TubeSynth by AIR Music Technology poly synth plugin interface

TubeSynth: Poly Analog-Modeling Synth by AIR Music Technology Free Download

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (104 ratings)

TubeSynth is a polyphonic virtual synthesizer plugin by AIR Music Technology that uses analogue modelling to recreate classic subtractive sounds. It is available as VST2, AU, AAX and a standalone app for Windows and macOS.

VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

TubeSynth is built on analogue modelling technology first developed for AIR's Vacuum Pro. Its subtractive engine uses three oscillators with noise, saw, square, pulse and triangle waveforms, a lowpass filter with a continuously variable slope, and polyphonic glide for pitch slides between chords. The plugin ships with a factory library of over 300 presets, and its layout is designed for tweaking during live performance with a MIDI controller.

Best for

Analog-style subtractive sounds
Polyphonic pads and leads
Thick unison basses
Live performance with MIDI controllers
Film and game soundtrack textures

Developer: AIR Music Technology
Category: Synths
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Three-oscillator architecture with noise, saw, square, pulse and triangle waveforms
Two unison engines for thickening patches
Lowpass filter with continuously variable slope and pre/post distortion
Polyphonic glide for pitch slides between chords
Two LFOs with eight waveforms including Pump and Drift
Built-in Chorus, Delay, Reverb, Compressor and Hype EQ
Factory library of over 300 presets
GUI resizable from 50% to 200%
Preset saving and loading from the plugin toolbar

03In depth

Oscillators, Filter and Modulation

TubeSynth uses a three-oscillator architecture. Two unison engines thicken the timbre of a patch, and the voice level EQ and Drive parameters let you shape the harmonic content of Oscillator 2. The lowpass filter can be distorted before or after its stage for more aggressive results.

Filter, amp and a third ramp envelope can each be assigned to different modulation destinations. Two LFOs offer Sine, Square, Saw Up, Saw Down, Pump, Sample and Hold and Drift waveforms. Oscillator 1 and 2 Env Shape lets the filter envelope reshape each oscillator, and the Ring Modulation parameter opens up further timbral options.

Built-in Effects and Hype EQ

The plugin includes Chorus, Delay, Reverb, Compressor and a new Hype EQ, each with its own section for adjustments. Hype EQ is a quick way to enhance the low or high end of a patch. Low Hype adds sub-bass to wobbles, basses and kick-drum sounds, while Hype High adds shimmer and sparkle, which the developer suggests works well on pads, strings, brass and percussive sounds.

The effects come from AIR's Creative FX collection, which the developer says has been included in Pro Tools since Version 8.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	AIR Music Technology
Type	Plugin
Category	Synth
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats is TubeSynth available in?

TubeSynth is available as VST2, AU and AAX plugins, and as a Standalone app.

Does TubeSynth run on Windows and Mac?

Yes. TubeSynth supports Windows 7 to Windows 11 and macOS 10.10 to macOS 12 Monterey, both 64-bit only. Apple Silicon is natively compatible on macOS.

What do I need to run TubeSynth?

You need an Intel Core i5 or i7 at 2.3GHz or higher, 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended) and 1 GB of free disk space. On Windows, an ASIO sound driver is also required.