The Best Budget Synth VST Plugins of All Time

Depending on when you’re reading this, we as music producers have well and truly been gifted with a treat or two when it comes to new synths and the best part is that most of them have been developed to be affordable for pretty much everyone, so if you have a budget between $20 to $200 here are the best budget synth VST plugins for now and beyond.

1. Bolt by Nektar Technology

Harmonic Synthesizer: Shape Sound at the Turn of a Knob

Nektar Bolt is the first Harmonics Synthesizer for VST® and AU® compatible DAW platforms. Its unique Harmonics oscillators will take you from subtle sine waves to overtone-rich pulse chains at the turn of a knob. And Bolt’s user interface encourages instant experimentation when creating sounds. No filter required – it all happens right in the oscillator. Experience the speed of new sounds – literally.

Unique Synthesis

Experience Bolt’s new Harmonics Synthesis engine with its rich, organic sound and lots of unique character – no traditional filter required.

Easy to Use

No PhD in sound design required: Rediscover the fun in tweaking your own sounds with Bolt’s streamlined user interface.

Fresh Sounds

Bolt comes with 500+ factory & artist patches for all kinds of genres. From lush pads to deep basses – and screaming leads to sound effects.

Bolt: A Different Take on Synthesis

Shape It

Bolt’s synthesis engine generates a sound’s overtone structure directly in the oscillator. So you won’t find a filter section like in typical subtractive synthesizers.

The unique Harmonics Oscillator takes care of it all – just by turning the HARMONICS and ROLLOFF knobs you change a wave’s shape and core sound from subtle sine to bright pulse chain. ODD switches the oscillator to create odd harmonics only, If you additionally bring in DEEP, you will notice the waveforms to resemble saw or square shapes (with ODD active). In addition, each oscillator has its own amplitude envelope. So all you need for creating the core sound is right there!

Modulate It

Sounds come to life with modulation: So Bolt offers four powerful modulation generators. Its 3 LFOs and one Modulation Envelope Generator ensure a host of modulation possibilities. No matter, if you are after snappy transients or would like to modulate different aspects of the sound all at the same time – you can do all of that and more. The modulation generators can even modulate each other if you want to push the envelope. The best is, that it’s easy to experiment: Modulation Targets are pre-assigned, so you simply need to bring up a target amount to hear an effect.

The MODULATION EG is modelled after classic ADSR envelopes and cover a range from ultra-snappy and percussive to lush soundscapes. The 4 modulation Targets can be assigned to many destinations, including LFO Frequency and Intensity.

Bolt’s Low Frequency Oscillators go beyond the range you’d expect from a typical LFO. They offer an extended range from 0.01 Hz up to 10 kHz. So they go well into the audible range which allows for some extreme modulation effects, including amplitude and frequency modulation.

Choose from 13 different waveforms, including Random and stepped waves. Switch Cycle off to use the LFOs as additional auxiliary envelopes – or sync them to the beat. Of course, each of them can be synced differently, so you can create interesting poly-rhythms. You can even assign them to cross-modulate each other’s tempo. You’ll probably never run out of new interesting modulation combinations to try out…

Refine It

Four integrated effects processors ensure that Bolt’s patches are ready to be dropped into your productions: EQ, CHORUS, DELAY, and REVERB provide the essential effects at your fingertips.

The effects are optimized ease of use, only 3 parameters per processor ensure you’ll get to results quickly. Still, you’ll find enough tweak ability including tempo sync for the DELAY or parametric and bandpass modes for the EQ.

There’s a lot more that can be said about Bolt – but it’s all about the sound isn’t it? So download your trial version and listen to it yourself!

Features

• Unique new Harmonics Synthesis
• 4 oscillators (2 main, 2 sub)
• White noise generator per oscillator
• Unison Voice Double: Stack up to 4 instances
• Frequency modulation (FM)
• X-Mod: cross-modulation
• Overdrive stage for each oscillator
• ADSR envelope per oscillator
• 1 Modulation envelope generator
• 3 LFOs (13 waveforms & MIDI sync)
• 4 modulation targets per source (LFO 1-3, Mod EG)
• 4 FX processors: EQ, Chorus, Delay & Reverb
• Support for multiple sample rates
• Automatic 2-stage protection limiter
• Up to 16 voice polyphony
• Poly and mono modes
• 500+ Factory and Artist patches included

System Requirements

PC

• Windows version 7, 8, 10 or higher (64bit) 
• VST 2.4/VST 3 Instrument Plug-Ins.

Mac

• OS OS X 10.9 or higher (64bit)
• VST 2.4/VST 3/AU Instrument Plug-Ins.

All other requirements are dependent on the DAW software/audio interface used, please consult the respective manuals for further details.

2. Darkstar by Minimal System Group

Important Note: This product is only compatible with Windows operating systems.

DarkStar is a monster analogue modelled synth. With its 4 oscillators you can easily create the sounds you need.

Features:

• 4 Oscillators split into two modules each with Sine, Tri, Saw, Square, Noise waveforms.
• Each two oscillator module has its own dedicated ADSR envelope.
• Two filter banks (one for each two oscillator module) with full ADSR envelope and LFO controls. Filter types include LP, HP, BP, BR, PK.
• Space Generator’ module.
• Echo Box’ module.
• Driver’ Module
• Professional GUI Design.
• 20 presets to get you started.
• Regular updates, next update will include new features.
• Very low CPU usage.

System Requirements

• PC running a Windows operating system. VST compatible DAW or VST hosting software.
• This plugin is 32bit but can be run on 64bit systems using jBridge.
• This plugin also operates within the 64bit versions of Cubase, Nuendo, Bitwig Studio, Reaper, Tracktion, Renoise, FL Studio, Sonar, Mixcraft and Samplitude using their inbuilt bridging.
• It is recommended that you always try out the demo before purchases to ensure that the plugin is compatible with your system.

