The FADR SynthGPT VST is generative AI plugin that synthesizes new sounds from descriptive text prompts. It's designed to help musicians find the sound they're looking for quickly, without the technical challenges of advanced alternatives like Serum and Vital.
Text-to-instrument gen is a relatively small niche and FADR was the first to bring something like this to market. Native Instruments published a research paper in 2024 detailing a similar AI model, but has not released a commercial product yet.
As of 2025, SynthGPT is still the only app oriented to text prompts, but it does have at least one interesting neighbor with Synplant 2. In this article we'll clarify how these three models work and how they help for musicians who work in the DAW.
The shortcomings of instant AI song generation
Over the past two years, dozens of AI text-to-music generators have come to market. The most popular services, Suno and Udio, turn short ideas into complete songs in a matter of seconds. But is that what musicians really want?
Most songwriters, beat makers, and composers enjoy the creative decision-making process. The slow and painstaking process of writing an album results in a final product that mirrors the creator's imagination.
Despite the advantages associated with moving slowly, there are known choke points in the DAW that can interrupt the creative flow.
FADR, Synplant and Native Instruments want to use AI to help musicians find the right virtual sounds in a fraction of the time. They are exploring different approaches, ranging from text input to audio conditioning.
FADR SynthGPT VST: A text-to-Instrument plugin
Text-to-synth is a generative audio technique in which virtual instruments are created from text prompts. Imagine typing in “warm finger style electric bass” and, with a few clicks, generating a fully playable bass instrument in your DAW.
Fadr SynthGPT emerged in 2024 with a service that interpreted text prompts and matched them to synth presets. The second version of the app, SynthGPT2, now generates truly original samples from scratch. You'll need a paid FADR Plus subscription to access it and as of 2025, it costs only $10/month.
Users can be specific with the text prompts, describing not only the instrument but also the specific timbre they're going for. The SynthGPT understands concepts like acoustic environment and genre.
Once a core sound has been generated and selected, it can be shaped through ADSR controls (attack, decay, sustain and release) and a filter (cutoff, resonance, high and low pass, etc). Each sound applies directly to your MIDI track and can be stored in your FADR instrument library for future use.
FADR vs Synplant 2: Audio-to-synthesizer alternative
Like FADR, SonicCharge wanted to get away from the usual knob-twisting and dial-adjusting found in conventional sound design.
Synplant 2 presents music producers with a novel "plant genome" design that uses DNA as a metaphor for timbral elements. This approach encourages the spirit of discovery and feels closer to play than work.
The app does not run on generative AI per se. It uses machine learning (music information retrieval) to understand the timbre of an existing sample and automates its own parameters to get as close to that sound as possible.
All processes run locally on your computer, whereas FADR requires an internet connection to connect to their cloud services.
Synplant's pricing model is the other big differentiator. They offer a three week trial followed by a one time cost of $149. That's the equivalent to roughly fifteen months of SynthGPT 2.
There are a few audio-to-audio timbre transfer companies on the market today, namely Neutone and Combobulator, which could appeal to fans of Synplant 2.
Native Instruments teasing an upcoming AI model
Native Instruments has been a trailblazer in virtual instrument and music production technology for more than 25 years. Their legacy of innovation is poised to continue in the future as they break new grounds with generative AI.
They are currently working on a neural audio model that lets users generate instrument sounds from descriptive prompts or audio samples. This model is not commercially available. However, the video above demonstrates how it works. There are several additional audio demos available on the webpage that accompanies the core research paper.
We interviewed their lead research scientist to learn more about how the model works. Their CPO followed up with us to share details about the roadmap and how this new tech might fit into their existing product portfolio.
How Native Instruments' AI text-to-instrument model works
Each text prompt results in a sample-based instrument spanning 88 keys and five dynamic levels. That's 440 one-shot samples for each generative instrument.
The team has worked hard to maintain what they call “timbral consistency". They want instruments to sound cohesive regardless of which note you play or how hard you hit it. Timbral consistency is what separates amateur sounds from a professional one, and it’s challenging to achieve with generative models.
For producers, this could mean a new era of creativity with high-quality sounds generated on demand. It would be transformative for people who write excellent melodies and chord progressions but struggle with sound design.
Native Instruments' chief product officer comments on generative AI
Native Instrument's chief product officer, Simon Cross, responded to our announcement to clarify that their team will likely publish an AI-powered search and navigation tool first. This makes sense because the company already has a massive quantity of virtual instruments and settings for users to choose from.
Generative virtual instruments will come at a higher cost and have a bigger environmental footprint. In the short term, they would also likely result in lower quality than human-crafted instruments.
The generative audio model from Native Instruments doesn't stop at text prompts. It also supports audio-to-synth generation, giving users the ability to feed in an audio sample as a reference.
In practice, this means that musicians could upload a sampled instrument stem and model its tone dynamically. The model captures the essence of the input and applies it across a playable keyboard range, bringing even more versatility to sound design.
All of this remains hypothetical, since the Native Instruments model is not yet available in 2025.
For now, if you want to get started immediately, go for Synplant or FADR SynthGPT.