-He loves the Mac, don’t hesitate to have a look at the other freeware on the Website, all are working without problems in VST or AudioUnit format. I have also selected Triple Cheeze and Zebralette from the same developer. These plugins are good and full featured.
TyrellN6 plugin comes with a big amount of presets, and a deep variety of sounds. It’s powerful and easy to program. It’s rock solid stable and have a nice UI too!
4. FreeAlpha AU / VST
FreeAlpha AU
This freeware from LinPlug sounds very good, it has punch and is easy to tweak. It can do punchy bass, but also nice pads and clean leads. Despite its simple look, it’s powerful and funky!
5. Crystal AU / VST
The old Crystal Synth is still top, and one of the best synth for complex / evolving PADS, with its multipoint envelopes, and the complete modulation matrix.
One of the best virtual synth, for more than 10 years!
6. TAL NoiseMaker AU / VST
TAL Noisemaker
Like U-He, TAL has many freebees for Mac OS X.
I have selected Noize M4k3r and Elek7tro but you also have other interesting plugins.
The “Noise Maker” plugin has two osc + sub, a good filter and the famous Chorus “a la Roland”, so you have all you need for your fat bass/lead. Certainly more agressive than Crystal, it completes well the sonic arsenal.
7. Dexed FM VST
The famous free Yamaha DX7 emulation ! It’s VST only (no AU for the moment).
Use the cart / load / save button to browse or import presets.
It can read / write sysex files for and from the DX7.
Now all your FM needs are fullfilled: you can do pop ballad or Detroit techno, vive la FM !
8. MiniSpillage AU (Drum Synth)
MiniSpillage AU
Now that we have the FM synth, the Pad synth, the Bass synth and Lead capable synths, we need a DRUM synth. The Minispillage plugin has three dedicated algo for bass drum, wood drum and hihat.
I tend to prefer “Drumatic” but Drumatic is Windows only.
9. ComboF organ AU / VST
After all these synths, we now need an emulation of our prefered organ : the Farfisa combo organ!
ComboF gives you the sound of the Italian electric organ we all love. Available for Mac and windows, in AudioUnit and VST!
10. MrTramp 2 e-piano AU / VST
MrTramp2
After the organ emulation, we need the electric piano! MrTramp 2 is the best (free or not) emulation of the Wurlitzer electric piano. It’s raining again ! Now you can sound like Supertramp ! Breakfast in America !! There are not so much controls but you don’t need more, and the sound is excellent.
Vst Plugins Ableton Live
11. Cheeze Machine AU
A dedicated string synth plugin for Mac ! The Cheeze machine from Big Tick is a kind of Arp Solina emulation. It has this phaser / chorus creamy sound.
it’s AU only and should work with your favorite Mac host software.
12. TripleCheese AU / VST
TripleCheeze plugin
Cheese again !
The U-He contribution to the first KVR Developer Challenge. It’s an original synth with unusual sound generation. Nice for plucked sounds. Works well on my Mac OS X Mountain Lion. Thanks to the comb filter, you can generate very original sounds.
13. Zr3 organ VST
We have ComboF for the Farfisa emulation, and for the Hammond B3 organ lovers, there’s Zr3.
It’s VST only and works nice in Ableton Live 9.
The only good free Hammond B3 emulation for Mac OS X.
14. TAL Elek7ro AU / VST
TAL Elektro
A perfect free synth for bass and perc sounds.
Don’t forget to check the other TAL plugins !
15. VST Speek AU / VST
Coming from here ! the funkiest text to speech in plugin format !
The best C64 Sam oldskool text to speech emulator, for all your techno voices.
Available in 32 & 64 bit, VST & AU
16. Zebralette AU / VST
Zebralette plugin
Ableton Vst Mac Download. Free Vst Plugins For Mac
Coming with the demo of Zebra, the famous synth by u-He, Zebralette is a nice synth, with unusual sound, and powerful possibilities and plenty of special waveforms to play with.
17. Model – E VST
The antic VST from Steinberg, now free, and now available in VST format for Mac OSX.
It has been surpassed in all domain by many other synth (freeware included). But it can be useful and you can get some nice sounds out of it if you tweak it with love.
18. VB-1 virtual bass VST
VB1 bass
Another prehistoric virtual synth from Steinberg, this virtual bass plugin is free and available with Model E in the same package (see link above). Very simple sound, can be useful.
Freeware for Mac are rare so we take it!
19. MDA Piano ePiano DX10 & JX10 VST
NO GUI
These free VST work for Mac OS X, they don’t have UI, you’ll have to use the default interface supplied by your host.
– Piano & ePiano are sample based synth, the ePiano is very good, it’s a kind of Rhodes emulation.
– DX10 is a FM Synth, it has only two operators, but you can still get nice bell sounds out of it.
– JX10 is a very nice virtual analog synth, despite some bugs (the Windows version has the same), it can do some very nice leads.
20. 4Front R-Piano AU / VST
Another free electric piano emulation for your Mac!
It’s simple and has a nice clean sound. Perfect for deep house chords.
21. Chip32 AU
Chip 32 AU
This is the URL where you can also find the Cheeze Machine VST, and also the very good Clavinet emulation by Big Tick (TickyClav). Chip32 is a very simple plugin, perfect for your chip tune needs.
22. Spicy Guitar AU / VST
A free Audio Unit / VST emulation of an acoustic guitar ! It’s use a physical modelled synthesis, and is a great emulation. Here are coming the ukulele / banjo / Flamenco guitar !
23. Scythe VST
Scythe VST
A very simple VA Synth (VST only), with two oscillators, a filter, modulation envelope & some embedded effects : bitcrusher / phaser / chorus / delay.
It’s simple but efficient.
You can also generate random presets!
24. Automat AU
A virtual substractive synth with 3 osc, and filter for each osc, + many effects and modulations.
It’s audiounit only, and like Scythe, it has a random preset generator.
25. VOPM VST
VOPM VST synth
A VST emulation of the Yamaha YM2151 Chip that was used in many arcade games, and is similar to the chip in the Sega Megadrive. It’s a 4 operator FM synth, with 8 algorithm.
here’s a lot of preset for VOPM : http://truechiptilldeath.com/blog/2010/05/04/opm-patches-out-of-most-genesis-games/ Download icloud data recovery for mac.
26. Bonus tracks ?
1) there’s also kickmaker, a free kick drum synthesizer in VST and AU format : http://teragonaudio.com/KickMaker.html
and C700, that can load sample in aiff and wav format :
http://picopicose.com/software.html
2) I also tried other free VST plugins for MAC , but with no luck (no one working in any host on my Mac OS X Mountain Lion), i think these are too old plugins, or maybe ppc plugins (even if they were said to work on Mac OS X).
For example :
the Delay Lama ! http://www.audionerdz.nl/download.htm
AU303 & AirySynth : http://airy.andre.online.fr/AU/index.html#au303
3) I’m working on a port of Rave Generator VST for MAC, here you can find a beta (x64 only, VST only) :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/149376535107031/835302689847742/
Vst Plugins Ableton
3) I’m also working on a port of CreakBox (the TB303 plugin) for MAC OS X (i already have converted it to VST2.4 then to 64 bit), see link ( @ 6. and in the comments) :
https://blog.wavosaur.com/best-free-tb-303-emulation-sotware-vst-plugins-standalone/
4) i’ll do another posts with the free effect plugins for MAC ! It seems there are more effects available for free than synths.
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