The Surge Synthesizer Team has introduced Surge XT, a free and open source software synthesizer for Linux, Mac & Windows.
Surge XT is a major update to Surge, which was a commercial product prior to being open sourced. Over 2021, the Surge Synth team undertook an effort to rebuild Surge in JUCE and add a variety of features. This project resulted in the new version, Surge XT.
Surge XT features a hybrid synth architecture, supporting many synthesis techniques, and offering a wide selection of filters, modulation options and effects. Other key features include MPE support and microtuning.
There are hundreds of changes in Surge XT, in addition to the rewrite, including:
- Improved patch navigation
- Enhanced modulation options
- Accessibility enhancements
- Extensive keyboard shortcut support
- New microtuning interface
- New Tri-Pole filter type
- Expanded waveshaper section
- 4 send, scene insert and global insert effect slots
- New effects
- Updated UI
- Updated patch library
Here’s an unofficial video demo, via PLUGINS4FREE:
Audio Demos
Here’s a playlist of Surge tracks, created as part of the One Synth Challenge:
Availability
Surge XT is available now. Developers can get the source via github.
via AKira
Hard to believe it is actually still free
Amazing synth indeed
+1
I love that they say it is unapologetically digital (or words to that effect).
Great to see things like PolyAT/MPE, release velocity, tuning maps, etc. It really is quite stunning.
The GUI now scales freely.
With Vital and now Surge XT, I think I can put Dune to rest.
I vacated a couple of dusty synths when I moved to an M1 Mac, so I am a bit surprised to have downloaded this one, but it looks hella beefy. Its not just the colorful GUI, I swear. Its a bit cramped, but sensibly laid out, too.
I’m going to drill down through the 2,779 (!) presets and get a fuller feel for its character. Then I’ll know if its a Keeper, a Dumper or a Sample the 47 Killer Patches and Then Dump-er. Probably a Keeper. It has a good pedigree.
Absolutely brilliant and very versatile. Easily rivals some of the $100 plug-ins
Surge was originally made by Claes who co-founded Bitwig