Host Compatibility

• Minimal System Group Plugins run on Windows based PC’s using a suitable VST host or DAW. Our plugins have been fully tested within Ableton Live, Adobe Audition, Cakewalk Sonar, FL Studio, Energy XT, Presonus Studio One, Renoise, and Cubase

Please Note: This plugin is 32bit but can be run on 64bit systems using jBridge.

3. miniBit by AudioThing

miniBit is an 8-bit/chiptune style synthesizer plugin that emulates the sound of 80s game consoles and retro computers.

It features a main oscillator with 18 waveforms paired with a tunable sub-oscillator (square wave). The waveforms are not bandlimited and will produce aliasing. Same of the waveforms were carefully created and edited with an Amiga 1200, while others were meticulously recreated from the sounds of the best classic games that we have collected over the years.

You can create all kind of noisy and retro sounds with the built-in bitcrusher, delay section and filter. You can also use the synced 8 Steps Stepper/Sequencer with multiple destinations.
From noisy, snare-like steps to ambient subs, miniBit has many uses beyond what one expects from a chip tune synth.

Features

• 18 Waveforms + Sub Oscillator
• Poly and Mono mode with Glide
• 2-poles LowPass/HighPass Filter
• Delay and BitCrusher effects
• LFO with multiple destinations
• Volume and Pitch Envelopes
• 8 Steps Stepper with multiple destinations
• 128 Presets + Preset randomizer

System Requirements

Windows

• Windows 7-11
• 2GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM
• VST2, VST3, AAX, CLAP (64-bit)

Mac

• OS X 10.9 – macOS 13
• Apple Silicon (M chips) Native (Universal 2 Binary)
• 2GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM
• VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP (64-bit)
• Universal 2 Binary

4. Jussi by Klevgrand

Jussi emulates male voice vowels in a unique way. Thanks to a set of powerful parameters you can make Jussi sing anything from soft and airy choir-like vowels to hard and angry shouting. Formants are controlled by playing with different velocity, which makes it fun and easy to play using a MIDI keyboard.

Anatomy

1. Character – Drag the XY pad to alter tone intensity. The ’intense’ axis controls the formant’s Q value and the ’narrow’ axis is the formant’s gain value.

2. Throat – This XY pad controls grain-factor (Y-axis) and the tonality/noise-factor (X-axis).

3. Three legato modes – Off: Like an ordinary polysynth. On: Normal legato mode (use XY pad to control). Hold: Smart polyphonic mode (see documentation for full info).

4. ADSR / Turn in & out – The ADSR controls the volume envelope of a triggered note with an option to slide the pitch (Turn in/out).

Features

• ADSR with ”Turn-in” and ”Turn-out” option (Turn-in and Turn-out affects the pitch and maps it to attack and release) Voice character XY pad (Intensity and Narrowness)
• Legato mode (glides between notes and velocity levels)
• Legato Hold mode (polyphonic legato when using a sustain controller, consult the documentation for more info) Throat emulation XY pad (Grain and Tonality)
• Built-in reverb

System Requirements

• macOS 10.15 or later (optimized for the M1-processor)
• Windows 10 or later
• AU, VST-2, VST-3, AAX

5. PS-20 by Cherry Audio

PS-20 is an ultra-realistic, polyphonic, hot-rodded tribute to Korg’s renowned MS-20. First and foremost, PS-20’s dual highpass/lowpass filters super accurately recreate the MS-20’s famous raunchy sound in all of its squelchy, screaming glory. In addition to its unique filters, the MS-20’s other signature feature is its modular-style patch panel. Cherry Audio have reconfigured the patch panel from the original instrument, adding many desired in and out patch points for all oscillators, filters, and VCAs, correcting the confusing terminology of the original, and throwing in a few extras that greatly expand its usability.
 
Every part of the instrument has been “souped up” with killer features, including 16-note polyphony, a unique three-layer, eight-step sequencer with flexible CV outs, and integrated effects, including a beastly distortion, modulation echo with stereo spread, and a lush digital reverb with fantastic spring and plate emulations.
 
The PS-20 truly is one of the most quirky and unique instruments Cherry Audio have released. Between its sometimes unpredictable filter behaviour, and the tremendous flexibility of its patch panel and sequencer, the possibilities are endless, and the creative “happy accident” quotient of PS-20 is simply off the charts!

Features

• Super-accurate modelling of classic MS-style highpass and lowpass filters
• Up to 16-voice polyphony with random voice panning available
• Over a billion presets
• Three-channel, eight-step sequencer with 1/2-step quantizer and tempo sync
• Single-key chord memory mode
• Expanded and simplified full-function patch panel
• Advanced, next-generation patch panel cabling system from Voltage Modular
• External Signal Processor section with normalled sidechain input
• Virtual instrument and effect plug-in versions included
• Tempo-syncable modulation generator
• Unison detune for massive lead and bass sounds
• MPE support
• Four user-selectable interface colour themes
• Distortion, studio-quality reverb, and mod echo with tempo sync effects
• Full MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls

System Requirements

Mac

• 10.13 or above (macOS 13 Ventura supported).
• 64-bit required.
• Native Apple M1 processor support, including Apple M1 Ultra.
• 3.4 GHz Quad-Core or M1 CPU with 8GB of RAM recommended.
• Available in AU, VST, VST3, AAX & Standalone formats

Windows

• Windows 7 or above (including Windows 11), 64-bit required.
• Quad-core computer with 8GB of RAM recommended.
• Available in VST, VST3, AAX & Standalone formats