Engines

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A sample of synth engines and effects available in Zynthian, for a longer list see below...

1 Engine Guides

1.1 Zynthian Native Engines

1.2 Supported Synth Engines

2 LV2 Plugins: Synths & Effects

2.1 Synths

  • Dexed (Yamaha DX7 emulation)
  • MDA plugins (LV2 port of MDA plugin collection, including ePiano, JX10, DX10 and others)
  • TAL free plugins (Some plugins from Togu Audio Line, including Noize M4k3r and more)
  • DISTRHO Plugins-Ports (A collection of plugins ported to Linux that includes OBXd and others)
  • DISTRHO DPF-Plugins (A plugin collection which includes the Nekobi Bass Monosynth and more)
  • Calf plugins (One of the best free software plugin collection)
  • Helm (Advanced Polyphonic Synthesizer + Arpeggiator)
  • AMSynth (Analog Modelling Synthesizer)
  • Synthv1 (Old School Polyphonic Synthesizer)
  • Padthv1 (Old School Polyphonic Additive Synthesizer)
  • SooperLooper Live looping sampler capable of immediate loop recording, overdubbing,
  • Surge Free & Open source hybrid synthesizer...
  • DrumGizmo: Open source, multichannel, multilayered, drum plugin - User Guide
  • GeonKick: is a free software for generating a wide range of percussive sounds - User Guide
  • Drum Kits as LV2 plugins: Shortcut to ready-to-use Drum kits - User Guide
  • And much more ...

