Looking for VST recommendations: synth pads, strings, piano etc.

What's Hot
They need to work with Reaper on a PC, and ideally not be megabucks because this is currently just light/fun use and we're about to bankrupt ourselves on a domestic project (with musical benefits).

That said, I recognise that generally one needs to pay for good tools, so ideally under £50 but potentially up to £100 for something I'll use a lot. If we get into multiple hundreds I'll just start looking at buying an actual keyboard (for which I currently have no space, but that may change) and never getting any utility out of the midi keyboard :)
0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom

Comments

  • stratman3142stratman3142 Frets: 2176
    edited May 2021
    There's the free Kontakt 6 player, with the free Kontakt factory selection. I think they might call it Komplete Start now, which might include some other stuff (link below). I've got the full version so I'm no longer sure what's included in the free stuff.

    https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/bundles/komplete-start/

    It's not a competition.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • stratman3142stratman3142 Frets: 2176
    If you need free drums, there's 

    Steven Slate Drums 5 free
    MT Powerdrumkit 2

    It's not a competition.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • andy_kandy_k Frets: 818
    Have a look into Pluginguru Unify, highly recommended ( by me anyway )
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • LegionreturnsLegionreturns Frets: 7965
    Pete give me a shout. I've got an extensive library that I can talk you through, from free, to cheap, to top end. 

    My Trading Feedback    |    You Bring The Band

    Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SnagsSnags Frets: 5325
    Thanks chaps. Doesn't have to be free - more than happy to pay people for their work, but equally happy to accept their generosity if they give it away :)

    I already use MTPowerDrums 2, and have made a donation. It's a bit shit, but so am I, so at the moment we're getting on just fine until I learn more things than I'll trade up.

    I'll check out the others, and am working my way through the info dump the lovely Mr @Legionreturns has sent me.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • markvmarkv Frets: 459
    For strings & orchestral sounds, Spitfire's BBC Symphony Discover is hard to beat, and free (if you fill in a survey and wait a few days, iirc), and their Labs is full of weird and wonderful instruments too.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom
  • PolarityManPolarityMan Frets: 7273
    Serum is incredible.
    ဈǝᴉʇsɐoʇǝsǝǝɥɔဪቌ
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Danny1969Danny1969 Frets: 10356
    Xpand covers most bases and is very cheap

    https://www.adsrsounds.com/product/software/air-music-tech-xpand2-all-in-one-workstation/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkN6EBhBNEiwADVfyayijeY-WEWQ_DsUKAF4Uoe25mXDJv6rA1srT6hgxesY8oWTnyIn8-hoCMUAQAvD_BwE

    It's about £12 at the moment which is a bargain. I have done loads of professional projects using it because it came free with Protools but it's available there in VST or AU
    www.2020studios.co.uk 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • mudslide73mudslide73 Frets: 3049
    I've had good results with Synthmaster One. I've never used anything else tho mind... 
    "A city star won’t shine too far"


    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • andy_kandy_k Frets: 818
    markv said:
    For strings & orchestral sounds, Spitfire's BBC Symphony Discover is hard to beat, and free (if you fill in a survey and wait a few days, iirc), and their Labs is full of weird and wonderful instruments too.
    I keep promoting Unify, and if you are using either of the above libraries, it is a no brainer must have, check out the libraries that have been done, free for LABS and paid for BBCSO.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • pintspillerpintspiller Frets: 994
    Some nice things in Orchestral Tools Sine Player. Spitfire BBCSO Discover good. Spitfire LABS Soft Piano is my go-to even though I got Addictive Keys for free as a Focusrite user.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HeartfeltdawnHeartfeltdawn Frets: 22096
    Snags said:
    They need to work with Reaper on a PC, and ideally not be megabucks because this is currently just light/fun use and we're about to bankrupt ourselves on a domestic project (with musical benefits).

    That said, I recognise that generally one needs to pay for good tools, so ideally under £50 but potentially up to £100 for something I'll use a lot. If we get into multiple hundreds I'll just start looking at buying an actual keyboard (for which I currently have no space, but that may change) and never getting any utility out of the midi keyboard :)

    Go to Spitfire Audio and check out the Labs stuff. Their player interface is simple and far preferable to using anything Kontakt based. And definitely get BBC SO Discover. 

    Cheap synths: totally recommend Synthmaster One. If you want the more DX& sounds, download Dexed. Free, a little complex in the interface, but sounds bloody wonderful. 

    https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/

    Cheap pianos: Addictive Keys. 

    Make the KVR sales thread your friend. 

    https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=43

    You'll get both things recommended above for absolute peanuts on there.  



    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • andy_kandy_k Frets: 818
    Just leaving this here....

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • AlbertCAlbertC Frets: 911
    Another recommendation for LABS by Spitfire Audio - lots of excellent quality instruments and all free

    I'd also recommend checking out  Pianobook for free stuff - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/
    A lot of their instruments do require Kontakt but there are also quite a few for Decent Sampler  (https://www.decentsamples.com/) and Plogue Sforzando (https://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando.html) - both of which are free.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FezFez Frets: 499
    £7 Computer music magazine create a filesilo account and download a whole load of vst instruments. They all work with Reaper too.
    Don't touch that dial.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
Sign In or Register to comment.