ZynAddSubFX

ZynAddSubFX is a open source, free and portable graphical software designed from the offset to act as a powerful multi-timbral and real-time audio/sound synthesizer for GNU/Linux systems. The project has been on the market since March 2002, during which it received many updates with improved functionality, making it capable of simulating an unlimited number of instruments.

Supported operating systems

ZynAddSubFX can be used by amateur musicians and music producers as a completely free software synthesizer that generates very beautiful and interesting sounds. The application includes numerous features that we will list at a glance in the below section. It is fully compatible with all Linux kernel-based systems, as well as with BSD distributions and Microsoft Windows OSes.

Features at a glance

Key features include real-time, polyphonic and multitimbral synthesis, microtonal functionality, LASH (LASH Audio Session Handler) support, DSSI (Digital Storage Systems Interconnect) audio output, three synthesizer engines (ADsynth, SUBsynth and PADsynth), Mono, Poly and Legato modes, as well as support for organizing instruments in kits, which will allow you to easily create layered instruments or drum kits.

In addition, the software comes pre-loaded with a bunch of audio effects, including Reverb, Phaser, Chorus, Echo, Flange, AlienWah, DynamicFilter, EQ and Distortion. It is very important to know that these effects can act as insertion effects or system effects, allowing you to use as many effects as you want simultaneously. Its easy-to-use and intuitive GUI (Graphical User Interface) will make things even more interesting when using ZynAddSubFX.

The application is also capable of filtering up to 60dB/octave, supports analog filter, such as BPF, HPF or LPF, state variable filters like SVF, as well as advanced formant filters. It supports playback of MIDI files, JACK support, built-in virtual keyboard, support for disabling the graphical interface, ADSR/ASR modes for envelopes, and includes over 300 high quality instruments.

What is new in this release:

• Add LV2 and VST support via DPF
• Add autosave
• Add realtime filter parameter updates
• Add LFO random mode
• Add more controls to DSSI plugin
• Add fixed frequency modulators
• Add more reset states to knobs/sliders
• Add PWM mod
• Fix Microtonal UI
• Fix 'Add Bank'
• Fix sustain bugs in 2.5.x series
• Fix mem pool exhaustion bug
• Fix PADnote copy/paste
• Fix Oscilgen copy/paste
• Fix Midi unlearn
• Other misc bug fixes

What is new in version 2.5.2:

• Add Colorized CMake Configuration
• Add PID option for jack
• Add OSC port option
• Add MIDI unlearn
• Add External UI Compilation
• Add Split Pitchbend
• Fix No Install NTK Build
• Fix Linker Issues
• Fix Presets/Copy/Paste
• Fix JACK Samplerate Check When JACK Isn't Running
• Remove Dump
• Remove Some Globals synth/uToB/bToU/etc
• Adjust BankUI Ascetic
• Other Misc Bug Fixes

What is new in version 2.5.1:

• Add Colorized CMake Configuration
• Add PID option for jack
• Add OSC port option
• Add MIDI unlearn
• Add External UI Compilation
• Add Split Pitchbend
• Fix No Install NTK Build
• Fix Linker Issues
• Fix Presets/Copy/Paste
• Fix JACK Samplerate Check When JACK Isn't Running
• Remove Dump
• Remove Some Globals synth/uToB/bToU/etc
• Adjust BankUI Ascetic
• Other Misc Bug Fixes

What is new in version 2.5.0:

• Add UI Mousewheel Support
• Add Spectral Adjust Parameter Rescaling
• Add Subnote filter smoothing
• Add Unison derandomization options
• Add NSM import/export
• Add NTK UI compatiability
• (re)Add OSX Support
• Enhance performance of ADnote and SUBnote
• Enhance Installer
• Fix JACK2 specific segfault
• Fix possible DSSI specific segfaults
• Fix Unison Regressions
• Documentation additions
• Misc bug fixes

What is new in version 2.4.4:

• Add UI Mousewheel Support
• Add Spectral Adjust Parameter Rescaling
• Add Subnote filter smoothing
• Add Unison derandomization options
• Add NSM import/export
• Add NTK UI compatiability
• (re)Add OSX Support
• Enhance performance of ADnote and SUBnote
• Enhance Installer
• Fix JACK2 specific segfault
• Fix possible DSSI specific segfaults
• Fix Unison Regressions
• Documentation additions
• Misc bug fixes

What is new in version 2.4.3:

• Non-session manager support
• Midi aftertouch support
• More sane IO defaults
• Misc bug fixes

What is new in version 2.4.1:

• merging APhaser into Phaser
• other bugfixes
• code cleanup

What is new in version 2.4.0:

• extended mono functionality
• legato mode
• export functionality on PADsynth
• inclusion of LASH client
• inclusion of DSSI audio output
• enabled tooltips for knobs (both description and value tooltips)
• added support for newer JACK api
• added quertz support for virtual keyboard
• started to encorperate cxxtest for unit testing
• many bugfixes
• code cleanup