Helm is a free, cross-platform, polyphonic synthesizer with a powerful modulation system. Helm runs on GNU/Linux, Mac, and Windows as a standalone program or LV2/VST/VST3/AU plugin.

There are many alternatives to ZynAddSubFX for Windows and since it's discontinued a lot of people are looking for a replacement. The best Windows alternative is Helm, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to ZynAddSubFX and many of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to ZynAddSubFX are Vital, Odin 2, Dexed and Surge Synthesizer.
Helm is a free, cross-platform, polyphonic synthesizer with a powerful modulation system. Helm runs on GNU/Linux, Mac, and Windows as a standalone program or LV2/VST/VST3/AU plugin.

Vital is a spectral warping wavetable synthesizer with drag'n'drop modulation workflow and animated preview of the synth's inner workings where needed. Comes with many modulation sources (including audio-rate), MPE support and FX chain.



Odin 2 is a versatile 24-voice polyphonic synthesizer that covers about every type of synthesis out there. Odin 2 is released as open-source software.




Dexed is an FM-type softsynth developed by Pascal Gauthier of Digital Suburban. It is an ideal application for importing, playing and editing/managing sysex patches from both the classic Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and the TX7.

Surge is an open source digital synthesizer originally written and sold as a commercial product by @kurasu (Claes Johanson) at Vember Audio. The synth uses subtractive hybrid synthesis and each patch contains two 'scenes' which are separate instances of the entire...




Movement in nature has inspired us for centuries. And now, the sounds of movement in nature have inspired a new instrument that will put you into a creative state of flow.

The NES VST is designed to emulate the 8-bit sounds of the Nintendo, remaining faithful to the specifications of the 2A03 chip.

PaulStretch (or Paul's Extreme Sound Stretch) is a program for stretching the audio. It is for extreme sound stretching of the audio (8x, 50x, etc.) and for applying special effects by "spectral smoothing" the sounds.




AudioMulch is an interactive musician's environment for PC and Mac. It is used for live electronic music performance, composition and sound design.

Tyrell is the name of a project by the German online magazine Amazona.de. A reader survey and follow-on forum posts provided a pool of ideas for a low cost HARDWARE analogue synth, which Mic 'Moogulator' Irmer used to develop quite a powerful concept.

FluidSynth is a real-time software synthesizer based on the SoundFont 2 specifications and has reached widespread distribution.
TAL-NoiseMaker is an improved version of TAL-Elek7ro and has a completely new synth engine and a lot of improvements in sound and usability. The synth also includes a small effect section with a reverb, chorus and a simple bit crusher effect.

PaulStretch slows down existing audio; ZynAddSubFX is a synthesizer. Totally different types of software.