Synthesis
Choosing a software synthesiser for electronic music
The question Which software synthesiser should I buy for electronic music production?
Short answer
Decide on the synthesis method first and the product second. Wavetable and hybrid synths (Serum 2, Pigments, Vital) excel at moving, modern timbres; a dedicated analogue model like Diva trades flexibility and CPU for a focused, classic architecture.
If you have no budget, Vital is the clear place to begin: its free tier includes the complete synth, and it runs on macOS, Windows and Linux.
If you want the widest range of synthesis methods in one instrument, Pigments documents six engines plus a generative sequencer. Logic Pro users should explore Alchemy before buying a second hybrid synth.
Start with the architecture, not the brand
Most software synth purchases are made backwards: someone hears a preset, buys the synth, and discovers it is built around a method they don't want to program. The synthesis method determines what is easy, what is possible and how much CPU you will spend.
- Wavetable: an oscillator scans through a table of single-cycle waveforms. Movement through the table is the main source of timbral change. Good for evolving leads, basses and modern sound design.
- Virtual analogue: models of analogue oscillators, filters and envelopes. Fewer ways to make a sound, but the controls map directly to classic synth programming.
- Sample and granular: oscillators built from recorded audio, either played back or broken into small grains. Useful for textures and for turning field recordings into instruments.
- Spectral, additive, harmonic and modal: methods that build or reshape sound from its partials or from modelled resonant bodies. More specialised, but distinctive.
- Hybrid: several of the above in one instrument, often with the ability to layer or cross-modulate them.
The options
Hybrid wavetable instrument
Serum 2Xfer Records
Serum 2 extends the wavetable design of the original Serum with four further oscillator types: Multisample, Sample, Granular and Spectral. That puts it in the hybrid category while keeping a wavetable-first workflow.
Xfer states that Serum 2 is a free upgrade for Serum 1 owners, which matters if you already own the original.
Worth knowing
- Xfer lists VST3, AU and AAX only; there is no VST2 or CLAP build listed. On Apple Silicon it needs Big Sur or later.
From the manufacturer's documentation
- Five oscillator types: Wavetable, Multisample, Sample, Granular and Spectral.
- Flexible effect routing.
- Free upgrade for existing Serum 1 owners.
Widest range of synthesis methods
PigmentsArturia
Pigments documents six synthesis methods (Modal, Granular, Wavetable, Sample, Harmonic and Virtual Analog) plus a Utility engine. It also includes a generative sequencer, an arpeggiator and 20 effect algorithms, so it can function as a complete sound-design environment.
If you want to explore several synthesis methods without buying several instruments, it is the most comprehensive single option here.
Worth knowing
- Arturia's stated minimum hardware (four-core 3.4 GHz CPU or Apple M1, 4 GB RAM) is higher than the other synths listed. ARM processors are not supported on Windows.
From the manufacturer's documentation
- Six synthesis methods: Modal, Granular, Wavetable, Sample, Harmonic and Virtual Analog, plus a Utility engine for extra oscillators and sampled noise.
- 20 effect algorithms, including Shimmer Reverb, Multiband Compressor, Distortion and Vocoder, across two insert buses and one send bus.
- Generative sequencer and arpeggiator.
- Modulation with unlimited connections between envelopes, LFOs, random sources and more, plus four macros.
Focused virtual analogue
Divau-he
Diva models specific oscillator, filter and envelope designs from classic hardware: five oscillator models, five filter models (including Ladder and Cascade) and three envelope models, built on a zero-delay-feedback filter design.
It is the right choice if what you want is subtractive, analogue-style programming rather than wavetables or samples.
Worth knowing
- u-he states plainly that Diva's modelling has a high CPU cost; it offers adjustable quality and a separate offline bounce setting. Polyphony tops out at 16 voices.
- On Windows, Diva is listed as VST3, CLAP and AAX; there is no VST2.
From the manufacturer's documentation
- Five oscillator models: Triple VCO, Dual VCO, VCO, Dual VCO Eco and Digital.
