Helm Alternatives

Helm is described as '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' and is a music production app in the audio & music category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Helm for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD and iPad apps. The best Helm alternative is Vital, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Helm are ZynAddSubFX, Odin 2, Dexed and Cycle.io.

More about Helm
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Helm alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Vital icon

    Vital

     26 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    8 Vital alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    default Vital skin
     

    • Vital is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Helm.

    • Vital is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Helm.

    • Vital is Freemium and Open SourceHelm is Free and Open Source
  2. ZynAddSubFX icon

    ZynAddSubFX

     18 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    ZynAddSubFX is a fully featured open source software synthesizer capable of making a countless number of instruments, from some common heard from expensive hardware to interesting sounds that you'll boost to an amazing universe of sounds.

    30 ZynAddSubFX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    ZynAddSubFX screenshot 1
     
  4. Odin 2 icon

    Odin 2

     5 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    24 Odin 2 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Odin 2 screenshot 1
     
  5. Dexed icon

    Dexed

     18 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Dexed screenshot 1
     

    • Dexed is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Helm.

    • Dexed is Free and Open SourceHelm is also Free and Open Source
  6. Cycle.io icon

    Cycle.io

     5 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Cycle is the leading LowOps platform built to simplify containers, standardize infrastructure, and automate DevOps. Deploy to your own infrastructure whether it's in the cloud, on-prem, or a mixture of both. The power of Kubernetes, without Kubernetes.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Cycle.io screenshot 1
     

    • Cycle.io is the most popular SaaS alternative to Helm.

    • Cycle.io is Freemium and ProprietaryHelm is Free and Open Source
  7. Surge Synthesizer icon

    Surge Synthesizer

     15 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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...

    39 Surge Synthesizer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    default skin
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Surge Synthesizer as an Alternative to Helm
    Ruslan Mazavin
    Positive
    0

    It's a full-featured and very flexible synth, is actively developed and also free, not freemium)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Helm Icon
    Surge Synthesizer icon
    • Surge Synthesizer is Free and Open SourceHelm is also Free and Open Source
  9. KIA Instrument icon

    KIA Instrument

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    KIA Instrument screenshot 1
     
  10. NES VST icon

    NES VST

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    NES VST's UI
     
  11. Synth1 icon

    Synth1

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Synth1 is a software synthesizer modeled on the Clavia Nord Lead 2 Red Synth. It combines the common sound synthesis method of Subtractive & FM synthesis.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Synth1 screenshot 1
     
  12. synthv1 icon

    synthv1

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    synthv1 is an old-school all-digital 4-oscillator subtractive polyphonic synthesizer with stereo fx.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    synthv1 screenshot 1
     
  13. padthv1 icon

    padthv1

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    An old-school polyphonic additive synthesizer.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    padthv1 screenshot 1
     
  14. Tunefish 4 icon

    Tunefish 4

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A virtual analog synthesizer, Tunefish v4 was developed as a smaller replacement of Tunefish v3 with roughly the same power - some might argue it's even more powerful. It was also ported over to Linux and MacOS and was given a new polished UI.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Tunefish 4 screenshot 1
     
12 of 18 Helm alternatives