EDIT: THIS LIST IS NOW OUT OF DATE, PLEASE GO TO THE NEW LIST: https://ld-w.newgrounds.com/news/post/1309058
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FREE Audio Resources List For Composers - 2021
This list is mainly aimed towards individuals who seek to compose Orchestrations, Hybrid / Soundtracks or other types of scoring projects on zero-budget, or current Kontakt users who need extra libs for no-cost.
With competition season coming along shortly with a mixture of a possible new contest coming in the next few days, along with the yearly AIM, NGAUC and NGADM, there's been alot of discussions once again around individuals with very low to no budgets feeling as if they're at a disadvantage due to a lack of decent resource available to them. What I have done to help out everyone who's in needs of some extra goods is to put together some lists of decent resources for everyone at all levels to shift through and grab whatever they need. I've elected to keep this within a news post as opposed to a dedicated thread as I have 32k characters to work with here instead of 8k characters, plus I can update the content of the news post at any time.
Criteria for everything on this list is as follows:
- The items on this list are 100% free and will remain free in an obtainable manner (no limited-time freebies). A reasonable selection of these may require FULL Kontakt to use (which isn't free), but the libraries themselves are 'free' to grab.
- Anything which is specified as non-commercial/personal-use only is not listed. Any items on the list where the terms/agreements change towards becoming non-commercial/personal-use only will be removed if I'm alerted about it.
- With the notable exception of Ivy Audio, no items here require the use of a BitTorrent Client to get a product through.
- I am not including Plugin-Based FX right now, as that would take up an entire news-post of it's own
- I am not including Sample Packs as that would take up an entire news-post of it's own. Patch banks will be limited to 'Free' banks only and only if they exist in large archives.
- Soundfont section is a work-in-progress. They will need to either have a Commercial-use License to make the list, or a CC Sample+ License.
- There may be freebies that you know about which are not included here. Some of them I may not know about, others I may already know of, but have left them off the list for one reason or another. If you feel as if something should be added to the list, please comment below and I'll take a look. What has been included so far have been products I've either personally spent time with, or have been impressed enough with demo's/walkthroughs to include them on the list.
EDIT1: I've started to include decent free DAW's and any enormous archives of patches for free synths. The lists for them will be somewhat small for now, but will expand over time.
EDIT2: Begun adding Soundfonts, started to add other suggestions elsewhere
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= ORCHESTRA - FULLY FREE! =
ORCHESTRA - DEDICATED PLUGIN/SAMPLE PLAYERS (No Kontakt Required!)
Spitfire Audio: BBC Symphonic Orchestra Discover - https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbcso/discover/
- (NOTE: Click on 'FREE"/Learn More under ADD TO CART, complete survey, wait 2 weeks!)
Spitfire Audio: LABS - https://labs.spitfireaudio.com
OrchestralTools: SINEfactory - https://www.orchestraltools.com/free
OrchestralTools: LAYERS - https://www.orchestraltools.com/store/collections/layers
VSL: Big Bang Orchestra - https://www.vsl.co.at/en/BBO_Map/BBO
BigcatInstruments: VSCO2 Rompler (Versillian Studio's) - http://bigcatinstruments.blogspot.com/2017/02/vsco2-rompler.html
ORCHESTRA - KONTAKT PLAYER (FREE) COMPATIBLE
ProjectSAM The Free Orchestra - https://projectsam.com/libraries/the-free-orchestra/
Keepforest: Ferrum Free Edition - https://keep-forest.com/store/libraries/225185
PIANO (DEDICATED PLAYER) (No Kontakt Required!)
Keyzone Classic - https://www.kvraudio.com/product/keyzone-classic-by-bitsonic
Agushardiman: Golden Piano - http://agushardiman.com/portfolio/golden-piano-free-piano-vst/
PrismAudio: Atmos Piano - https://prism-audio.net/product/atmos-piano
BigcatInstruments: Iowa Piano - https://vst4free.com/plugin/2294/
SOUNDFONTS (SFZ/SF2 players required!)
