My Five Favorite Soft Synths
Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

1. Native Instruments Reaktor

Any discussion of the top software synthesizers pretty much has to start with Reaktor. Reaktor is not only powerful, it’s also one of the most expensive soft synths. But there’s a reason for that: it isn’t just one instrument. The program comes with more than two-dozen separate instruments—and if none of them fits the bill, you can create your own. Reaktor isn’t just a suite of synthesizers, it’s a fully modular toolkit, in which you can wire up oscillators, filters, envelope generators, waveshapers, and many other types of components to implement your musical vision.

I’ve used Reaktor, for instance, to build a complex FM/subtractive synth that can be tuned to any imaginable scale in just intonation. It’s true that more and more soft synths (not including Reaktor) can load Scala tuning tables, making it easy to define your own tunings. But my custom synth does things none of those instruments will do, because it was designed from the ground up to play in just intonation.

Reaktor isn’t just for diehard experimenters, however. Among the factory instruments are versatile polyphonic synths meant for keyboard work and several powerful beatboxes suitable for edgy contemporary dance/pop productions. Some very capable effects are tucked away in their own folder; you can use them as plugins in other programs. You’ll also find a couple of very programmable, but rather mysterious, sound generators that will do their thing happily for hours without user input. Unfortunately, documentation on the included instruments is sketchy.

Reaktor’s factory soundset leans toward aggressive dance and experimental styles. If you need a variety of meat-and-potatoes sounds for producing pop songs, it might not be the best choice. But if I could have only one synth on my hard drive, it would be Reaktor.

Reaktor’s SpaceDrone can produce a variety of endlessly keening, chirping soundscapes, which morph subtly without human interference.

SineBeats 2 is one of Reaktor’s sources of looped synthetic beats. Note the large-step sequencer at the top and the two small ones at lower left. ToolTips (upper center) make it easier to understand the factory instruments. (Click to enlarge.)

Carbon 2 is designed to be played from the keyboard. It has three oscillators (left), a multimode filter (center), and built-in effects (right).

The large, animated display that dominates the panel in Reaktor’s Skrewell synth is purely for show. You program this self-playing sound source in the lower area. (Click to enlarge.)