The 5 Best VST Synths for Techno (3 of Them Are Free)

You do not need a rack full of hardware to make great techno. A handful of well chosen synth plugins can cover everything from heavy analog bass to evolving pads and strange, industrial textures. Our founder Roman Farov uses these five VST synths almost every day, and the best part: three of them are completely free.

Here is the full walkthrough with sound demos straight from Ableton Live:

VideoTop 5 VST Synthesizers for Techno by Roman Farov

Plays from YouTube (Google) after you click. Watch on YouTube

1. VCV Rack: learn modular for free

VCV Rack is a virtual Eurorack modular system on your computer. You connect modules with virtual patch cables exactly like on a real modular case, which makes it the cheapest way to get into modular synthesis.

For us it is a place to learn and experiment: build your first patches, understand how oscillators, filters, envelopes and sequencers work together, and test modules before you spend money on the real thing. The free version runs as a standalone app. If you want to use VCV Rack as a plugin inside Ableton Live or sync it with your DAW, you need the paid Pro version.

Best for: learning modular, experimenting, planning a real Eurorack case.

2. Moog Mariana: the bass machine

Mariana is Moog’s dedicated bass synth plugin, and right now it is Roman’s favourite synth for techno. It is built for heavy, round low end, but it is far more versatile than that: basslines, lead bass, effects and textures all sound great.

The sound quality is excellent and it feels very close to analog hardware. At the time of the video it cost around 100 dollars, and it regularly goes on sale for much less, so keep an eye out.

The big downside: Mariana is very CPU heavy. One or two instances can slow down a whole project, so plan to freeze, bounce or resample your tracks. You need a strong computer, but the sound is worth it.

Best for: analog style basslines, lead bass, heavy low end.

3. Noise Engineering Virt Vereor: free and unique

Noise Engineering is one of our favourite Eurorack brands, known for creative modules that you can push to extreme settings. They have brought several of their modules to the DAW as plugins, and Virt Vereor is free to download from the Noise Engineering website, alongside other free plugins.

Virt Vereor is a versatile synth voice that shines on hypnotic leads and unusual basses. It can sound slightly digital at times, but that is part of its character. For zero cost you get sounds that stand out from the usual presets.

Best for: hypnotic leads, unique basses, industrial techno.

4. Arturia Pigments: the do everything synth

Pigments is the most expensive synth on this list, and also the most versatile. It combines several synthesis engines: wavetable, virtual analog, sample and harmonic, plus utility engines for noise and sub oscillators. Add filters, effects, a sequencer and deep modulation, and you can make practically any sound.

In our studio Pigments is the go-to for pads, textures and drones, and for clean, melodic sounds. It is a bit CPU hungry, but much lighter than Mariana. Arturia releases regular updates and the plugin is often on sale, so it is worth waiting for a discount.

Best for: pads, drones, textures, clean melodic sounds.

5. Eventide Pendulate: chaos for free

Pendulate is a free synth from Eventide built around a chaotic double pendulum oscillator. That means it produces unpredictable, living tones that are hard to get from classic synths. It also packs a low pass gate and plenty of modulation for a free plugin.

Use it for bass if you like, but it really shines on drones and weird textures. Together with Virt Vereor it is our tool for the crazy, unexpected sounds that make a techno track unique.

Best for: drones, experimental textures, noisy bass.

Quick comparison

Synth	Price	Best for	CPU load
VCV Rack	Free (Pro version paid)	Learning modular, experiments	Medium
Moog Mariana	Paid, often on sale	Bass, lead bass	Very high
Noise Engineering Virt Vereor	Free	Hypnotic leads, unique basses	Low
Arturia Pigments	Paid, often on sale	Pads, textures, drones	Medium
Eventide Pendulate	Free	Drones, weird textures	Low

How to combine them in a track

The magic happens when you mix these synths. Take an analog style bassline from Mariana, add clean pads and drones from Pigments, and sprinkle in weird textures from Virt Vereor and Pendulate. That combination covers low end, atmosphere and character, which is most of a finished techno track.

A few tips:

• Freeze CPU heavy synths like Mariana as soon as the part is written.
• Resample your favourite moments to audio and chop them into new ideas.
• Save your own presets so your signature sounds are always one click away.

Hardware or software?

Plugins are affordable, flexible and recallable. Hardware is hands-on and inspiring. If you are curious about the physical side, read our picks for the 5 best hardware synths for techno. And for mixing, EQ and effects, see our guide to the best plugins for techno production.

Want the character of real analog gear without any CPU load? Our Analog Techno Sample Pack Vol. 1 gives you 297 loops and one-shots recorded from real hardware.

FAQ

What is the best free VST synth for techno?

Noise Engineering Virt Vereor and Eventide Pendulate are both free and great for unique techno sounds. VCV Rack is free too and the best way to learn modular synthesis.

Which VST synth is best for techno bass?

Moog Mariana is our favourite for heavy, analog sounding basslines. It is CPU heavy, so freeze or bounce the track once the bassline is done.

Is Arturia Pigments worth it for techno?

If you want one synth that can do almost everything, yes. It is especially strong for pads, drones and textures, and it often goes on sale.