SampleScience: G-Town Church Sampling Project - https://samplescience.info/2021/03/g-town-church-sampling-project.html
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= FREE ORCHESTRA, SCORING - FULL KONTAKT REQUIRED (Individual Libs though are FREE!) =
(NOTE: Some products below which run in Kontakt also have versions which are EXS/ESX, SFZ or DecentSampler compatible for FULLY FREE USE and will be marked as so!)
(FREE - DecentSampler can be grabbed here: https://www.decentsamples.com/product/decent-sampler-plugin/)
(FREE - TX16Wx Player reads both SFZ and EXS Formats and can be grabbed here, probably the best player for the formats out there currently: https://www.tx16wx.com)
FREE ORCHESTRAL & ETHNIC
Kontakt Factory Library - Included for Download in Native Access for all Kontakt owners! It's actually pretty ok, some of the samples from them were originally from VSL
RedRoomAudio: Palette Primary Colors - https://redroomaudio.com/product/palette-primary-colors/
BigcatInstruments: Sketching Chamber Orchestra - http://bigcatinstruments.blogspot.com/2017/10/sketching-chamber-orchestra.html
BigcatInstruments: Sonatina Symphony Orchestra - http://bigcatinstruments.blogspot.com/2014/07/sonatina-symhony-orchestra-for-kontakt.html
Norrland Samples: Solo Trumpet - https://www.norrlandsamples.com
Cinesamples: Jerry's Pianos - https://cinesamples.com/product/jerry-s-pianos
8DIO: The New Copperphone - https://8dio.com/instrument/the-new-copperphone/
8DIO: The New Glass Marimba - https://8dio.com/instrument/the-new-glass-marimba/
8DIO: The New Propanium - https://8dio.com/instrument/the-new-propanium/
IvyAudio: Carpenter Trombone - https://www.ivyaudio.com/Carpenter-Trombone
FluffyAudio: Simple Flute - https://www.fluffyaudio.com/shop/simple-flute/
ImpactSoundworks: The Stroh Violin - https://impactsoundworks.com/product/the-stroh-violin/
Sonuscore: HD Orchestra Chords - https://sonuscore.com/free-orchestra-chords/
Sonuscore: Sustained String Chords - https://sonuscore.com/free-orchestra-chords/
StrezovSampling: THUNDER X3M Taiko Freebie - https://www.strezov-sampling.com/products/view/THUNDER%20X3M%20Taiko%20Freebie.html
StrezovSampling: JADE Ethnic Orchestra Freebie - https://www.strezov-sampling.com/products/view/jade-freebie.html
StrezovSampling: BALKAN Ethnic Orchestra Duduk Freebie - https://www.strezov-sampling.com/products/view/BALKAN%20Ethnic%20Orchestra%20Duduk%20Freebie.html
Embertone: Intimate Strings LITE - https://www.embertone.com/instruments/intstrings-lite.php
Embertone: Ivory Wind - https://www.embertone.com/instruments/ivorywind.php
WestwoodInstruments: Upright Felt Piano - https://westwoodinstruments.com/instruments/upright-felt-piano/
BunkerSamples: Scary Viola Pizz (Kontakt + EXS Compatible!) - https://bunkersamples.com/freebies/
BunkerSamples: Gongster's Paradise - https://bunkersamples.com/freebies/
HiddenPathAudio: Orchestral Rise Builder - https://www.hiddenpathaudio.com/free
Samplephonics: The Leeds Town Hall Organ - https://www.samplephonics.com/products/free/sampler-instruments/the-leeds-town-hall-organ
Kraic: Wooden Percussion - https://vstbuzz.com/freebies/wooden-percussion/
PocketBlakus: Solo Cello - https://vstbuzz.com/freebies/pocketblakus-cello/
WalidFeghail: Feroyn's Flute - https://vstbuzz.com/freebies/feroyns-flute/
HephaestusSounds: Hang Drum - https://www.lootaudio.com/category/kontakt-instruments/hephaestussounds/hangdrum-free
HephaestusSounds: Oboe - https://www.lootaudio.com/category/kontakt-instruments/hephaestussounds/oboe-kontakt-free
FREE HYBRID / SYNTHS / ATMOSPHERES / MISC. USE
8DIO: Free Radicals - https://8dio.com/instrument/free-radicals/
8DIO: Free Angels - https://8dio.com/instrument/free-angels/
8DIO: Songwriting Guitar - https://8dio.com/instrument/songwriting-guitar/
Output: Signal FREE - https://output.com/products/signal-free
Keepforest: Evolution: Devastator Warzone FREE - https://keep-forest.com/store/libraries/225381
ImpactSoundworks: Shreddage 3 Stratus FREE - https://impactsoundworks.com/product/shreddage-3-stratus-free/
Indiginus: Guitar Pack - https://indiginus.com/freedownloads.html
CinematiqueInstruments: Landscape - https://cinematique-instruments.com/pages_instr/inst_landscape.php
Rythmicrobot: NanoMod7 FREE - https://www.rhythmicrobot.com/product/nanomod-7-free
WavesFactory: Whispers - https://www.wavesfactory.com/free-kontakt-libraries/whispers/
HaveInstruments: Cello Textures Ristrettos - https://haveinstruments.com/collections/free/products/cello-textures-ristrettos
