Free Subtractive Synthesizer

Bluewave

A focused, four-oscillator subtractive synth built for anyone who wants classic analogue-style sound design without wading through menus. It strips synthesis back to the fundamentals — waveform, filter, envelope, modulation — but backs that simplicity with the same signal chain, filters, and effects found in Music Sound Software's flagship instruments. It's not a stripped-down demo; it's a genuinely capable synth that happens to be free.

126 Presets 4 Oscillators 7 Waveforms Dual Filters · 12 Types 12-Slot Mod Matrix VST3 · AU · Standalone macOS · Windows coming soon

Free Free For Now

Get it on Gumroad

Platform: macOS at launch. A Windows version is coming soon. Not currently compatible with iOS, Android, Linux, or ChromeOS.

See EULA

What's Inside

A genuinely capable subtractive synth, not a stripped-down demo.

Four Oscillators, Seven Waveforms

Sine, Sawtooth, Square, Triangle, SuperSaw (7-voice detuned stack, JP-8000 style), variable-width Pulse, and Noise — all bandlimited (PolyBLEP) to stay alias-free across the full keyboard range.

True Ring Modulation

Every oscillator has ring modulation with an independently-running modulator — not phase-locked to the carrier — for genuine inharmonic, bell-like tones, not just harmonic reshuffling.

Keyboard Splits & Layers

Oscillators can be tuned, transposed, panned, and split or layered across the keyboard by note and velocity range.

Deep Modulation, Simplified

4 LFOs (2 per-voice, 2 global, tempo-syncable), dedicated Amp and Filter envelopes, and 3 freely assignable Mod Envelopes feed a 12-slot modulation matrix — the same routing engine used across the whole Music Sound Software line.

Rich Modulation Sources

Velocity, aftertouch, mod wheel, key follow, 4 macro knobs, and mappable MIDI CCs — all routable through the mod matrix.

Dual Filters, 12 Types

Serial, Parallel, A-only, or B-only routing across 12dB/24dB Low Pass and High Pass, Band Pass, Notch, Peak, Ladder LP/HP, Formant, Comb, and a Waveshaper.

9 Reorderable Effects

Distortion, Phaser, Chorus, Delay, Reverb, Bit Crusher, Flanger, Tremolo, and Stereo Width — the exact same effects engine found in HX6.

8-Band EQ & Compressor

An 8-band parametric EQ with a live spectrum overlay, plus a mastering-style compressor with an interactive transfer curve — the same mixing engine found in HX6.

Performance-Ready

Built-in arpeggiator with pattern, chord, and custom-interval modes, glide with Legato/Always/Off modes, full aftertouch support, and a master limiter to catch peaks.

126 Factory Presets

A curated library spanning leads, basses, pads, plucks, and textures — built from the ground up for Bluewave's subtractive engine, not carried over as leftovers.

Five Colour Themes

Cobalt, Harbour, Slate, Fjord, and Graphite — purely cosmetic, with no effect on sound. Your choice is remembered between sessions.

Scalable UI

A resizable interface that fits your screen and workflow, however you like to work.