Software samplers are the universal tools for making music with a computer, offering virtually any sound imaginable, from a triangle to a full orchestra. However, the required software can be quite expensive. Fortunately, there are free VST instruments and sampling libraries available.
A free sampler VST is a great tool for beginners because it allows you to experiment with different sounds without spending a lot of money on software and libraries. But how does it all work?
What do you really need to compose music or play the piano with a free sampler VST?
The most frequently asked question, of course, is which sampler is the best. Since the programs are all so different, it’s not an easy question to answer. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your expectations and goals.
Would you like to have a wide variety of sounds for your recording projects, or do you want to experiment with sound material? Do you need support for specific formats or synthesizer features? Or do you simply need a budget-friendly solution for playing the piano on your computer?
First of all, there’s the question of whether and when you need free sampler VSTs! Most DAWs, even free ones, have built-in instruments that can read and play sound material from other platforms. For example, the Presence XT sample player in Presonus Studio One supports not only its own format, but also sounds from NI Kontakt or EXS (Logic Pro), as well as SoundFont formats. Bitwig Studio also has an amazingly flexible sampling engine.
DAWs come with huge sound libraries. While that’s a great deal, you’re not getting high-quality piano sounds here. The included sounds are perfectly suitable for recording and MIDI composition, but not for playing the piano in the quality of a piano VST or a high-quality library. Importing multi-format sound libraries gives you many more options.
It also makes sense to use a free sampler VST if you want the program to run standalone, i.e., if you want to play sounds without a DAW. The sampling instrument you choose ultimately depends on the content, as some may be exclusive to a specific player. For example, this applies to the free Spitfire Audio LABS VST, which in turn does not work as a standalone instrument.
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument that allows you to play audio files, called samples. These samples can be anything, such as a bass drum or the sound of birds singing. However, to create complex instruments, such as a piano library, you need to layer a large number of samples on top of each other. Depending on the MIDI note and velocity, as well as special scripting techniques, the samples are dynamically accessed while playing. Read more about this in the article “Digital Piano Sampling.”
In the 1980s and 1990s, samplers revolutionized music production. Initially, pop music was full of typical pitch-and-repeat effects until sample loops and cut-and-splice techniques became more popular.
However, a software sampler doesn’t produce any sound until it’s given material to work with. This works in several ways:
As mentioned earlier, software samplers vary greatly in their technical specifications. Therefore, it is difficult to single out one particular sampler as the world’s best sampler VST. To provide a clearer overview, we have divided the following recommendations into three categories.
Category A: Flexible and unconditional freeware! Create your own samples or download and play sounds from the internet. These sampler VSTs support various formats, with the SFZ format being the most prominent.
Category B: These samplers allow you to import libraries into the free version, typically in high quality. Users with the full version have access to all the necessary features for creating sample instruments with great precision.
Category C: These samplers only accept their own formats. However, they are meant to provide insight into the extensive (and expensive) libraries of the developers. Accordingly, instruments such as Orchestral Tools SINE Player, Spitfire Audio LABS, and VSL Vienna Synchron Player offer the highest quality “demo material.”
This is important for anyone who wants access to a wide variety of sounds, since not every sampler supports every type of instrument file. Fortunately, most major software samplers support their own data format as well as others.
The SFZ format is widely used and therefore easily accessible. In principle, anyone can create and play an SFZ sample library, which has led to the creation of many free hobby libraries over the years.
Tip for free sampler VSTs and libraries: It is a good idea to create a special folder for storing sample libraries. For category B and C VSTs, this is usually done as part of the installation process. However, for category A free samplers, you must select a specific folder in the settings (e.g., sforzando). Therefore, it’s a good idea to organize the loaded libraries in a folder structure from the start.
Two samplers are especially recommended for SFZ libraries:
The TX16Wx is a versatile and quite complex sampler that offers everything you need to create your own sample library. Unfortunately, the CWITEC TX16Wx is not available inasa standalone app, so you will need a DAW to use it.
Standalone: No
Operating System: Windows (32&64-bit) & MacOS
Compatibility: All SFZ libraries such as Iowa Piano or Upright Piano KW, as well as SF2, EXS, AKP, and many other formats
Special Features: Allows you to create your own libraries, has a built-in arpeggiator, and offers a wide range of options for editing samples and libraries.
Website: www.tx16wx.com
In the entry-level segment, Kawai gets to the heart of the important elements: high-quality piano sounds and an easy-to-play keyboard are the main focus. Bluetooth audio/MIDI, great sounds, app connection and pleasing speaker sound - the ES-520 should go down well with anyone looking for a modern and flexible instrument. After all, it is suitable for both learning piano at home and making music in a band.
ES-520 B : 898,00 €
TO THE OFFERES-520 W : 911,00 €
TO THE OFFERHM-5 B : 155,00 €
TO THE OFFERF-302 B : 144,00 €
TO THE OFFER
Simple, compact, and reliable. Although you cannot create or edit libraries with sforzando, it is the right choice if you only want to load SFZ libraries. The highlight of sforzando is its built-in format converter. Just drag and drop your audio files onto the interface and sforzando will convert DLS, SF2, and even acidized WAV files into the SFZ format.
Standalone: Yes
Operating System: Windows (64-bit) & MacOS
Compatibility: All SFZ libraries such as the Salamander Grand Piano as well as some more exotic libraries in SF2, WAV or DLS format.
