In this edition of bpb Freeware Studio, we’ll be covering the best free string machine VST/AU plugins for Windows and Mac OS.
String machines (otherwise known as string ensemble synthesizers) were among the most popular instruments back in the 70s – two of the most notable examples being the Arp Solina and Crumar Performer. The simple synthesizers were quite limited in terms of sonic flexibility, but musicians often used outboard effects such as phasers and chorus pedals to effectively expand their sound (which resulted in some fairly epic sounds in the right hands).
Follow the links for screenshots & download info:
- Cheeze Machine by BigTick (Mac, Windows)
- eSLine by Elektrostudio (Windows)
- Nabla by Full Bucket Music (Windows)
- Orpheus by B.Serrano (Windows)
- S3 by Krakli (Windows)
- StringSynth by AlgoMusic (Windows)
- The deputy Mark II by Full Bucket Music (Windows)
The plugin which inspired me to make this list is The deputy Mark II by Full Bucket Music. It was released quite recently, but quickly became my favorite freeware string machine VST plugin, due to its great sound and brilliant control layout.
eSLine is a simple and effective emulation of the Arp Solina String Ensemble. Much like its real life counterpart, eSLine has separate violin, viola, trumpet, horn, cello and contrabass sections which can be mixed independently.
Cheeze Machine is the only plugin from the list which is also available for Mac users. It is a very capable virtual string machine, featuring a chorus ensemble emulator, a 6-stage phaser, and a handy reverb unit.
If you’re looking for even more free string machine instruments, check out our best free sound module VST plugins list. Most of the included plugins over there come with useful string machine patches.
That’s all for today! Make some great music with these plugins and support BPB by spreading the word about this or your other favorite articles. Thanks!
18 Comments
Tricky Loops
onNice list, but I wanna recommend also the String Synthesizer from Algo Music, which sounds very phat. Another good one is StringZ II from krakli software. Now let’s ask Mozart what string synthesizer he would prefer… :-)
Tricky Loops
onSorry, I have not seen that you have already mentioned the Algo String Synthesizer…but StringZ II from krakli is good, too.
Ninja Mode
oni agree string z ii is amazing! thanx for the list as well, will be checking out this synths since iv never heard of most of them!
bedroom producers blog
onthanks for the suggestion! i agree that StringZ sounds very nice, but it’s (unless i’m mistaken) a physical modeling synth and not an emulation of those old school string machines. i might make a separate bpb Freeware Studio for such synths in the future, though! there are quite a few interesting ones around.
Tricky Loops
onYeah there are much good physical modeling synths around – for the ones from XOXOS alone you could make a whole section… :-)
Anonymous
onPhybes is godly. Its a vibraphone emulator, and even if it doesn’t sound perfect it sounds awesome.
marco
oni cant find this vst, please help me!
(H+) M.S.G.
onIn addition to the above (excellent!) string synths you mentioned, I would like to suggest one of my own creations. Stringz N’ Things is a free simulation of the Paia Stringz N’ Thingz, which as far as I can tell has never been emulated/sampled before. I used the Paia service manual’s settings to get the string/piano sounds as close as I could to the real thing. It’s a synthedit (win only) synth though. You can check hmsg.bandcamp.com for sound examples and a download link. Thanks and enjoy!
Ward S (ARack Audio)
onDeputy is really awesome!
use preset mono: sequencer pulse, add a long reverb and some 1/4 delay and you get a nice trance sound! Used it very much!
Bedroom Producers Blog
onyeah, it nails that vintage string machine sound. love it!
arkmabat
onNew: http://www.fullbucket.com/music/nabla.html
“The Nabla is a VST™2.4 software instrument for Microsoft Windows® simulating the KORG Delta DL-50 Strings Synthesizer from 1979. Is is written in native C++ code for high performance and low CPU consumption.”
arkmabat
onLooks like it’s 64-bit as well!
j
oninpire!!!
U-o
onThere’s new version of Cheezemachine.
Mark
onCheeze Machine has been discontinued by Big Tick Audio (as has all their freeware). It has however been reissued by 2gether Audio and is available from https://www.2getheraudio.com/instruments/cheeze-machine-2/. They’ve given it a new coat of paint and dragged it into the 21st century (it’s now 64-bit).
2gether have also modernised the Ticky Clav clavinet emulator, but alas Angelina, EP-Station, and Rainbow have not been reissued.
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks for the info! Yes, this article needs an update – I’ll refresh the list this week.
alice
onThe link to eSLine by Elektrostudio is dead
MRG
onHow about this one? String-Machine by JPCIMA. Greatest name ever, indeed.
Open-source, with Linux/OSX/Win support. A simple 8’+4′ model, with great BBD chorus.
https://github.com/jpcima/string-machine (be sure to grab the Automatic build from 2020)