2.1.1 Table of synths available in Zynthian

Name Description Category Sub-Category Author/Project User Guide/Notes
ADLplug FM synthesiser with YMF262 chip emulation Synth Frequency Modulation (FM)
AirFont320
AMSynth 2 osc, 2 envelope virtual analog synth with many presets. Synth Virtual Analog Analog Modelling Synthesizer
Beep Synth
Black Pearl 4A High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples AVL Drumkits
Black Pearl 4B High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples AVL Drumkits
Black Pearl 5 High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples AVL Drumkits
Black Pearl Drumkit High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples AVL Drumkits
Black Pearl Drumkit Multi High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples AVL Drumkits
Calf Fluidsynth Calfs implementation of a Fluidsynth SF2 sample player. Synth Soundfont Calf plugins
Calf Monosynth Simple monophonic synthesizer with 2 oscillators, multimode filter and an envelope. Designed to maximize flexibility while minimizing the number of controls. Useful for synth basses and leads. Synth Virtual Analog Calf plugins
Calf Organ A versatile organ/pad synthesizer, capable of producing: tonewheel organs, solid state organs, strings-like or choir-like pads, fat basses and searing leads. Synth Virtual Analog Calf plugins
Calf Wavetable This synthesizer is based on predefined wavetables with a ADSR section. Synth Wavetable Calf plugins
Dexed Yamaha DX7 emulation Synth Frequency Modulation (FM)
DrMr Sampler DrMr is an LV2 sampler plugin. Sampler
DrumGizmo Open source, multichannel, multilayered, drum plugin. Drums Samples User Guide
Drumkits Percussion Salamander Drumkit SFZ GM file, plus percussion Drums Soundfont
drumkv1 Old-school drum-kit sampler synthesizer with stereo fx. Synth Samples Rui Nuno Capela
DrumSynth A realtime 32/64-bit virtual drum synthesizer providing a host of sonic options for creating sounds. Drums DISTRHO
Example Metronome Metronome
Exampler Stupidly simple sampler Sampler MOD Devices
Fabla Fabla is a drum sampler plugin instrument. Ideal for loading sampled sounds and performing via midi controller or programming beats. Includes ADSR envelope allows shaping and compressor beefs up the sound. Drums Samples OpenAVProductions
Fluid Bass Real-time software synthesizer based on the SoundFont 2 specifications Synth Soundfont
Fluid Brass Synth Soundfont
Fluid Chromatic Percussion Synth Soundfont
Fluid Drums Synth Soundfont
Fluid Ensemble Synth Soundfont
Fluid Ethnic Synth Soundfont
Fluid Guitars Synth Soundfont
Fluid Organs Synth Soundfont
Fluid Percussion Synth Soundfont
Fluid Pianos Synth Soundfont
Fluid Pipes Synth Soundfont
Fluid Reeds Synth Soundfont
Fluid SoundFX Synth Soundfont
Fluid Strings Synth Soundfont
Fluid SynthFX Synth Soundfont
Fluid SynthLeads Synth Soundfont
Fluid SynthPads Synth Soundfont
FluidGM Synth Soundfont
Foo YC20 Organ Physical modelling combo organ synthesizer (based on Yamaha YC20) Synth Physical Modelling
GeonKick Generate a wide range of percussive sounds - User Guide Drums
Helm Advanced Polyphonic Synthesizer + Arpeggiator Synth Softsynth
JuceOPL Classic game sounds in Plugin form, as heard in late 80s / early 90s sound cards. Synth Frequency Modulation (FM)
Kars Strong plucked string synth Synth Physical Modelling
LSP Multi-Sampler x12 DirectOut Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LSP Multi-Sampler x12 Stereo Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LSP Multi-Sampler x24 DirectOut Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LSP Multi-Sampler x24 Stereo Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LSP Multi-Sampler x48 DirectOut Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LSP Multi-Sampler x48 Stereo Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LSP Sampler Mono Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LSP Sampler Stereo Sampler Linux Studio Plugins
LVTK Silence
MDA DX10 Simple 2-op FM synth with metallic acid-like sound. Synth Frequency Modulation (FM) Suffice to say, you cannot model 2-op Yamaha sounds accurately using DX10 (without losing your mind that is), you can however use it for its own merits. One of those merits include a waveform modulator, where you can modulate between a sine and "saw" approximation that contains additional harmonies added to the fundamental sine. -cyrb review at KVRaudio
MDA ePiano Based around 12 carefully sampled and mastered Rhodes Piano. Synth
MDA JX10 Emulation of Roland Super JX-10 Synth Virtual Analog
MDA Piano 32 poly piano with decay, release, stereo width, stretch and random tuning
MiniOPL3 Used in Sound Blaster Pro sound cards; very efficient and light FM Synth. Synth Frequency Modulation (FM)
Nekobi Single-oscillator synth based on the Roland TB-303 Synth Virtual Analog
Noize Mak3r Virtual analog synthesizer with a great sound and low CPU usage. 128 factory presets included. Synth Virtual Analog
Obxd Synthesiser that has been designed to recreate the sound and behaviour of the Oberheim OB-X. Synth Virtual Analog
