Beginner/learner DAWless synth
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 737 posts since 1 Jul, 2023
I'm a librarian and we're setting up a little synth workstation in the library aiming at kids/teens. We've got a Novation midi keyboard, and Ableton Lite, but also wanting to get some kinda of beginner basic synth that can run in standalone. The simpler, the better. Something that works easily and hopefully provides some sort of visual feedback. Also ideally free or cheap. Please help!
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- KVRian
- 714 posts since 24 Nov, 2023
There is a great and free synth called "Surge XT" that runs stand alone
It has a lot of presets and pretty good hands on controls. The presets are nice as they allow people of any skill level to make sounds and music. The presets will also be visible as the various controls will change so as a step two they can find a sound they like and then tweak the controls and hear how it changes
It has lots of visual feed back with on screen graphics that mimic real controls like knobs, buttons, switches, and sliders
You can find it here
https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
It has a lot of presets and pretty good hands on controls. The presets are nice as they allow people of any skill level to make sounds and music. The presets will also be visible as the various controls will change so as a step two they can find a sound they like and then tweak the controls and hear how it changes
It has lots of visual feed back with on screen graphics that mimic real controls like knobs, buttons, switches, and sliders
You can find it here
https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
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- KVRAF
- 8167 posts since 28 Apr, 2013
Most synths run standalone under savihost.
https://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm
Since your start is towards simple, I suggest
Tal Noise-maker
https://tal-software.com/products/TAL-NoiseMaker
AAS Sessions
https://www.applied-acoustics.com/session-bundle/
u-He Podolski/TripleCheese/Zebralette
https://u-he.com/products/#synths
Cherry Audio:
Synthesizer Expander Module
https://cherryaudio.com/products/synthe ... der-module
Surrealistic MG-1
https://cherryaudio.com/products/surrealistic-mg-1-plus
All free except AAS, which you usually can get on the secondhand market for less than $10.
https://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm
Since your start is towards simple, I suggest
Tal Noise-maker
https://tal-software.com/products/TAL-NoiseMaker
AAS Sessions
https://www.applied-acoustics.com/session-bundle/
u-He Podolski/TripleCheese/Zebralette
https://u-he.com/products/#synths
Cherry Audio:
Synthesizer Expander Module
https://cherryaudio.com/products/synthe ... der-module
Surrealistic MG-1
https://cherryaudio.com/products/surrealistic-mg-1-plus
All free except AAS, which you usually can get on the secondhand market for less than $10.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 737 posts since 1 Jul, 2023
Surge is great but I think too complex for our aims. Although I will add it to our list of possibilities, thanks for the suggestion. And the reminder for me to fool around with it some more tonightIvyBirds wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 2:33 am There is a great and free synth called "Surge XT" that runs stand alone
It has a lot of presets and pretty good hands on controls. The presets are nice as they allow people of any skill level to make sounds and music. The presets will also be visible as the various controls will change so as a step two they can find a sound they like and then tweak the controls and hear how it changes
It has lots of visual feed back with on screen graphics that mimic real controls like knobs, buttons, switches, and sliders
You can find it here
https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
Something like TAL Noisemaker is probably as deep as we'd want to go, but it's not standalone and running things through a non DAW host adds complexity when we're trying to reduce it.
I think Vital runs in standalone but again, could be too difficult for a complete noob to find their way around...
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- KVRian
- 503 posts since 22 Jun, 2019
I'd love a library like that near where I live...
You could try running Helm , vital's ancestor, provides a lot of visual feedback and more simple, it did worked for me when learning synthesis at the begining.
Other than that, Arturia have a lot of synth and provides standalone I read.
You could try running Helm , vital's ancestor, provides a lot of visual feedback and more simple, it did worked for me when learning synthesis at the begining.
Other than that, Arturia have a lot of synth and provides standalone I read.
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- KVRAF
- 5297 posts since 22 Jul, 2006 from Tasmania, Australia
SaviHost could be considered,
it's almost imperceptible
to load a VSTi
hmm, Synth1?
it's almost imperceptible
to load a VSTi
hmm, Synth1?
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- KVRist
- 403 posts since 2 Feb, 2005 from UK
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- KVRAF
- 4197 posts since 13 Jun, 2014
I recommend either the ARP Odyssey emulations or Moog Minimoog emulations, both simple yet both vintage classics.
Arturia, GForce, Korg all do various versions of the ARP Odyssey, while Arturia, GForce, Softube and Cherry Audio do Minimoog emulations, so take your pick.
Another classic and slightly more modern is Juno-106 emulations. Togu Audio Line, Arturia, Softube, Roland Cloud all do various versions.
ADDENDA:
You could also consider a very cheap hardware option either analog or digital.
Arturia, GForce, Korg all do various versions of the ARP Odyssey, while Arturia, GForce, Softube and Cherry Audio do Minimoog emulations, so take your pick.
Another classic and slightly more modern is Juno-106 emulations. Togu Audio Line, Arturia, Softube, Roland Cloud all do various versions.
ADDENDA:
You could also consider a very cheap hardware option either analog or digital.
Last edited by egbert101 on Thu May 16, 2024 1:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
<list your stupid gear here>
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- KVRian
- 704 posts since 7 Oct, 2005