HaveInstruments: Cinematic Cymbals Ristrettos - https://haveinstruments.com/collections/free/products/cinematic-cymbals-ristrettos
WaveletAudio: Trailer Ambient Tools - https://wavelet-audio.com/trailer-ambient-tools/
MammothAudio: Density LITE - https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/1-Instruments/55-Kontakt-Instrument/6654-Density-Lite
PIANOBOOKS GOOD GRABS
(Shoutout to all of the individual creator's of the libraries over at Pianobooks, you're all amazing! :) )
(NOTE: Most of these require FULL Kontakt, otherwise the ones marked with EXS/SFZ/DecentSampler can be loaded into free players which support them)
Pianobook: Solo Cello Spurs - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/solo-cello-spurs/
Painobook: Scary Flautando Violin - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/scary-flautando-violin/
Pianobook: WIndy Welsh Tenor - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/windy-welsh-tenor/
Pianobook: Alto Sax Choir - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/alto-sax-choir/
Pianobook: Oboe Choir (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/oboe-choir/
Pianobook: Robs Andead Quena Flute - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/robs-andean-quena-flute/
Pianobook: Subtle Clarinet - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/subtle-clarinet/
Pianobook: Distant Brass - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/distant-brass/
Pianobook: Harmonium Van Dijk - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/harmonium-van-dijk/
Pianobook: Bedroom Clarinet - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/bedroom-clarinet/
Pianobook: Water Trumpet And Double Bass (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/water-trumpet-and-double-bass/
Pianobook: Flute + Violin (Kontakt + SFZ Player Compatible!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/fluteviolin/
Pianobook: Hoveflute - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/hoveflute-2/
-
Pianobook: AANAA The Unfinished Choir - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/aanaa-the-unfinished-choir/
Pianobook: Winter Voices (Kontakt + DecentSampler Compatible!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/winter-voices/
Pianobook: Some Voices - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/some-voices/
Pianobook: HAAS Choir - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/haas-choir/
Pianobook: The Discord Choir (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-discord-choir/
Pianobook: Tunne Voices - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/tunnel-voices/
Pianobook: The Meyer Choir - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-meyer-choir/
Pianobook: Micah's Choir - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/micahs-choir/
Pianobook: The Piano Choir - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/piano-choir/
Pianobook: St. Helen's Cantores - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/st-helens-cantores/
Pianobook: The Quiet Choir - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-quiet-choir/
-
Pianobook: November Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/november-piano/
Pianobook: The Gimp - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-gimp/
Pianobook: Ebow Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/ebow-piano/
Pianobook: Yamaha C3 (DecentSampler compatible!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/yamaha-c3/
Pianobook: Nova - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/nova/
Pianobook: Long Piano (SFZ Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/long-piano/
Pianobook: Family Grand (Kontakt, SFZ and DecentSampler Formats!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/family-grand/
Pianobook: Autumn Piano (Kontakt, SFZ and DecentSampler Formats!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/autumn-piano/
Pianobook: Summer Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/summer-piano/
Pianobook: Summer Felt - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/summer-felt/
Pianobook: Winter Felt Piano Prototype (Kontakt + EXS Compatible!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/winter-felt-piano-prototype/
Pianobook: Winter Piano (Kontakt + EXS Compatible!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/winter-piano/
Pianobook: Rob's Perfectly Imperfect Piano (EXS Player Required!)- https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/robs-perfectly-imperfect-piano/
Pianobook: Grand Studio A - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/grand-studio-a/