- Five filter models: Ladder, Cascade, Multimode, Bite and Uhbie.
- Three envelope models with keyboard follow and velocity scaling.
- Zero-delay feedback (ZDF) filter design.
Free wavetable synth
VitalVital Audio
Vital's free Basic tier includes the full synth with every feature; paid tiers add presets, wavetables and other content rather than unlocking functions. It offers spectral warping, a built-in wavetable editor, sample-to-wavetable conversion and drag-and-drop modulation.
It also lists Linux support alongside macOS and Windows, which is unusual among commercial-grade wavetable synths.
Worth knowing
- Vital requires OpenGL 3 or higher. Its plug-in format list comes from the press kit rather than the main product page; see the product record.
From the manufacturer's documentation
- Spectral warping, which acts on a waveform's harmonics.
- Built-in wavetable editor, plus conversion of your own samples into wavetables.
- Text-to-wavetable generation (limited to 5 requests per day on the free tier).
- Drag-and-drop modulation with custom LFO shapes, envelopes and MPE control.
If you already use Logic Pro
AlchemyApple
Alchemy is included with Logic Pro and already covers additive, spectral, granular, sampling and virtual analogue engines, with up to four sources per preset. For Logic users it overlaps heavily with what a hybrid synth purchase would offer.
Worth knowing
- Alchemy is only available inside Logic Pro and MainStage.
From the manufacturer's documentation
- Additive, spectral and granular synthesis and resynthesis, sampling, and virtual analogue engines.
- Up to four sources per preset, each using one or more synthesis engines.
- Arpeggiator that can control each source independently.
Side by side
| Serum 2 | Pigments | Diva | Vital | Alchemy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid | Paid | Free tier + paid tiers | Included with host |
| Plug-in formats | VST3, AU, AAX | Standalone, VST, AAX, AU, NKS | VST3, AU, CLAP, AAX | VST2, VST3, AU, LV2 | Built-in |
| macOS | High Sierra or later on Intel; Big Sur or later on Apple Silicon | macOS 11 or later; 4-core 3.4 GHz CPU or Apple M1; 4 GB RAM; OpenGL 2.0 GPU | Mac OS X 10.10 or newer; Intel Nehalem or newer, or Apple silicon M1 or newer | macOS 10.15 or later, Intel or Apple Silicon; 64-bit; OpenGL 3 or higher | Logic Pro requires macOS 14.4 or later |
| Windows | Windows 10 or later | Windows 10 or later (64-bit); 4-core 3.4 GHz CPU; 4 GB RAM; OpenGL 2.0 GPU; ARM processors not supported | Windows 7 or newer; Intel Nehalem or newer, or AMD Bulldozer or newer | Windows 10 or later; 64-bit; OpenGL 3 or higher | Not supported or not listed |
| Linux | Not supported or not listed | Not supported or not listed | glibc 2.28 or newer (u-he describes Linux versions as beta) | Ubuntu 18.04 or later; 64-bit; OpenGL 3 or higher | Not supported or not listed |
| Primary architectureEditorial | Hybrid, wavetable-first | Hybrid, six engines | Virtual analogue | Wavetable with spectral warping | Hybrid, sample-manipulation focus |
How to choose
- No budget, or not sure yet: install Vital. It costs nothing and will teach you wavetable synthesis.
- You want one instrument that covers many synthesis methods: Pigments.
- You want a wavetable-first hybrid and already own Serum 1: Serum 2 is a free upgrade.
- You want classic subtractive programming and can afford the CPU: Diva.
- You use Logic Pro: learn Alchemy before buying another hybrid synth.[4][2][1][3]
Questions
- Do I need a paid synth to make professional electronic music?
- No. Vital's free tier includes the complete synth, and Logic Pro includes Alchemy. Paid synths differ in architecture, workflow and content rather than in whether they can produce professional results.[4][6]
- Which of these synths run on Linux?
- Of the synths in this guide, Vital lists Ubuntu 18.04 and later, and Diva offers Linux builds that u-he describes as beta.[4][3]