The Most Popular VST, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the VST you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:53
In the expansive world of music production, virtual studio technology (VST) instruments are core tools that breathe life into compositions. Every producer, whether a novice experimenting in a bedroom studio or a seasoned professional polishing a studio track, relies heavily on these digital wonders. Identifying which VSTs are favored can streamline a beginner's setup process or enhance a professional's toolkit.
This dynamic list, fueled by your votes, helps clarify which VSTs are currently capturing the interest and love of the music production community. By participating, you not only get to see where your favorite VSTs stand but also discover new ones that might inspire your next project. Your input ensures that the list remains fresh and reflective of current trends.
What Is the Most Popular VST?
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155votes
Serum by Xfer Records
Xfer RecordsSerum by Xfer Records is a wavetable synthesizer that has become a staple in electronic music production. It offers a wide range of sounds and features, including advanced modulation options.Serum is a highly versatile wavetable synthesizer plugin developed by Xfer Records. It offers a wide range of possibilities for creating custom sounds, making it a popular choice among electronic music producers. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Serum has become a go-to VST for many musicians.- Wavetable Synthesis: Allows the scanning and manipulation of wavetables.
- Flexible Modulation: Offers multiple modulation options for creating complex sounds.
- Real-Time Waveform Editing: Enables precise waveform editing and customization.
- Advanced Unison: Provides up to 16 voices of unison per oscillator.
- Dual Wavetable Oscillators: Allows the simultaneous use of two wavetable oscillators.
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237votes
Massive by Native Instruments
Native InstrumentsMassive by Native Instruments is a virtual-analog synthesizer that has been widely used in various genres of electronic music. It has a user-friendly interface and a vast library of sounds.Massive by Native Instruments is a widely acclaimed virtual synthesizer plug-in loved by music producers and sound designers. It is known for its powerful sound, versatility, and intuitive workflow.- Polyphony: Up to 256 voices
- Oscillators: 3 wavetable oscillators + 1 phase oscillator
- Filters: 1 analog-modeled filter and 1 multimode filter per voice
- Effects: Numerous effects including distortion, chorus, delay, and flanger
- Modulation: Advanced modulation capabilities with 2 LFOs and 2 modulation envelopes
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323votes
Sylenth1 by LennarDigital
LennarDigitalSylenth1 by LennarDigital is a virtual-analog synthesizer that has been around for over a decade and is still popular. It's known for its warm and rich sound and versatile modulation options.Sylenth1 by LennarDigital is a popular virtual analog synthesizer VST that is widely used in electronic music production. It offers a wide range of high-quality sounds and powerful features that make it a go-to choice for many producers.- Oscillators: 4 alias-free unison oscillators
- Filters: 2 state-of-the-art analog-sounding filters
- Effects: 7 high-quality built-in effects
- Presets: Over 2500 presets included
- Modulation: 16 modulation slots per oscillator
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428votes
Kontakt by Native Instruments
Native InstrumentsKontakt by Native Instruments is a software sampler that has become a standard in the music industry. It offers a vast library of sampled instruments and advanced sound design features.Kontakt by Native Instruments is a software sampler that allows musicians, producers, and sound designers to manipulate and play back various samples and virtual instruments. It is widely recognized as one of the most popular VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugins in the music production industry.- Version: 6.6.0
- Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
- Sample Formats: Kontakt, WAV, AIFF, SND, FLAC, MP3, etc.
