Synthesizers have always been the heart of electronic music and an integral part of modern arrangements. They allow you to create an endless palette of sounds, from classic analog timbres to futuristic textures. There is a huge number of paid and free VST instruments on the market, each of which offers unique features and character. Among this variety, a special place is occupied by instruments developed by independent authors, who often have their own unique charm and ease of use, which makes them accessible to a wide range of musicians and sound engineers.
Synth2 belongs to such instruments – a free VST synthesizer created by a developer under the pseudonym Kriminal. Its main purpose is the quick and easy creation of “general keyboard sounds”. This is not a monster overloaded with thousands of functions and settings, but rather a reliable tool for everyday needs, when you need a basic but high-quality timbre of piano, organ, strings or other types of keyboards, which can become the basis of your track or complement the existing arrangement.
Main features of Synth2
Synth2 is based on a two-oscillator architecture. Two oscillators (sound sources) allow you to mix or overlay different waveforms, creating richer and more complex timbres than single-oscillator synthesizers. Although the description does not specify the types of available waveforms, it is possible to assume the presence of standard ones: sine, sawtooth, square, pulse. The ability to customize the parameters of each oscillator, such as pitch, waveform and level, allows you to achieve the desired sound with relative ease.
The simplicity of the interface and the focus on “general keyboard sounds” make Synth2 an excellent choice for musicians who do not want to delve into overly complex synthesizer programming, but strive to get a working sound here and now. This is an ideal tool for quickly creating demo recordings, writing music for videos or podcasts, or simply for replenishing your collection of free instruments with a high-quality and functional solution.
Built-in effects for sound shaping
One of the key advantages of Synth2 is the presence of integrated sound processing effects. These effects allow you to significantly expand the sound palette of the synthesizer and add character to its timbres without the need to use additional effects plugins in your DAW. Built-in effects are optimized to work specifically with this synthesizer, which often provides better integration and stability.
Synth2 is equipped with the following effects:
- Rotator: Imitates the effect of rotating speakers (like a Leslie speaker), which gives the sound a special space and “liveliness”, especially valuable for imitating organs or creating atmospheric panoramic effects.
- Tremolo: Creates the effect of a rapid change in the volume of sound, adding pulsation or vibration to the timbre, which can be useful for creating rhythmic patterns or giving the instrument a vintage sound.
- Delay: A classic delay effect that repeats the input signal. Allows you to create an echo effect, add space or create complex rhythmic echoes. Indispensable for creating ambient textures or adding depth to solo parts.
- Chorus: The effect of a choir, which creates the impression of simultaneous playing of several instruments. Gives the sound volume, saturation and a pleasant “dispersion”, perfect for pads, strings or keyboards that should sound wide.
- Drive FX: Saturation or slight overload effect (drive). Adds harmonics to the sound, making it warmer, fatter or more aggressive depending on the settings. Useful for adding “sand” to organs, fatness to basses, or simply for giving the keyboards more presence in the mix.
The presence of these effects “on board” makes Synth2 a self-sufficient tool for creating a wide range of keyboard timbres, from clean and transparent to saturated and processed. You can experiment with combinations and settings of effects to find the perfect sound for your music project.
Compatibility and availability
Synth2 is available in VST format, which makes it compatible with the vast majority of modern digital audio workstations (DAW) on the Windows platform. Given the specified compatibility only with Win32, you should pay attention to whether your DAW supports 32-bit plugins on a 64-bit system (this is often possible through bridge adapters). However, for users of 32-bit systems on Windows, this plugin will work directly.
Being a free plugin, Synth2 is an excellent opportunity for novice musicians and producers who are just starting their journey in the world of music creation and want to get access to high-quality instruments without significant financial costs. It is also a great resource for experienced professionals who are looking for new sound palettes or simply want to replenish their collection with interesting and functional free plugins.
You can download Synth2 by following the link on the plugin page. The installation process is usually standard for VST plugins: you need to place the plugin file (.dll) in the corresponding VST plugin folder of your DAW.
In conclusion, Synth2 from Kriminal is a simple but effective synthesizer that is ideal for creating a variety of keyboard sounds. The presence of built-in effects makes it a versatile tool for quickly shaping timbres. If you are looking for a free VST synthesizer for Windows that is easy to master and able to produce high-quality “general keyboard” sounds, Synth2 definitely deserves your attention. Try it in your projects and see for yourself its capabilities.
