Free music software round-up: Week 83

free music software

free music software

The majority of the freebies we cover in this column are plug-ins, but hosts and standalone apps are welcome too. We feature a synth that falls into the latter category today, alongside some other instruments and an effect.

If you've got a new free music software release, make sure you let us know about it by emailing musicradar.pressreleases@futurenet.com with all the details.

The colorspace colorful series synths

The colorspace colorful series synths

The Colorspace Colorful Series synths

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

There are four synths in this range: Feeling is a 3-oscillator additive model; Drafter has three drawable oscillators; Serio3 is a 3-oscillator subtractive instrument; and Cloud sports three morphing oscillators. The interfaces are similar across the line, and you can download the whole lot as a bundle.

reFuse software the swarm

reFuse software the swarm

reFuse Software The Swarm

Platform/format: Mac/standalone Download

Thanks to its Oscar win, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's soundtrack for The Social Network has been receiving some fresh attention recently. The release of this synth is well-timed, then: it emulates Dewnatron's The Swarmatron, a handmade drone synth that was apparently used to make many of the "buzzing clouds" in said soundtrack.

Plektron vinylizer

Plektron vinylizer

Plektron Vinylizer

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

The Vinylizer does what its name implies: processes your audio so that it sounds like it's being played on a damaged old vinyl record. There are adjustable Decenter, Dust and High damage parameters, while it's also possible to set the stop time.

Togu audio line tal noisemaker

Togu audio line tal noisemaker

Togu Audio Line TAL-NoiseMaker 3

Platform/format: PC, Mac/VST, AU Download

An improved version of the synth that MusicRadar users voted the best free plug-in in the world today. Feature additions in this release include a vintage delay, filter overdrive, full automation support and the inclusion of 128 new Frank "Xenox" Neumann-designed presets as standard.

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.