'Normal' VST Instruments

[aod]

I’m looking for a free VST Instrument that provides a decent array of ‘standard’ keyboard/synth sounds. Things like, a couple of pianos, some organs, some synth sounds, strings, brass, perc (marimba, xylophone), some woodwind, pads, and a few bass sounds.

I don’t need the most super high quality sample based sounds, just ‘normal’ decent sounds, a bit like you’d find on a keyboard with internal voices.

I have Ableton 10 Lite which comes with some sample based instruments such as Instrument Rack and Simpler, but these are all geared towards a particular style of music, like EDM. They’re brilliant samples, but I just want some normal sounds, a bit like you might get on GM, but not loops and not with crazy attack and wooosh and pops etc.

Is there anything people can recommend? I’m not keen on having to get separate VST’s for each instrument, but if I have too I have too.

[Eddy Deegan]

I've not used it myself but Nils' K1V might be worth checking out. It's a free emulation of the Kawai K1 including the original factory banks containing hundreds of presets.

Romplay 2 from Electronik Soundlab is probably also worth a look.

[aod]

Many thanks, that looks pretty cool! I'll check it out.

I did already have a look at this great article and already have BBC Symphony Orchestra which is really good. I've downloaded Komplete Start / Komplete Kontrol / Kontact Player, although can't get my head around it. I've heard it's good, but seems really difficult to use.

[BJG145]

...not really what you're looking for perhaps, but might be worth checking out Spitfire Labs.

https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/?sortBy= ... bs_popular

[James Perrett]

Do a search for the Yamaha XG instruments. They're not pretty and the more serious keyboard players might put their hands up in horror at the mere mention of XG but they're fine for just quickly trying out parts. I'm not sure whether they are officially available from anywhere nowadays but I think they are available from third party sources.

[aod]

...not really what you're looking for perhaps, but might be worth checking out Spitfire Labs.

https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/?sortBy= ... bs_popular

Thanks, i have come across this before, and think i have the free version. Although it's primarily orchestral it does tick a lot of boxes.

It feels like I may need to have a handful of plugins for what I need - which is fine, but just trying to figure out a good small selection to cover a wide range of usable sounds.

[IAA]

I've not used it myself but Nils' K1V might be worth checking out. It's a free emulation of the Kawai K1 including the original factory banks containing hundreds of presets.

I used the original for years in my live rig, the “ahhs” and string pads were my faves. This was the 90s after all.

I used it for one of our one synth challenges.

[Mike Stranks]

When I asked a similar question here a while ago, I was pointed towards the free Spitfire products. There are plenty of non-orchestral options there... I'm sure you'd find something that would suit...

[Drew Stephenson]

...not really what you're looking for perhaps, but might be worth checking out Spitfire Labs.

https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/?sortBy= ... bs_popular

LABS isn't a single instrument, it's an ever-growing array of options that includes some regular stuff as well as a lot of atmospheric and experimental stuff. If you looked a while ago it's well worth looking again as the options will have grown.

[aod]

I've had another look at Spitefire labs, and it certainly does have a lot more stuff from when I last checked. This could actually be more or less what I'm looking for, with a handful of other bits and and bobs.

I'll download and check it out.

[jaminem]

Would also check out Komplete Start.
Good selection of bread and butter sampled instruments as well as some other good stuff…

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... ete-start/

[sonics]

The VSTi I recommend to beginners who want a simple, traditional "workstation"-like palette of sounds is the AIR Music Tech Xpand!2.
It's regularly on sale for $10-20.

For something with a wider range of sounds, the IK Multimedia SampleTank 4 has (had?) an SE version which was good value.

There are also hundreds of free instruments for Kontakt, if you were to invest in a copy of that. It also comes with a very good factory library.

Personally, I think one of the best value bundles is the IK Total Studio suite, but their special deal appears to have ended yesterday. (The entire collection was on sale at $199.)

[MaestroMikeT]

One thing to bear in mind is the technology behind the instrument, as is it sample-based or synth-based. I’ve learned that can limit workflow to some extent, point in case being when used on a sub-par computer - namely laptops in live rigs, or low on ram. Sample based instruments, and I do have a lot for the Kontakt platform, do take a lot of cpu and specially ram, whereas synth based may or may not be cpu hogs, but are generally independent of ram.
I use a laptop for my live setup, when traveling abroad and carrying my keyboards is not a viable option, and I found that Xpandit2, mentioned above, would serve me well for bread and butter sounds (duly processed further in daw), along with specific lead patches from u-He Zebra and Repro.

[forumuser932800]

Not sure about free allround synths but for some nice old school Korg emulations, you could have a look at https://www.fullbucket.de/music/vst.html
They are really good

[Alperian]

Difficult as there are no sales on for that type of instrument ATM. Right now at this very moment 14/07/23 the one I would plumb for is the Korg M1. It's on sale for $49.99. It comes with all 19 types of the PCM ROM cards for the M1, the sound of the M1EX which was released as an expansion of the M1’s built-in PCM, as well as the sounds of the T-series, which advanced the M1. It is equipped with extensive sounds, including 33,000 preset sounds and 34 cards. It also comes as standalone and VST3.

https://korg.shop/software/korg-collect ... on-m1.html

The best one in thta group is the Triton/Triton Extreme though which sadly they are selling together for $199.

If you could stretch to it, the whole Korg collection is on sale at the moment for $299 which is tremendous value (14 plugins).

Sometimes you can get the Xpand2 for about a tenner, but not at the moment.

Native Instruments Start is free, but I don't think is has a piano.
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... ete-start/

[Alperian]

Almost forgot
Free:
https://www.decentsamples.com/product/d ... er-plugin/