IK Multimedia Releases Syntronik Free Virtual Instrument

IK Multimedia has announced the release of Syntronik Free, a freely downloadable virtual instrument featuring a set of 50 presets from the full version of Syntronik.

Syntronik (full review coming soon) is IK Multimedia’s latest sample-based virtual instrument featuring the meticulously sampled sounds of 38 iconic hardware synthesizers. Whereas the full version of Syntronik comes with a huge 50 GB sound bank and over 2,000 individual presets, the freely downloadable Syntronik Free delivers the same sound quality packed into a much smaller set of 50 presets.

Despite the reduced number of presets, Syntronik Free is absolutely worth installing because the included patches sound exceptionally good. And what’s even better is that you’re not really limited to the 50 included presets. All synthesizer controls in Syntronik Free are unlocked, allowing the user to modify the provided preset sounds to their liking. Each included preset is based on a different sample set, so presets that feature raw oscillator sounds essentially turn Syntronik Free into a full-blown virtual analog synthesizer. Such is the case, for example, with the Roland Jupiter-8 preset labeled “J-8 Submarine Pad” which can be transformed into a thick analog bass sound or a screaming lead simply by adjusting the available controls. The same can be said for the majority of other Syntronik Free presets, including those sampled from the Minimoog, Micromoog, and the JUNO-60, to name a few of the featured synthesizers.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Syntronik makes it possible to layer up to four different presets, giving you the potential to build complex layered pads, thick analog bass sounds, or modern EDM synth leads with multiple lead patches stacked on top of each other. You can also create unusual combos like, say, an electric piano layered on top of an analog bass sound. Also, each preset features two ADSR envelopes, an LFO, and offers a choice between multiple filter types (Moog, Roland, Oberheim, Classic, Formant, etc.). Last but not least, Syntronik Free features Syntronik’s full set of effects, including various filters, modulation effects, equalizers, compressors, reverbs, delays, guitar amps, and several different distortion types.

Obviously, the full version of Syntronik provides a much broader range of source sounds to choose from, but Syntronik Free is no slouch, either. All of this wouldn’t be too important, though, if the instrument didn’t sound good to begin with, but the sound quality here is on a very high level. The sampled waveforms sound fantastic, the included filter models are very good, and the built-in effects only add to the overall quality. Syntronik also features IK Multimedia’s unique DRIFT technology which emulates the behavior of analog oscillators.

Syntronik Free is a recommended download for users who are interested in the full version of the instrument, as well as for music producers and synth aficionados who want to add some of these legendary synth sounds to their arsenal for free. It is available in VST, AU, and AAX plugin formats for PC and Mac and also works as a standalone application on both platforms. To download your copy of Syntronik Free, simply log in to your IK Multimedia user account (registration is free) and visit the “My Products” page in your user area.

Syntronik Free is available for free download via IK Multimedia (1.1 GB download size, ZIP archive containing EXE installer, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/AU/AAX plugin formats for Windows & Mac OS).