NanoHost turns your VST synths into standalone instruments for live use, and it’s totally free

We’ve got used to Tone2 releasing excellent plugin synths, but now it’s offering something a bit different. NanoHost is a slimline host application that can load your favourite VST synths and turn them into standalone, playable instruments. What’s more, it’s free.

When we say free, we really mean it: you don’t have to register and you can share the software with others if you wish. What’s more, NanoHost doesn’t even have to be installed - it can run from a USB stick or good old CD if you wish.

Other things to note are that no plugin-scanning is required, latency is said to be super-low, and, because the software is so small, load times should be extremely fast. The output of a plugin can be recorded to a WAV file, and NanoHost can even create random patches for you. There’s compatibility with 32-bit plugins, too.

You can find out more and grab NanoHost on the Tone2 website. It runs on Windows and Linux with Wine.

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. 

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