Special Features: Has a simple reverb and detune effect
Website & Download: www.plogue.com
Pros and Cons
Plogue sforzando is also available as a standalone application. Beginners using audio software on Windows PCs may encounter some challenges when configuring the settings. Otherwise, sforzando is straightforward and easy to use.
sforzando : Free
TO THE OFFERSome larger software companies have developed a clever sampler model. Free versions of these samplers allow you to easily play purchased libraries. However, if you want to create your own libraries or use libraries from smaller producers and freelancers, you will need the full, paid version of the sampler.
Consequently, there are very few free libraries for these sampler VSTs. On the other hand, they allow you to learn how to use a particular sampler platform. This will be an advantage if you decide to upgrade to the full version later.
NI Kontakt probably offers the most extensive possibilities available. After all, Kontakt is the most widely used sampler VST for a reason. There is a correspondingly large selection of sound libraries from various developers. Not to mention the extensive Native Instruments Kontakt sound library and the massive NI Komplete sound pack. You can use all instruments from the Kontakt library with the free Kontakt Player.
Standalone: Yes
Operating System: Windows (32&64-bit) & MacOS
Free Piano Library: Hammersmith Free (available for free from time to time)
Special Features: The free version of the most famous software sampler. Required for many commercial libraries. Owners of the full version have access to various free libraries.
Website & Download: www.native-instruments.com
Pros and Cons
With its timeless sound, beautiful reverb spaces, and just the right balance of features, Hammersmith Free stands out as one of the best free piano libraries available.
Soniccouture Hammersmith Free : Free
TO THE OFFERHalion Sonic SE is the free version of Steinberg’s Halion Sonic. Currently, only one free piano library is available for this sampler: the Novel Piano. However, it is of very high quality.
Standalone: Yes
Operating System: Windows 8.1 (64bit) or higher and MacOS
Free Piano Library: Novel Piano
Special Features: High-quality effects
Website & Download: www.steinberg.net
Pros and Cons
Novel Piano impresses with their spacious yet lively character. This makes it perfect for singer-songwriter accompaniments, as well as dreamy, cinematic piano arrangements.
Novel Piano : Free
TO THE OFFERAlthough SampleTank 4 is available, anyone who downloads SampleTank 3 Custom Shop will receive Grand Piano 1 SE for free. SampleTank comes with an extensive library and the sample player offers a wide selection of high-quality modeling effects from IK Multimedia’s t.Racks repertoire.
Standalone: Yes
Operating System: Windows and MacOS
Free Piano Library: Grand Piano 1 SE
Special Features: Many great effects; Grand Piano 1 SE, one of the best free VST pianos available.
Website & Download: www.ikmultimedia.com
Overall, it's a solid piano plugin that not only offers a wide range of effects, but also includes a convenient standalone version.
Grand Piano 1 SE : Free
TO THE OFFERTo ensure the highest quality, some developers rely on their own players. Accordingly, the samplers listed here and the associated free pianos are a kind of promotional gift. Since these companies want to showcase their best work, we, as musicians, can enjoy extensive, high-quality libraries at no cost.
Spitfire Audio LABS offers access to an extensive collection of unique sample libraries, making it a must-have for music enthusiasts. Unfortunately, LABS does not have a standalone version, so a DAW is required.
Standalone: No
Operating System: Windows & macOS
Free Piano Library: LABS Soft Piano, LABS Electric Piano, LABS Wurli and many more
Special Features: Over 50 high-quality libraries.
Website & Download: www.spitfireaudio.com
LABS Soft Piano : Free
TO THE OFFERWith its “HELLO free instruments” series, VSL has released a small but impressive selection of free libraries for Synchron Player. In addition to the high-quality VSL Soft Imperial library, users can enjoy a variety of other orchestral instruments.
Standalone: Yes
Operating System: Windows 8.1 or later and MacOS 10.13 or later
Free Piano Library: VSL Soft Imperial
Special Features: High-quality effects, installation is a bit complicated
Website & Download: www.vsl.co.at
Pros and Cons
…may not suit every musical context, but if you're specifically looking for a gentle, nuanced piano sound, perfect for soulful or neoclassical pieces, you'll love both the refined sound character and the authentic playing feel.
VSL Soft Imperial : Free
TO THE OFFER
Orchestral Tools is known for its high-quality sample libraries, particularly those used for orchestral and film scoring. They also offer percussion, piano, and various other sound tools, including the free Orchestral Tools Layers.
Standalone: Yes
Operating System: Windows 10 and MacOS 10.13 or later
Free Piano Library: SINEfactory library with grand piano, vintage electric piano, and felt piano. Plus many more instruments from different genres.
Special Features: Package deal including downloads and library manager via the SINE player.
Website & Download: www.orchestraltools.com
Good sounds are always in demand, and without samples, a sampler won’t make any sound. However, producing high-quality samples is expensive, so it’s understandable why premium libraries can be costly. As a rich source of high-quality, free piano libraries, I would like to draw your attention to a platform called Pianobook. Otherwise, the SFZ Instruments website is worth checking out. More tips will follow in a separate article on PIANOO.com.
Hopefully, this article has explained the differences between software samplers enough to help you choose the right one. Of the free sampler VSTs presented here, these are the best examples when given appropriate weighting:
If you like to experiment and maybe even create your own sample library, the CWITEC TX16Wx is the best choice. If you just want to load the multitude of free SFZ libraries, the user-friendly and compact Plogue sforzando is a better alternative—not to mention its standalone capability.
Your choice between Kontakt Player, Halion Sonic SE, and SampleTank usually depends on which sampler you have a purchased library for. To really get into it, you’ll need the paid version of the sampler anyway. If a free library is available for the sampler you’re interested in, grab it without hesitation. The same goes for Spitfire Audio LABS, Orchestral Tools SINE, and the Vienna Synchron Player.
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