Helm vs Synth1

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.

Synth1 is a free software synthesizer plugin for computer music production on Windows and macOS. Its sound engine has two oscillators plus a sub-oscillator, with FM, ring modulation, sync, and a modulation envelope. Sound-shaping options include four filter types, distortion, two LFOs, an arpeggiator, tempo-synchronized delay, and stereo chorus/flanger. The maker lists 32-note polyphony and 128 presets. Synth1 works with DAWs that support VSTi on Windows or AU on Mac; GarageBand and REAPER are named as Mac examples. The Windows VSTi release is 32/64-bit for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10, and requires an x86/x64 CPU that supports SSE2. The Mac AU version is 64-bit for macOS 10.8 and later; Intel Macs were tested, while M1 support is unconfirmed. Mac users must download factory presets separately. The maker permits commercial music use without contacting them. The English manual is marked incomplete, and Synth1 is not multitimbral.