- Polyphony: Unlimited
- Effects: Master, insert and send effects
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514votes
Omnisphere by Spectrasonics
Eric PersingOmnisphere by Spectrasonics is a virtual instrument that combines a wide range of synthesis techniques, including wavetable, granular, and sample-based synthesis. It's known for its cinematic and atmospheric sounds.Omnisphere by Spectrasonics is a highly acclaimed virtual synthesizer that offers a vast library of sounds and advanced features for music production. It was created by Eric Persing, the founder of Spectrasonics, and has become one of the most popular VST plugins among musicians and producers.- Library Size: Over 14,000 inspiring sounds
- Sound Categories: Wide range of categories including Bass, Leads, Pads, Keyboards, Textures, and more
- Synthesis Engines: Combines various synthesis techniques including wavetable synthesis, granular synthesis, and sample-based synthesis
- Modulation Capabilities: Extensive modulation options with multiple LFOs, envelopes, and matrix routing
- Effects: Integrated high-quality reverb, delay, chorus, distortion, and other effects
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69votes
Nexus by reFX
reFXNexus by reFX is a ROMpler that offers a massive library of presets, including leads, pads, basses, and more. It's known for its ease of use and quick access to sounds.Nexus by reFX is a highly regarded virtual instrument plugin commonly used in music production. It offers a vast library of high-quality sounds that cover a wide range of genres, making it a popular choice for producers, composers, and sound designers. With its intuitive interface and extensive preset collection, Nexus simplifies the process of creating professional-sounding music.- Library Size: Over 30 GB
- Presets: Over 8,000
- Sound Categories: 131
- Expansion Packs: Over 100
- Arpeggiator: Yes
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713votes
Ernest F · CC BY-SA 3.0FabFilter Pro-Q3
FabFilterFabFilter Pro-Q3 is an equalizer plugin that has become a standard in mixing and mastering. It offers a precise and transparent sound and advanced features such as dynamic EQ and mid-side processing.The FabFilter Pro-Q3 is a powerful equalizer VST plugin that offers pristine sound quality combined with a flexible and intuitive interface. It is designed to enhance and shape the audio of individual tracks, buses, or the overall mix.- Filter Types: Bell, High/Low Shelf, High/Low Cut, Notch, Band Pass, Tilt Shelf, and Flat Tilt
- Filter Shapes: Linear Phase, Zero Latency, Natural Phase, and Minimum Phase
- Dynamic EQ: Up to 24 EQ bands with dynamic EQ functionality
- Spectrum Grab: Real-time spectrum analyzer with direct interaction
- Mid/Side Processing: Separate EQ settings for mid and side channels
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812votes
Waves SSL E-Channel
WavesWaves SSL E-Channel is a channel strip plugin that emulates the sound of the legendary SSL 4000 console. It's known for its warm and punchy sound and easy-to-use interface.The Waves SSL E-Channel is a virtual studio technology (VST) plugin that emulates the renowned SSL E-Series console channel strip. It provides users with the authentic sound and workflow of the SSL E-Series consoles in a digital format, allowing for professional-quality audio processing and mixing.- Channel Strip: Models the complete SSL E-Series channel strip with dynamics, EQ, and filters
- Dynamic Section: Includes a compressor, expander/gate, and independent 2-band EQ
- EQ Section: Features a four-band parametric EQ with high and low-pass filters
- Filters: Provides high-pass and low-pass filters with frequency and slope control
- Analog Saturation: Offers a Drive knob for adding harmonic distortion and analog warmth
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914votes
Valhalla Room
Sean Costello / Valhalla DSPValhalla Room is a reverb plugin that offers a wide range of realistic and creative reverbs. It's known for its simplicity and high-quality sound.Valhalla Room is a high-quality reverb plugin designed for creating spacious and immersive reverberation effects. It is known for its versatile and realistic sound, making it a popular choice among musicians and sound engineers.- Reverb Algorithms: 11 different algorithms
- Early Reflection Algorithms: 12 different algorithms
- Room Size: Up to 100 meters
- Decay Time: Variable from 0.1s to 100s
- Predelay: Up to 500ms
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106votes
Soundtoys 5
SoundtoysSoundtoys 5 is a bundle of plugins that includes various effects such as delays, reverbs, filters, and more. It's known for its creative and unique sound and versatile modulation options.Soundtoys 5 is a comprehensive collection of audio effects plug-ins that offers a wide range of creative tools for sound manipulation and enhancement. It is designed to emulate classic analog gear and provides musicians, producers, and sound designers with a versatile and intuitive plugin suite for various audio processing tasks.- Effect Types: 18 vintage-inspired effects
- Compatibility: Mac and Windows, supports most popular DAWs
- Analog Emulation: Offers faithful emulations of classic analog gear
- Modulation Effects: Includes chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, etc.
- Delay Effects: Various delay styles with unique character
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular VST
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FeaturesThe features of the VST should be diverse and of good quality. The VST should be capable of emulating different instruments and sound effects.
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Ease of UseA good VST should be easy to navigate and control. The user interface should be intuitive and straightforward.
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CompatibilityThe VST should be compatible with different DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software and platforms.
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PriceThe price of the VST is also a crucial factor. The VST should be reasonably priced and provide value for the money.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular VST. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or VST is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1529 views
- 210 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each VST once every 24 hours. The rank of each VST is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular vst
Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins are essential tools for music producers and audio engineers. These plugins allow users to add various digital effects and instruments to their audio projects, enhancing the overall sound quality. With so many VST plugins available on the market, it can be challenging to determine which ones are the most popular. At StrawPoll, we have gathered data from thousands of users to determine the most popular VST plugins being used today. Whether you're a seasoned producer or a beginner, understanding the most popular VST plugins can help you make informed decisions about which tools to use in your next project.
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