Odin2 The design approach of Odin 2 lets you choose from a large variety of modules, which can be mixed and matched for virtually endless sonic capabilities. Synth Virtual Analog
OPNplug FM synthesiser with YM2612 chip emulation Synth Frequency Modulation (FM)
OS-251 OS-251 is a "JUNO" style digital subtractive synthesizer with a simple yet powerful DSP algorithm. Unlike other plugins that use analogue simulation, OS-251 uses digital algorithms to give warm, lo-fi sounds. Synth Digital Subtractive
Padthv1 Old-school polyphonic additive synthesizer with stereo fx. Synth Virtual Analog Rui Nuno Capela
Pianoteq 7 STAGE High quality physical modelling of a wide spectrum of real-world instruments Synth Physical Modelling
Raffo Synth Simple but fun 4 osc monosynth Synth Virtual Analog
Red Zeppelin 4 High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples
Red Zeppelin 5 High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples
Red Zeppelin Drumkit High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples
Red Zeppelin Drumkit Multi High Quality, Resource Efficient Drum Samples Drums Samples
reMID Implementation of the SID 6581 chip used in the Commodore 64 Synth Softsynth
samplv1 Old-school all-digital polyphonic sampler synthesizer with stereo fx. Sampler Rui Nuno Capela
setBfree DSP Tonewheel Organ Designed to imitate the sound and properties of the electromechanical organs, a 'Tonewheel Organ Construction Kit' with 1000 configurable parameters. Synth Physical Modelling X42 Plugins
sfizz SFZ SoundFont Player Synth Samples
sfizz-multi SFZ SoundFont Player Synth Samples
SO-404 Bass Synthesizer SO-404 is a simple bass synthesizer using 1 oscillator and 1 filter. Synth Virtual Analog
SO-666 Feedback Synthesizer SO-666 is a feedback based drone synthesizer building upon the SO-KL5 synth. It creates haunting cacophonic howls and drones. It's a bit hard to play but making good use of the modwheel will help keep the sound in control. Synth Virtual Analog
SO-kl5 Piano Synthesizer SO-KL5 is a string based "piano" synthesiser. The strings are modeled using the Karplus-Strong String simulation method. Synth Physical Modelling
SooperLooper Live looping sampler capable of immediate loop recording, overdubbing,
Sorcer Sorcer is a polyphonic wavetable, synth, its sonic fingerprint is one of harsh modulated sub-bass driven walls of sound. Synth Wavetable
String machine Digital model of electronic string ensemble instrument Synth Virtual Analog Arp Solina, Roland RS-101 etc.
Surge Featuring many synthesis techniques, a great selection of filters, a flexible modulation engine, a smorgasbord of effects, and modern features like MPE and microtuning. Synth Softsynth Free & Open source hybrid synthesizer...
Synthv1 SynthV1 is an old-school all-digital 4-oscillator subtractive polyphonic synthesizer with stereo FX. Synth Virtual Analog Rui Nuno Capela
The infamous cellular automaton synth An additive synthesizer, where 16 harmonics are added to the fundamental according to rules of elementary cellular automata. Synth Infamous
Triceratops Triceratops is a virtual subtractive synthesizer plugin with 3 oscillators, 3 ADSR envelopes and 3 LFOs. Oscillators have unison mode, filter has three modes low pass resonant 24db, high pass and band pass. Oscillator sync, inertia (portamento) and basic FM is implemented. Synth Virtual Analog
Vex Vex is a 3 oscillator subtractive wavesample synth with variety of waves for initial tones. Synth
Vitalium Spectral warping wavetable synth Synth Wavetable
VL-Tone Old school bleep bloop machine Synth
Wolpertinger Wolpertinger is a subtractive, antialiased polyphonic software synthesizer Synth
ZynAddSubFX Polyphonic Additive, Subtractive, and Pad synthesis Synth Softsynth

2.2 Effects

All kind of effects:

Category Includes
Delay Delay, Echo
Distortion Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz, Wave-shaper
Dynamics Compressor, Limiter
Filter Filter, Equalizer, (Auto-)Wah, Envelope Filter
Generator Synthesizer, Piano, Organ, Drums, Noise, SoundFonts
Modulator Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, Vibrato, Tremolo, Ring modulator
Reverb Reverb, Shimmer, Plate, Room, Spring
Simulator Amplifier, Cabinet, Leslie, Tube
Spatial Panner, Auto-panner, Stereo field manipulator
Spectral Pitch-shifter, Auto-tune, Harmonizer, Vocoder
Granular Granulator
MIDI utilities MIDI filter & tools
Other Arppeggiator, SooperLooper


This is not a complete list of all synths & effect plugins, see the MOD devices wiki page to see some amp and cabinet sim plugins available:

Details about each of the MOD plugins

3 Supported plugin types

Currently, Zynthian supports only LV2 plugins compiled for RBPi (ARM):

Here is an unmaintained repository of LV2-plugins for Zynthian: https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-plugins/tree/master/lv2

Support for VST, DSSI and LADSPA has been removed for simplicity, but it could be re-enabled in the future if we have good reasons for doing so.