The best VST plugins 2020: the finest synth, drum machine, sampler and effect plugins you can buy right now By Ronan Macdonald ( Computer Music, Future Music ) 19 June 2020 It’s the ultimate plugin shopping list.
Ever since the VST first made its way into the music production world, VST instruments dramatically increased the capabilities of DAWs.
It’s truly incredible how this technology that remains relatively unchanged from its first versions in the late 90s, continues to shape modern music production as we know.
There are 1000s of VST instruments on the market today, including some great free ones.
But freeware plugins can only take you so far. The top tone tools for music production are still commercial products that come with a price tag.
- The original NI Massive was arguably the best best VST plugin soft synth on the market for many years. With MASSIVE X, it’s newest version, you can expect some improvement on the industry standard. They have over 170 wavetable options available. And the plugin gives you two different oscillators so you can layer your sound within the plugin.
- The Best Free VST Instrument Plugins. Many of the most popular VST instruments, such as Massive or Omnisphere, come with a fairly high price tag.If you’re a music production beginner, you may not be ready to fork out hundreds of dollars on various production effects and plugins just yet, which is completely understandable.
When it comes to paid synth plugins, knowing where to put your money is hard. Which is why LANDR now offers rent-to-own plugins—to bring you the tools you need at affordable prices.
With all the options out there, it doesn’t have to be scary or expensive if you’re able to pick the best synth plugin that’s right for your music production needs.
Let’s take a look at VST instruments that are responsible for iconic tracks and sounds you can’t get anywhere else.
Here’s the essential list of the best VST instruments and synth plugins
- Lethal Audio
- Spectrasonics Omnisphere
- Xfer Serum
- Native Instruments Massive
- Native Instruments FM8
- Arturia V Collection
- Native Instruments Kontakt 6
- Reveal Sound Spire
- u-he Hive
- REFX Nexus 2
Use this list to choose the best synth plugins from the cream of the crop.
1. Lethal Audio Lethal
Price: $199
Lethal by Lethal Audio is a ROM based powerhouse that includes thousands of sounds and presets and 24 genre-specific expansions.
It’s also the first rent-to-own plugin from LANDR…
We know, we know: we’re a bit biased. But we had to put it first on this list because we’ve been enjoying it so much in our own productions lately.
Lethal by Lethal Audio is a ROM based powerhouse that includes thousands of sounds and presets 24 genre-specific expansions.
This soft synth puts some of the most in-demand tones in modern production right at your fingertips with it’s easy to use preset browser.
From there’s plenty of room to sculpt them with effects and powerful synthesis features.
Plus its light enough on your processor that you can create an entire track using just Lethal.
If you’re looking for simplicity and great value, Lethal is the perfect synth for you.
2. Spectrasonics Omnisphere
Price: $499 USD
Spectrasonics Omnisphere is one of the biggest names in software synthesizers. This massively powerful instrument packs an almost overwhelming amount of functionality.
Refx Nexus 2 Vst Plugin
There’s so much going on under the hood in Omnisphere that it might be a little intimidating to new users.
But there’s a super helpful community around this synth to guide you on your journey—and plenty of resources available if you’re feeling stuck.
If all else fails you could get lost in the sheer number of presets and discover some incredible sounds without ever once needing to do any tweaking.
Omnisphere is a powerful experience!
Omnisphere is a powerful experience!
3. Xfer Serum
Price: $189 USD
Xfer Serum is usually next on the list of the most essential soft synths.
Serum is a wavetable synthesizer. Unlike the hardware synths of the past that rely on wavetable technology, Serum has no processing limitations—and it shows.
Serum’s wavetable tech is incredibly powerful. Even for simple waveforms, its expertly implemented wavetables sound ultra-clear and clean.
This gives the synth a crisp and clean sound that can be quite intense!
4. Native Instruments Massive
Price: $149 USD
Native Instruments’ Massive has been around since the early days of softsynths, but it’s an all-time favourite for a reason.
This synth is designed to make basses. Massive basses—and it works.
Its easy to use virtual-analog subtractive design will seem familiar and intuitive, even to new users.
Its extremely fat sound has defined a generation of producers and continues to be a great option for plugin synthesis.
Hot Tip: Massive has just received a significant update with NI Massive X.
Massive X is an entirely new synth plugin reimagined from the ground up to bring the classic VST into the modern era of music production. It just might end up being more legendary than the original!
5. Native Instruments FM8
Price: $149 USD
Native Instruments FM8 is another longtime favourite soft synth from the classic plugin manufacturer.
FM8 uses frequency modulation synthesis like the iconic Yamaha DX-7 that defined the sound of the 80s.
FM8 uses frequency modulation synthesis like the iconic Yamaha DX-7 that defined the sound of the 80s.
This method can seem complicated, but FM8 focuses on putting all the control you need at your fingertips.
Plus, FM8 takes FM synthesis much further than classic hardware.
All the delicate, crystalline bells and keys you might associate with FM are there, along with all kinds of inspiring new sounds and textures—FM is cool!
6. Arturia V Collection
Price: 499$
The Arturia V Collection is truly incredible because it gives you access to a library of legendary vintage synths.
It’s hard to express just how incredible it is that you can download and emulate genre-defining synths like the CS-80 or the ARP 2600.
Having access to a literal library of classic synths opens up your production capabilities to levels that producers of eras past could only dream about.
