Are you looking to create some Dungeon Synthanalogue-style on a budget?
Here are five of the best free synths for creating the atmospheric, medieval soundscapes central to dungeon synth.
1. Vital (Vital Audio)
Vital is a powerful wavetable synthesizer that offers lush pads, eerie drones, and evolving textures.
Its intuitive interface makes it perfect for creating the moody and layered sounds typical of the genre.
2. Surge XT
Surge XT is a versatile open-source synth with an expansive sound palette, including atmospheric presets and powerful modulation options.
Surge XT is excellent for crafting otherworldly leads and ambient layers. I absolutely LOVE how many amazing sounds this synthesiser has - it's a veritable playground of noise!
3. Dexed
Dexed is a faithful recreation of the Yamaha DX7, this FM synth produces metallic, haunting, and bell-like tones that evoke medieval or ancient atmospheres.
4. TyrellN6 (u-he)
TyrellN6 is a rich analogue-style synth capable of warm pads, mystical leads, and resonant textures.
Its simplicity and high-quality sound make it ideal for crafting vintage dungeon synth vibes.
5. Vaults (Crowhill Company)
While technically a sampler rather than a synth, Vaults offers free libraries like Malet Piano, Wavering Choir, and Chorus Synth, which are indispensable for creating the orchestral and ambient textures often heard in dungeon synth.
Rich's Pick 💁🏻♂️:
I am going to be honest here.
If you have a DAW and/or a microphone then you already have ample sounds to start creating Dungeon Synth.
I created this album for one of my Dungeon Synth projects, Duskforge, using (almost) entirely Logic's ES2 synth and having only that synth at hand was an amazing limitation that inspired my creativity.
This is the album I created using a stock synth in Logic
When you pair your choice of synths with creative use of effects it gives you everything needed to build the atmospheric soundscapes of dungeon synth on a budget.
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