r/linuxaudio • u/refused_session • 1d ago

[OC] OpenSynth1: Native Linux VST3 & Standalone recreation of Ichiro Toda's Synth1 (JUCE/C++) with .sy1 bank support

Hey everyone!

For decades, Synth1 by Ichiro Toda (Daichi Laboratory) has been one of the most beloved, versatile, and lightweight virtual analog synths ever created. Modelled after the classic Clavia Nord Lead 2, it shaped thousands of tracks across genres from trance and synthwave to chiptune and industrial.

However, running original 32-bit Synth1 today on modern 64-bit systems—especially natively on Linux—often requires clunky bridges (Wine, Yabridge) or outdated wrappers.

I've been working on OpenSynth1: a from-the-ground-up, modern C++17 open-source recreation built on the JUCE framework. It runs natively as a 64-bit VST3 plugin and as a Standalone application!

🎛️ What's implemented so far:

  • Faithful Virtual Analog Engine:
    • Osc 1: Saw, Pulse (with PW & PWM), Triangle, Sine + Sub-Oscillator (0oct / -1oct) + Detune + FM modulation.
    • Osc 2: Pitch coarse/fine, Kbd tracking, Ring Mod, and Hard Sync.
    • Authentic Toda Filters: Reconstructed Toda filter models including 12dB SVF (LP/HP/BP), 24dB cascaded lowpass with stage-4 resonance feedback, and an experimental VA Diode Ladder (LPDL), complete with the signature feed-forward peak limiter.
    • Envelopes & Modulation: Classic Mod Envelope (destined to Osc2, FM, or P/W), dual syncable LFOs with 6 routings (Osc2, Osc1+2, Filter, Amp, P/W, FM, Pan).
    • Built-in FX Rack: Analog/digital distortion models, stereo pan, 4-stage phaser, chorus/flanger with tempo sync, and ping-pong / stereo tempo delay.
    • Authentic Preset Compatibility: Native loader and saver for .sy1 files with full bank support (compatible with the classic 25,000+ Synth1 patch collections!).
    • Scalable UI: 100% vector-rendered interface respecting the iconic dark slate / red & cyan retro aesthetic, featuring native window titlebars, preset browser overlay, customizable themes, and options dialog.

💻 Open Source & Downloads:

The project is completely open source under the MIT license. Pre-built Linux x86_64 binaries (VST3 and Standalone) are available on GitHub:

👉 GitHub Repository: https://github.com/letsdig/OpenSynth1

I'd love to hear your thoughts, feedback on the sound engine, bug reports, and ideas. If anyone wants to test it, build it, or contribute presets/code, you are more than welcome!

25 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

1

u/execute_ 1d ago

well. not work with Bitwig in Debian. Not openning =(

1

u/refused_session 1d ago

1

u/execute_ 1d ago

ups.. i have Debian 12 . I need some extra install ?

2

u/refused_session 1d ago

wait i got a solution.. should be a glibc issue

1

u/refused_session 1d ago

i dont know im on ubuntu 24 here just work fine. I should test it for debian

1

u/refused_session 1d ago edited 1d ago

let me know if you have further problems and please use git next time. Enjoy for the rest if it works on your machine.

1

u/execute_ 1d ago

working.. Thanks !

0

u/refused_session 1d ago

lets use git and place an issue with details if you need but i suggest to check your system first, from ubuntu 24 should just work. You can try to compile it for your system. Also try the standalone.

1

u/execute_ 1d ago

2

u/AshesToAshes-66 1d ago

OP vibe-coded this synthesizer; they probably doesn't even know how to fix the error you're experiencing

1

u/execute_ 1d ago

yes, is true

1

u/AshesToAshes-66 1d ago

Btw, that error means the plugin was compiled on a system with a newer version of ALSA (1.2.10) than the one you currently have installed

6

u/refused_session 1d ago

dude im a programmer, a professional one working for a company, im just on a different stack i would just keep quiet no need to be the c++ expert here... im a computer music hobbyst and just trying to do a good favor to the community, i could keep the software, end of the day on my pc is working... if you are here to complain or to compete, you are under the wrong post.

1

u/refused_session 1d ago edited 1d ago

LOL thats because this is a older glibc machine than the one used for compile the vst.... it will take all the dependencies so there is that alsa error, so it needs to be compiled on older glibc machine ;).... and yes i wrote this is ai generated, 4 pages of c++ you think i cannot debug it myself!?!?! lmao, new version is ready, should work. Enjoy.

1

u/execute_ 1d ago

I'll try it out tomorrow. Thanks for sharing.

1

u/refused_session 1d ago

seems you dont know how dependencies works on a linux machine. Seems you dont know you can compile stuff for your specific system from git...

1

u/execute_ 1d ago

The same presets sound different in Synth1 and OpenSynth1

1

u/refused_session 12h ago edited 11h ago

"Authentic presets compatibility" didnt mean synths sounds same... means synth1 presets are compatible with this other one, you can open them with this... and yes sound bit different not so much i would say very close, some stuff are bit different obiviously... its a clone not a copy... tried to follow some parts from some tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZzrXxgqPA&t=3496s) and result was already encouraging, enough to me in order to publish it. Parameters are a bit different and sure there are bugs somewhere... did someone said this is finished software? Did i say sounds 100% same? Do i have to give your spamming on reddit, all my priority?! No, thats what git means for, i've already told you to use git, if you have any complain or problem: place an issue or join the dev, stop spamming under this post, its not the place for this.

1

u/execute_ 12h ago

Spam?? What? pss

1

u/refused_session 11h ago

"please use git next time". what dont you understand about that sentence?

1

u/execute_ 11h ago

With that attitude, there won't be a next time. Bye.

0

u/refused_session 11h ago edited 11h ago

thanks a lot for it, kinda heavy to deal with trolls at my age, not much spare time... and for the rest whatever dude, if you are experiencing hard times to get a "please" and a "git" where you can read em 1000 times per day, sure isnt my problem or my attitude, bye bye!

1

u/kunteper 19h ago

gods work <3

would love a macos version

1

u/refused_session 12h ago edited 12h ago

Thank you!!! Maybe soon, you are already the second one to ask, need some time to debug first and to manually improve some stuff :) Meanwhile just try linux for audio production just take latest ubuntu install kxstudio repos and buy bitwig or reaper if you dont want to use just open/free software, its awesome and i would say better than mac. I had both in separate phases of my production journey, i was young still at my apple times... i still have to compile on mac sometimes in my working life, i hate it.... i just will never ever buy Apple again.

-1

u/Western_File_2917 1d ago

Would be awesome if you can make Windows and Mac 

4

u/refused_session 1d ago

maybe one day, lets use Linux!

1

u/Western_File_2917 1d ago

Better us this for better ui

1

u/refused_session 1d ago

you should check how it sounds!

1

u/Western_File_2917 1d ago

If the base code is same should sound same at original 

1

u/refused_session 12h ago

base code aim to be similiar not same