Pianobook: Isolation Piano - Tubes & Tapes - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/isolation-piano-tubes-tape/
Pianobook: Quarantine Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/quarantine-piano/
Pianobook: Yamaha S-400B - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/yamaha-s-400b/
Pianobook: Systems Grand - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/systems-grand/
Pianobook: Kawai Baby Grand - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/kawai-baby-grand/
Pianobook: Kawai Felt Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/kawai-felt-piano/
Pianobook: The King's Upright - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-kings-upright/
Pianobook: The Emperor & King - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-emperor-king/
Pianobook: Steinway Grand - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/steinway-grand/
Pianobook: Bechstein Mutes - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/bechstein-mutes/
Pianobook: King's Cross London Underground - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/kings-cross-london-undergound/
Pianobook: The English Felt - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-english-felt/
Pianobook: Southsea Glimmer (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/southsea-glimmer/
Pianobook: Air Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/air-piano/
Pianobook: Air Textures - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/air-textures/
Pianobook: Ghost Piano (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/ghost-piano/
Pianobook: The 9000FT Piano (Kontakt + SFZ Compatible!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-9000ft-piano/
Pianobook: Whale Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/whale-piano/
Pianobook: Broadwood (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/broadwood/
Pianobook: English Classic (Kontakt + EXS Compatible!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/english-classic/
Pianobook: The Quiet Piano - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/the-quiet-piano/
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Pianobook: Percussion Palette - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/percussion-palette/
Pianobook: Rahmani Drum - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/rahmani-drum/
Pianobook: Adam's Xylophone - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/adams-xylophone/
Pianobook: Adam's Marimba - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/adams-marimba/
Pianobook: Liam's Marimba - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/marimba/
Pianobook: Valencia Tar Frame Drum - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/valencia-tar-frame-drum/
Pianobook: Timpani (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/timpani/
Pianobook: Tongue Drum (EXS Player Required!) - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/tongue-drum/
Pianobook: Rainbow Drums - https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/rainbow-drums/
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= FREE SYNTHS =
VitalAudio: Vital - https://vital.audio
VCV Rack - https://vcvrack.com
NewfangledAudio: Pendulate - https://www.eventideaudio.com/promo/pendulate
Zyn: ZynAddSubFX - https://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.io
VemberAudio: Surge - https://surge-synthesizer.github.io
MattTytel: Helm - https://tytel.org/helm/
discoDSP: OB-XD - https://www.discodsp.com/obxd/
DigitalSuburban: Dexed - https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
FullBucket: FB-3300 - https://www.fullbucket.de/music/fb3300.html
MartinLüder: PG-8X - https://sites.google.com/site/mlvst0/
DaichiLaboratory: Synth1 - https://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1-by-daichi-laboratory-ichiro-toda
Synthmaster Player - https://www.kv331audio.com/synthmasterplayer.aspx
= CHIPTUNE EMULATIONS/SYNTHS =
Socalabs: Commodore 64 SID - https://socalabs.com/synths/commodore-64-sid/
Socalabs: NES RP2A03 - https://socalabs.com/synths/rp2a03/
Socalabs: Gameboy PAPU - https://socalabs.com/synths/papu/
Socalabs: Sega Master System SN76489 - https://socalabs.com/synths/sn76489/
Socalabs: SFX8 - https://socalabs.com/synths/sfx8/
Socalabs: Voc Vocal - https://socalabs.com/synths/voc-vocal-synth/
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= ENORMOUS PATCH BANK COLLECTIONS =
SYTRUS: Yamaha DX7 Soundbanks To Import - http://www.dxsysex.com (several thousand)
