Helm
7.2#6 in software synthesizersLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitHelm vs Vital
What both publish
| Fact | Helm | Vital |
|---|---|---|
| Modulation | Modulation sources include two monophonic LFOs, one polyphonic LFO, three envelopes, keyboard controls, random values and polyphonic aftertouch. | Vital supports drag-and-drop modulation, audio-rate modulation, stereo-splittable LFOs, keytracked LFOs and custom envelope curves. |
| Oscillators | The synthesizer has two oscillators with cross modulation and up to 15 unison oscillators per oscillator. | The oscillators are designed for low noise and near-alias-free output, and unison uses SSE optimizations for CPU efficiency. |
| Plugin formats | The official site distributes Helm as standalone software and LV2, VST, VST3 and AU plugins. | The official factsheet lists VST, VST3, AU and LV2 formats. |
| Praise: value | Equipboard reviewers repeatedly praise Helm as a free alternative to expensive synth plugins and suitable for producers with limited budgets. | Independent reviews repeatedly describe the full synthesis engine being available free as exceptional value compared with paid wavetable instruments. |
| Rating on KVR Audio | 4.33 out of 5 from 6 reviews. | 4.79 out of 5 from 24 reviews |
| Self-hosting | Developers can build and install standalone, LV2 and VST binaries locally with make on Linux, with Xcode projects for macOS and Visual Studio solutions for Windows. | The source can be built independently, but the repository says commercial login, downloads and update services cannot be connected from custom builds. |
| Support | The maker asks users to email bug reports with operating system, standalone or plugin details and crash information. | Subscribers receive prioritized support through private Discord channels or the forum. |
| System requirements | The FAQ lists Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.7 or later, Ubuntu 14.04 or later, and Debian Jessie or later. | Supported systems are Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+ on Intel or Apple Silicon, and Ubuntu Linux 18.04+; 64-bit and OpenGL 3+ are required. |
Helm plans
- Pay what you want—
Vital plans
- BasicFree
- Subscription$5 a month
- Plus$25, paid once
- Pro$80, paid once
Pick Helm if…
Helm suits people making electronic music who want a free synthesizer with standalone and plugin options. It may also appeal to users who value software they can study, modify, and redistribute.
Pick Vital if…
Vital suits musicians and sound designers looking for a wavetable synth with extensive modulation and sample-to-wavetable tools. It supports MPE and microtonal tuning, and runs on listed desktop operating systems.