Dexed vs Helm
Dexed
asb2m10.github.ioHelm
tytel.orgSide by side
| Figure | Dexed | Helm |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Software Synthesizers | 8.8 (#3) | 8.6 (#4) |
| Documentation depth | The official site describes its documentation as minimal and points users to a GitHub wiki. | The official manual is a 32-page v0.9.0 PDF covering synthesis modules, modulation, patch browsing, audio settings and performance controls. |
| Maker identity | The repository maintainer is Pascal Gauthier under the username asb2m10, and KVR identifies the developer brand as Digital Suburban. | The official Helm manual identifies Matt Tytel as the developer. |
| Maker location | Pascal Gauthier's public GitHub profile lists Montréal. | Matt Tytel describes himself as a software synthesizer developer in the Boston area. |
| Plugin formats | The official feature list names VST, Audio Unit and LV2 builds for OS X, Windows and Linux. | The official site distributes Helm as standalone software and LV2, VST, VST3 and AU plugins. |
| What it does | Dexed is a multi-platform FM synthesizer plugin modeled closely on Yamaha's DX7 and also works as a MIDI cartridge librarian. | Helm is a computer software synthesizer for creating electronic music. |
Plans
In their own words
Dexed
Dexed is a free synth plugin and standalone app modeled on the Yamaha DX7. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, with VST, AU and LV2 plugin formats. Its sound engine follows the original DX7’s characteristics and includes Modern, Mark I and OPL Series engine types. Dexed also serves as a MIDI cartridge librarian for the DX7: it can load and save DX7/TX7 SysEx programs, save an individual program to a separate SysEx file, and exchange DX7 SysEx messages, including controller change. A single panel exposes 144 DAW-automatable DX7 parameters, and each operator has a real-time VU meter. Microtuning and MPE support were contributed by the Surge Synthesizer Team. Dexed is free software under GPL v3, at free. The project says documentation is minimal and cautions against expecting a perfect DX7 clone. Release 1.0.1 fixes scaling issues and rebuilds the Linux binary for older glibc versions.
Helm
Helm is a free software synthesizer for creating electronic music on a computer. It is available as a standalone application or as a plugin in LV2, VST, VST3, or AU formats, with GNU/Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows versions in 32-bit and 64-bit editions. Its sound tools include dual oscillators with cross modulation, unison, a sub oscillator, filters, modulation, a step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and audio effects. MIDI Learn lets users assign a MIDI control to a knob or slider. The maker describes Helm as software that can be run without DRM, studied, changed, and redistributed in original or modified form. The FAQ says the person who plays a sound made with Helm holds its copyright. Listed requirements include Windows 7 or later, MacOS 10.7 or later, Ubuntu Trusty 14.04 or later, and Debian Jessie or later. The project is described as being in beta with outstanding bugs. For bug reports, the maker asks users to include details such as what happened, crash reports, their operating system, and whether they use the plugin or standalone version.