SYNTH1: Enormous Archive Of Patches - https://veryrandomstreams.blogspot.com/2012/03/over-10000-free-patchessounds-for-free.html (10,000+)
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= FREE DAW'S =
(NOTE: This list does not include 'Unlimited Trials' such as FL Studio Demo-Mode and REAPER-Unlicensed, as they're not truly 'free' for commercial use in those capacities)
(NOTE: Ardour is 'free', in the sense that it's free if you compile it yourself. Otherwise for Windows/MacOS users, you will have to make a monetary 'donation' to get a compiled version. Linux users get a compiled version for free)
Tracktion Waveform Free 2021 - https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-free
Cakewalk By Bandlab - https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk
Ardour - https://ardour.org
-More Shall Be Added Over Time-
NeonSpider
There are lots of free and open source software (FOSS) for music production. Some excellent. Some terribly broken. Some have huge learning curves but you can do amazing things with them if you get past that. You've mentioned a couple such programs (ZynAddSubFX and Ardour), but I think you should look into the following and see if you like any of them.
Audacity -- sound recording and audio and waveform editing
Hydrogen Drum Machine -- a software drum machine
MuseScore -- great for producing sheet music from MIDI files or you can compose in it directly
Rosegarden -- a software sequencer type of thing. Will require JACK and some softsynth
LMMS -- IMO not as good as Rosegarden but can be used for a similar thing
FluidSynth -- pretty much the "default" softsynth that is recommended be used with JACK but you can use others instead
QJackCtl -- GUI that makes JACK a bit easier to use
QSynth -- GUI frontend to FluidSynth (at least presently) though perhaps not indefinitely (it might use some other softsynth at some point)
Yoshimi -- similar to ZynAddSubFX and in fact built from it I believe
MilkyTracker -- just an excellent music tracker software similar to FastTracker
OpenMPT -- probably one of the best music trackers around
PureData -- very complicated huge learning curve but incredibly powerful music programming environment
SuperCollider -- another complicated huge learning curve but powerful music programming environment
OpenMPT is Windows-only software, though it works fine used under Wine on Linux. The rest can be used on Linux natively.
Audacity, MuseScore, LMMS, MilkyTracker, and PureData all should be able to be used under Windows (and probably Mac as well). Not sure about the others. Obviously JACK is more of a Linux audio thing and a bit non-intuitive at first.
The Windows version of PureData is not entirely compatible with the Linux version and so forth. Meaning, depending what you do, it is very possible to make something in PureData which only works correctly in Windows, which only works correctly in Linux, or which only works correctly in whatever OS port you are using.
There are lots more, but these are probably worth looking at.
LD-W
Thanks for posting!
I'm definitely familiar with alot of the above packages since I've dabbled with composing in a Linux environment before in the past (I did recently hear that yabridge shows very promising results for allowing alot of both VST2 and VST3 plugins to run in both Bitwig and REAPER on Linux, with other DAW's with yabridge being in variable states of support). What I may do for certain things like Audacity, Hydrogen and Musescore is add them into a separate category since they're not exactly fully-fledged DAW's, but still very useful. I'll add OpenMPT to the DAW list shortly. I'm still very 50/50 on LMMS being a recommended choice right now (it felt unstable and clunky with a fair few mainstream VST's and samplers when I last tested it), albeit it's been awhile since I've bothered to really give it a go.
The main intention with the list for now would be as an archive of easy, ready-to-go resources for composing/scoring/drafting that anyone at all levels of skill/technical-competency can just grab and use with minimal fuss, which is why I've left JACK and it's associated packages off this specific list. I think what I'd like to do for that instead though would be a separate list for Linux Composing, so we can also include other things along with JACK-packages such as recommended LV2 plugins and decent/promising wine-staging packages for running VST's like yabridge etc. Plus some straight forward documentation and recommended distro's to let anyone interested dive into trying it out without too much issue.