Surge XT
An open-source hybrid synthesizer available as a plugin and a standalone app.
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2 more ways to get Surge XT
Package managers
- Chocolatey
choco install surge-xt - Homebrew
brew install --cask surge-xt
About Surge XT
Surge XT is an open-source hybrid synthesizer with many synthesis techniques, a wide choice of filters, a flexible modulation engine and a large set of effects. It supports MPE, microtuning through Scala and MTS-ESP, and Open Sound Control.
It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, including a CLAP plugin, and nightly builds are published alongside stable releases. A manual and demo videos help new users get started. It suits sound designers and producers who want a deep synthesizer at no cost.
Strengths
- Many synthesis methods, filters and effects
- MPE and microtuning support
- Comprehensive OSC control
- Linux builds alongside Windows and macOS
Limitations
- Large feature set takes time to learn
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The Surge Synth Team
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Sound designers who want a free, deep synthesizer on any desktop
- Categories
- Audio tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Surge XT
Compare allSoftware that can replace Surge XT for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Vital
A wavetable synthesizer plugin that uses spectral warping to reshape waveforms by acting on their harmonics.
Vital is a freemium, closed-source wavetable synth built around spectral warping and runs only as a plugin, unlike Surge XT's standalone app.
Dexed
A free FM synthesizer plugin closely modelled on the Yamaha DX7, also usable as a DX7 cartridge manager.
Dexed is a free open-source FM synth plugin modelled on the Yamaha DX7, narrower than Surge XT's many synthesis methods but able to load DX7 sysex patches.
Cardinal
Free, self-contained virtual modular synthesizer based on VCV Rack, as a plugin and standalone app.
Cardinal is a free open-source modular synthesizer based on VCV Rack with 1382 built-in modules, running as a plugin, standalone or on the web, with patching to learn.
VCV Rack
A virtual Eurorack modular synthesizer for Windows, macOS and Linux with a large module library.
VCV Rack is a freemium virtual Eurorack modular synthesizer with a large module library, trading Surge XT's hybrid synth for patch-based modular building.
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