Freeware developer Matt Tytel, known for the lauded open-source synthesizer Helm, has a new project out. Vital Synth is a highly anticipated spectral warping wavetable synthesizer, and you can get it for free.
Vital Synth Has a Free Edition
New plugins and virtual instruments are always enticing, but it doesn’t get any better than when they’re free. In keeping with his open-source philosophy, Vital naturally comes as a free version. It includes all of the synthesizer’s primary functions, so it’s mostly unrestricted compared to paid tiers.
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How Does It Stack Up Against the Paid Vital VST?
Here’s how the different versions of Vital break down:
- Free: 75 presets, 25 wavetables
- Plus ($25): 250 presets, 70 wavetables
- Pro ($80): 400+ presets, 150 wavetables; additional skins, Discord perks, and prioritized support
- Subscribe ($5/month): monthly $5 credit in the Vital store; subscriber-only packs; additional skins, Discord perks, prioritized support, and first access to new features and plugins
As you can see, even in the free version, Vital Synth has a ton of variety to play with. And remember, it includes all of the same functionality as paid versions, so you’re not missing on out core abilities at all.
Vital VST Features
Vital is as feature-rich as any high-quality wavetable synthesizer out there. As a visual synthesizer, all of the controls are animated at a beautiful 60 FPS but don’t bog down your computer. The graphics are a plus, but obviously not the heart of the instrument.
To start off, you have three wavetable oscillators and a sample section for bringing in your own textures. These can be routed to two filters with 32 selectable types. The included wavetable editor is as powerful as any competitor, letting you mish & mash timbres with ultimate freedom. You can also convert your own samples to wavetables to truly expand your sound palette.
The modulation section includes LFOs, envelopes, randomizers, and more. Finally, Vital provides an effects rack for tools like reverb, phaser, delay, and compression, among others. As a standalone wavetable synthesizer, Vital is about as good as it gets.
Where It Excels
- No compromise in sound quality from free to paid versions. Vital Synth is as high-quality as any leading VST in terms of sonics.
- Musical filters that don’t sound too “digital.”
- Easy to get the hang of; learning curve isn’t too steep.
- It’s a powerful wavetable synthesizer that’s free. Does it get much better?
Vital VST Drawbacks
- Free version has a limited wavetable selection.
- Free version has a limited preset selection.
- Effects section is good, but could be better.
- Limited gain staging ability.
Verdict: Vital Synth (Free) is an Unbeatable Value
Vital Synth is already drawing comparisons to long-standing wavetable favorites like Serum, which is a huge compliment to the newcomer. The fact of the matter is that Vital is a powerful, flexible wavetable synth capable of producing virtually unlimited number of unique sounds.
Obviously, the free version is an absolute steal. However, the paid tiers are incredible values as well, costing much less than the average VST of similar quality.
The bottom line is that it’s absolutely worth trying.