surge VS helm

Good stuff!

I started getting in to this at the start of the year. Already had an old, dusty MicroKORG and MIDI interface to use it as a controller, but recently splashed out on a bigger controller as the Korg's tiny keys were hurting me - plus, I wanted something bigger to get better at piano!

A couple of free soft synths I'd recommend are Surge XT, and Vital.

https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/

https://vital.audio/

https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ and https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/ should work like a charm.

To get the equivalent of a symphonic orchestra in your computer, the solution is basically money; you buy the instruments you need. In the case of synthesizers, things are much cheaper - if you put in the effort yourself. https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ is excellent and could even be used if you wanted to make a more retro-style soundtrack.

Instead of Synth1, try https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ . It's pretty much better in every aspect except for the UI which is going to look a lot more daunting to you ;)

In general, this should only happen when a Program Change message is sent.

undertstand how to install VST (Virtual Studio Technology) download some free plugins. FREE ONES, NO matter if they sound superduper or not. just to play around and try to undertstand them. watch some tutorials how to set them up in your DAW. i recommend the Plugin Helm! yes not the best but for free and alot of options to learn from it. and thats what makes it great! https://tytel.org/helm/ . i recommend this heavily because you have some sounds to start witha and you can create alone with this one alot. i mean really alot. there are endless tutorials how to make some specific sounds with this. than you need to a drumkit. you can use helms drumsounds and so on. but i recommend to search for a better way to do drums. helm can give you good piano, bass, and so on. but take your time to find a drum plugin. after you played around with helm already.

Matt Tytel's Helm is a great option to learn, CPU friendly and it sounds really good.

For a synth, you can't go wrong with Helm https://tytel.org/helm/

Does anyone here have a suggestion for a really cool software synth (preferably free) that can do these kinds of things? I've been messing with Helm, Cardinal and the built-in synths in Bitwig Studio and have yet to get a satisfying result... Don't you hate it when that happens?

What about installing Helm and trying to play it as a standalone instrument.