Cover image created with Google Gemini and finished in Canva.

A random discovery in 2014

Sometimes, an important part of your musical journey begins completely by chance. That is what happened to me with Synth1.

Around 2014, I was surfing on KVR Audio and looking at software synthesizers. I wasn't necessarily looking for one particular instrument. I simply liked discovering free VSTs and trying different sounds.

Then I came across Synth1. Several things immediately caught my attention. First, I read that it had a large number of sounds and possibilities. I also liked its design. It looked quite vintage, almost like an old hardware synthesizer.

And there was another thing that interested me: an arpeggiator.

So, of course, I downloaded it. And then I started playing with the sounds.

The first “Wow!”

What surprised me most was the sound. Many of the presets reminded me of the sounds I already knew from older synthesizers, such as the Yamaha DX11, DX7 or Roland D-50. There was something familiar about them.

But at the same time, I was using a software instrument on my computer. And there was another thing that surprised me : this synth was free.

I remember thinking that it was amazing that such a complete synthesizer could be available without paying anything.

But one particular sound stayed with me: Tubular bells.

I heard it and immediately thought : I'm going to use this sound in one of my compositions. And I eventually did. The song was called “Aube”.

A new way to carry my sounds

At that time, my musical setup was quite different from what I have today. I was still using several hardware instruments: Yamaha V50, Korg X5D, Roland MT-32, Roland U-110, Magix Music Maker.

I loved my hardware synthesizers, but Synth1 offered something very practical. I could now take those kinds of sounds with me on a laptop. That was a significant change for me.

Instead of needing several hardware instruments to access different sounds, I could have another synthesizer directly inside my computer. It wasn't about replacing my hardware. It was about having another musical world available wherever I went.

I'm not really a sound designer

There is one thing I should probably clarify. I'm not someone who spends hours creating every sound from scratch. I've never been particularly good at programming my own patches.

Most of the time, I explore the presets already included with a synthesizer. I also sometimes download free or paid sound banks from the internet. For me, the important thing is finding the sound that fits the music I'm making. Synth1 was perfect for that.

I could simply browse through the sounds, play a few notes, try the arpeggiator and suddenly find something that triggered an idea for a song.

“Aube”

One of the tracks where Synth1 became part of my music is “Aube”

The tubular bells I discovered when I first explored Synth1 became part of that composition. This is one of the reasons I remember that first encounter so clearly. It wasn't just : “Oh, that's a nice preset.”

It was more like : “I already know I'm going to use this”

And that is probably one of the most satisfying things about synthesizers. Sometimes you aren't looking for a sound. The sound finds the song for you.

Twelve years later...

And here is the funny part. It's now 2026. Since that first discovery, I've used many other instruments. Today I have access to SynthMaster 1, 2 and 3, HALion Sonic 7, UJAM instruments and many other VSTs. I also use virtual singers in my music.

And yet...

Synth1 is still there. When I start working on a new song, Synth1 is often one of the first synthesizers I open. Why? Because I still like its sounds. Because I still like its arpeggiator. And because it has a character that I don't want to lose.

Can Synth1 really get old?

Some people might look at Synth1 and think : “Why are you still using this old free synthesizer when you have much newer instruments ?”

My answer is simple : Because it is irreplaceable. For me, Synth1 cannot really “age”. If I still like the sounds after all these years, why should I stop using it just because newer synthesizers exist?

A new synthesizer can offer more features, more effects, more presets or a more modern interface. But that doesn't necessarily make it a better instrument for every musical situation. Sometimes you just need that sound. And Synth1 has some sounds that I still want.

Why I'm talking about Synth1 today

Synth1 was a big discovery for me. It is not simply an old free VST that happens to still be installed on my computer. It has been part of my musical life since 2014. It has its own collection of sounds, its own character, its arpeggiator, and there are also many additional sound banks available on the web.

And most importantly:

I still use it.

That alone is probably the best reason I can give for talking about it today.

A message to my 2014 self

If I could go back to 2014 and talk to myself just after discovering Synth1, I would simply say:

“Download it!! It's awesome — and it's free!!”

And apparently, I was right. Twelve years later, it's still one of the first synthesizers I turn to when I start making a new song.

What about you?

Do you have a free plugin or instrument that you discovered years ago and still use today, even though you now have much more modern alternatives ?

I'd love to know which one — and why you still keep it.