Exakt Lite

Another FM synthesizer worth checking out is Exakt Lite by Sonicbits. Unlike Dexed, which faithfully recreates the DX7, Exakt Lite does its own thing. It is a user-friendly FM synth for the modern age. Exakt Lite features a four-operator, twelve-voice FM synthesis engine with eight FM algorithms. The aliasing-free operators have four standard waveforms (sine, saw, square, and triangle) and eight emulated waveforms borrowed from the Yamaha TX81Z synthesizer module.

You also get five-point TX envelopes, a resonant multi-mode filter, a syncable LFO, and a real-time waveform display. What sets Exakt Lite apart is its intuitive interface. You don’t need to understand the inner workings of FM synthesis to get usable sounds out of it. The controls are intentionally simplified so anyone with basic synthesis knowledge can get started quickly. Exakt Lite is available in VST, VST3, and AU plugin formats for PC and Mac.