5 Free AAX Synths You Should Check Out In 2021
With the introduction of Audio to MIDI in Pro Tools the divide between MIDI and audio isn’t as sharp as it once was and Pro Tools users who had previously spent their time mostly, or even exclusively, dealing with audio only projects are finding MIDI and software synthesizers more and more useful.
AAX isn’t as well catered for as AU and VST when it comes to virtual instruments but there are free AAX instruments so if you want to explore further than Xpand2 and Boom there are tools out there which can definitely help you and your productions. Here are 5 to check out.
Metric Halo Thump2
The first task I put Audio to MIDI to in Pro Tools was augmenting a real kick drum with a synthesized kick. Many people have tried the sub tone trick which is purely an audio process, no MIDI is involved but the shortcoming of this trick is that the pitch is fixed, something real drums rarely do. An elegant solution is the unmissable Thump from Metric Halo. A drum synth plugin which specialises in kicks. Because it doesn’t rely on a MIDI message to trigger it, it’s an unusual synth but it has oscillators and envelopes - it’s a synth!
Spitfire Audio Labs
From the masters of orchestral sampling Labs is an infinite series of free software instruments, made by musicians and sampling experts in London, for anyone, anywhere. The variety is huge, ranging from straight ahead pianos and strings, to really out there atmospheres and unusual instruments. The quality is top notch and the content is growing.
Synthmaster Player
Synthmaster player is a preset driven version of the fully editable Synthmaster instrument. The free version offers 550 presets and a surprising amount of editability. Controlling pairs of parameters from the dual XY pads and up to 8 parameters from the rotary knobs you’ll find different parameters selected depending on the preset recalled.
u-he Tyrell N6
This is a proper subtractive synth, with an obvious Bladerunner reference in the name we know what to expect here and Tyrell N6 doesn’t disappoint with two great sounding oscillators, flexible filter with up to 36dB/Oct slope and loads of modulation options, just dial up a big PWM pad and imagine you’re chasing replicants through the blue smoke searchlights. If you don’t understand that reference go and watch Bladerunner immediately!
TAL Noisemaker
A free 3 oscillator subtractive synth with self-resonating multimode filter, 2 LFOs and effects including a Juno-style chorus this synth has a lot to offer from a very clean UI. You’ll be up and running with this in no time without needing the presets. If your experimentation goes too far there’s even a Panic button which mutes the synth before that self-oscillating filter tears the cones out of your monitors!
Are there any free AAX Synths you use which should be on this list?