7. Native Instruments Kontakt 6
Price: $519
Kontakt 6 is a collection of sample-based instruments from Native Instruments.
It’s essentially a platform that plugs into your DAW and gives you access to its three Play Series synths, Retro Machines MK2 and its original Factory Library.
The Play Series synths come with three synth engines—Analog Dreams for classic analog-style synths, Ethereal Earth for atmospheric pads and Hybrid Keys for interesting Rhodes style sounds.
Retro Machines is Native Intstruments’ retro synth offering that gives access to 16 re-creations of classic vintage hardware.
And of course, the Factory Libary comes with 1000s of stock samples you can freely use in your tracks.
8. Reveal Sound Spire
Price: $189 USD
Reveal Sound Spire is a hybrid synthesizer that covers everything from analog modelling to “HardFM.”
Spire’s powerful unison modes allow for up to 9 unison voices per oscillator
And its internal effects system is like a built-in sound design tool, complete with its own LFOs and matrix slots.
Onboard mixing tools like EQ and compression make Spire a one-stop-shop for designing tones that work great in a mix.
9. u-he Hive
Price: €149 Euro
Best Vst Plugins Like Nexusus Free
u-he Hive is a sleek and lightweight multipurpose synth with tons of functionality. Hive’s effective workflow can get you started creating great sounding patches right away.
It’s ability to support microtunings and unique mix of synthesis styles makes it unique and it’s extensive modulation matrix and function generators make it flexible.
But at heart Hive is a two oscillator subtractive synth. That means that even if you’re still getting comfortable with the basics of synthesis, there’s nothing here you can’t handle.
10. REFX Nexus2
Price: $249 USD
REFX Nexus2 is another ROM based plugin with an extensive library that’s fully loaded for EDM production.
Nexus has made its way into the studios of some pretty big names, but the sound quality speaks for itself.
Nexus has made its way into the studios of some pretty big names, but the sound quality speaks for itself.
Nexus is expandable via a huge amount of downloadable content and expansions on REFX for every style of music.
Synthetica
Synthesizer plugins are one of the most exciting parts of digital music production.
No matter what sound you’re chasing, there’s a soft synth out there that will help you get it.
Best Vst Plugins Like Nexus Plugins
These are the best synth plugins to check out next time you’re GAS-ing for a powerful new plugin to add to your arsenal.
In this article I'm going to share with you my top 10 VST plugins I recommend for producers in 2020.
Stock plugins are awesome – I love them – and in my opinion you can get about 90% of the way to truly pro sound with them. However, using a few choice premium plugins can take you that last 10%.
NEW!Black Friday & Cyber Monday Audio Plugin Deals 2020
Here are my top 10 VST plugins for 2020 – both free and premium – and WHY I think you should get them!
Caveat 1: Don’t think a good plugin is going to make bad music sound good. It’s not. Seriously...It’s not! These plugins can help take well composed, well produced music up to that next level.
Caveat 2: These are the VST audio plugins that I personally use. They are not the only options, and plugin choice – all else being equal – comes down to how well you like the user interface and how well you get to know it.
Nexus 3 Vst Free Download
View them as an investment – not an expense. Whats more…You can download free demos for most of these, so try them out first and see what you like:
My Top 10 VST Plugins for 2020:
A premium Synth, like Serum or Sylenth1:
There are others, of course…these are just two I use a lot. Why? Fun, fast and lots of presets available. Unique routing and modulation options. If you’re still hung about about the ethics of using presets as a starting point, get over it. A rompler like Nexus is also good (although I’ve never used it so can’t really speak from experience on that).
Sylenth1:http://bit.ly/2OOA776
Serum:http://bit.ly/2PbsGph
Nexus:http://bit.ly/2PfGhMv
Omnisphere:http://bit.ly/39JVmyjOxford Inflator (50% Off):
Inflator:http://bit.ly/2SBlJ3U
Bark of Dog:
Bark of Dog:http://bit.ly/2HyJdQP
Fabfilter Pro Q3:
FabFilter Pro Q3:http://bit.ly/2u80ahR
Here's a review by Alex Consordini: https://youtu.be/GxWeWSJ_ek8A decent limiter:
If you get none of the others – if you really want to get your music up to commercial loudness and plan to do your own mastering – this is a key plugin to invest in. The FabFilter Pro-L2 and Sonnox Limiter are great.
FabFilter Pro-L2: http://bit.ly/2sHTAgZ
Sonnox Limiter: http://bit.ly/34YQvrnValhalla Reverb:
Valhalla Reverb:http://bit.ly/2P4Nlwi
iZotope Ozone 9:
Ozone 9:http://bit.ly/2wsSNm6
A decent saturator:
Everyone needs one of these. There are some great ones out there. My favourite two that make it onto every track are Soundtoys Decapitator and House of Kush Omega.
SoundToys Decapitator:http://bit.ly/35Zd2UQ
Omega N:http://bit.ly/2rcmB45LFO Tool:
LFO Tool:http://bit.ly/325jFEp
YouLean Loudness Meter (FREE):
YouLean:http://bit.ly/2SGZ1rf
For tips on mixing with plugins in 2020, click here.
Nexus Vst Free Download Zip
Let me know in the comments below if you have any recommendations for awesome VST audio plugins for 2020! 👇