If someone were to tell you 10 years ago that VSTs and virtual instruments were going to take over hardware instruments such as synthesizers, you would probably laugh in their faces.
We are now living in the day and age where technology has become so great that VSTs are now able to compete and in some cases replace the use of hardware synthesizers.
So, what are VSTs and what do they do?
What Are VSTs?
VST stands for virtual studio technology and it is an audio plug-in software interface that incorporates software synthesizers and effects. There was a huge push right around 2010 to electronic music such as EDM. During this push, VSTs rose to popularity due to their incredible power and massive sample libraries.
Over the years, technology has gotten better, laying way to huge sample libraries,
Versatility
VSTs are far more versatile than hardware synthesizers and they allow musicians to the ability to sift through thousands of different sounds at the click of a mouse.
Efficiency
VSTs have become extremely efficient over time. These speed up your workflow and allow you to instantly experiment with your songs. Since so many sample libraries are now so massive, you can literally flip through thousands of sounds in minutes.
With hardware synths, it’s hard to be near as efficient.
Modern Music & VSTs
Almost every modern producer is experimenting and using VSTs on the daily. If you check out any of the newest hip hop or pop music, you will hear VSTs all over the tracks.
One of the more popular plugins being used today is a plugin called Soundtoys. This is pretty much on 90% of pop music today and it is an incredible plugin.
Best Free VSTs
Blaukraut Charlatan 2.0
Blaukraut Charlatan 2.0 is a free virtual analog synthesizer that synth enthusiasts will love. This synth is perfect for indie pop and even for hip hop as well. You are able to tweak sounds to your liking, rather than just relying on presets.
One of the best things about this plugin is that it is fairly easy to use, yet it is still an advanced plugin that truly competes with paid plugins and hardware synths. This is also a polyphonic synthesizer, meaning it can play more than one note at a time.
Charlatan is one of those free plugins that you will find yourself trying out on a ton of different projects as it has such a unique feel to it.
Salamander Piano
Salamander piano is a free piano VST that is easily one of the best options currently available. This is included in almost every serious producer roundups for, “best free piano VSTs.
The interface is user-friendly and it doesn’t give you a ton of different tweakability, however, it gives exactly what you need from a free plugin.
A good piano sound is something that every music producer should have in their arsenal as the piano is one of those instruments that is great for writing songs with.
DSK Dynamic Guitars
DSK makes some of the best free plugins and their guitar plugin is surprisingly realistic sounding for being free.
It’s such a crazy thing if you truly think about it. You can now use virtual instruments that are guitars without even needing a guitarist. Now, is this one the most realistic guitar VST? Absolutely not. However, that’s not its purpose.
The purpose of free VSTs is to allow you to experiment and get a feel for what your song is going to sound like.
How To Use VSTs
Using VSTs is easy. You will need a DAW of your choice and possibly a MIDI controller as well to truly experiment with the plugins.
It is wise to have a somewhat fast and newer laptop or PC for music production. A lot of VSTs require a lot of space.
The good thing here is that most free VSTs are typically less-memory intensive than paid libraries.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you should have a few more VSTs to add to your arsenal. The one thing about music production is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. Some of the biggest songs are written with free software and experimenting with free VSTs only grows your knowledge for the game.
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