You don't need to spend money to make good melodies in FL Studio. Most of the melodies I start with come from a handful of free synths, plus a couple of effects that give them character. This is the short list I'd give any producer who asked me what to download first.
Everything here is free, works in the 64-bit version of FL Studio on Windows, and most of it runs on Mac too. I've split it into synths (where the notes come from) and effects (what makes them sound like a record).
Quick list
- Vital (free version): wavetable synth for modern trap and pop leads
- Surge XT: deep all-rounder with thousands of presets
- Dexed: FM synth for electric pianos, bells and plucks
- Odin 2: analog-style synth for warm pads and basses
- Tyrell N6: classic analog sound, very easy to use
- Helm: simple synth that's great for learning
- Dead Mall LITE: our VHS synth for lo-fi and nostalgic chords
- Slime Green Reverb: our three-knob reverb for space
- Slime Green Delay: our tempo-synced delay for melody echoes
Free synths for melodies
1. Vital (free version)
Vital is a wavetable synth by Matt Tytel, the developer who also made Helm. The free version has the full engine. What you give up is the size of the preset and wavetable library, not features. If you want the bright, modern lead and bell sounds you hear in current trap and pop, start here.
Try this: load a pluck preset, lower the filter cutoff a little, and play a simple four-note pattern in the piano roll. Add a bit of reverb and you already have a usable loop.
2. Surge XT
Surge XT used to be a paid synth. It went open source in 2018, and a volunteer team has kept improving it since. It covers subtractive, FM and wavetable synthesis in one plugin, with a huge preset library. It looks more technical than Vital, but you don't have to touch the deep settings: browse presets, find a sound, and tweak the filter and envelope.
Good for: pads, strings, plucks and anything you want to sound a bit different from the usual presets.
3. Dexed
Dexed is a free FM synth modeled on the Yamaha DX7. That's where the classic electric piano and bell sounds from '80s records come from, and they still work great in R&B and lo-fi beats. It can also load DX7 patch banks, so there are thousands of free sounds out there for it.
Good for: electric pianos, glassy bells and plucky melodies. I've got a separate walkthrough on making beats with Dexed.
4. Odin 2
Odin 2 is an analog-style synth with a clean layout. It's a good choice when you want warm pads and smooth leads that sit behind a vocal instead of fighting it. It comes as VST3, AU and CLAP.
5. Tyrell N6
Tyrell N6 from u-he is a free synth with a classic analog sound and hundreds of presets. It's one of the easiest synths on this list to learn, because every control is on one screen.
6. Helm
Helm is the older free synth from the developer of Vital. It isn't being updated anymore, but it still works and it's a nice way to learn how a synth fits together. If you outgrow it, move up to Vital.
7. Dead Mall LITE (free, by us)
We built Dead Mall LITE because so many lo-fi beats use the same few plugins. Every note you play runs through a worn VHS tape and an old CRT TV, so chords warble and hiss like an old recording. The LITE version has every control from the full version with no time limit. It just comes with 12 presets instead of 128.
Good for: lo-fi chords, vaporwave pads and dreamy intros. Try the After Hours knob to make the whole sound darker and slower.
Free effects that make melodies sound finished
8. Slime Green Reverb (free)
Slime Green Reverb has three knobs: Dry, Wet and Slime. Slime sets the size and character of the space, from a small room to something huge. The screen tells you in plain English what each move does, so you're not guessing. It comes with 33 presets.
9. Slime Green Delay (free)
Slime Green Delay locks to your project tempo, from 1/32 notes up to whole notes. It has 50 presets for melodies, vocals, drums and 808s. The Auto Duck control lowers the echoes while the melody plays and brings them back in the gaps, so you get space without mud.
You can find all of our plugins in the VST plugins collection.
How to install free VST plugins in FL Studio
- Download the plugin from the developer's own site. Pick the 64-bit VST3 version if there's a choice. If it comes as a zip file, unzip it.
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Install or move it. If it has an installer, run it. If it's just a .vst3 file, move it to
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3on Windows. - Scan for it in FL Studio. Go to Options > Manage plugins, then click Find installed plugins.
- Load it. Synths go in the Channel Rack (click the + button). Effects go on a Mixer insert slot.
- Star it in the plugin database so it shows up quickly next time.
If a plugin doesn't show up, it's usually in the wrong folder or it's a 32-bit plugin. More detail is in my guide to installing VST plugins in FL Studio.
A simple way to use these together
- Write a four-bar chord progression with Dead Mall LITE or Dexed.
- Add a simple lead on top with Vital.
- Put Slime Green Reverb on the chords and Slime Green Delay on the lead.
- Cut some low end from both with Parametric EQ 2 so the 808 has room.
If you'd rather start from a finished melody, grab our free melody loops pack and build the drums around it.
FAQ
Do free VST plugins work in FL Studio's free trial?
Yes. The trial loads third-party VST plugins. The trial's main limit is that you can't reopen saved projects until you buy FL Studio.
Are free plugins good enough for professional beats?
Yes. Vital, Surge XT and Dexed show up on plenty of released music. Sound choice and arrangement matter much more than what the plugin cost.
Why doesn't my plugin show up after installing it?
Check that it's in your VST3 folder, that it's a 64-bit version, and run Find installed plugins again in the plugin manager.