Trance music continues to evolve, but its core elements remain rooted in powerful, emotive synthesizer sounds. Whether you're crafting uplifting melodies, driving basslines, or atmospheric pads, having the right synthesizers in your arsenal is crucial. Here's our pick of the top 5 synthesizers that are shaping the sound of trance in 2024.

1. Xfer Records Serum

Serum has become the undisputed champion in electronic music production, and it's no different for trance. This wavetable synthesizer offers unparalleled sound quality and flexibility, making it a favorite among producers across all electronic genres, including trance.

What truly sets Serum apart and earns it the top spot on our list is the sheer number of banks and patches available for it. The trance community has embraced Serum wholeheartedly, resulting in an enormous ecosystem of presets, sound banks, and patches specifically designed for trance production. This vast library of ready-to-use sounds, coupled with Serum's powerful sound design capabilities, makes it an invaluable tool for trance producers of all levels.

Key features:

• Advanced wavetable synthesis with intuitive wavetable editor
• Extensive modulation options
• High-quality built-in effects
• Vast ecosystem of third-party presets and sound banks
• Drag-and-drop modulation for easy sound design

Whether you're after classic trance sounds or pushing the boundaries of the genre, Serum's flexibility, coupled with its extensive preset library, provides an unmatched foundation for trance production.

2. OsTirus (Access Virus TI Emulator)

For trance producers who crave the iconic sound of the Access Virus but prefer software solutions, OsTirus is nothing short of revolutionary. Unlike a mere recreation, OsTirus is a true, cycle-accurate emulator of the Access Virus TI.

What sets OsTirus apart is its ability to boot the original Virus TI ROM, resulting in a software version that is sonically identical to the hardware. This means:

1. Authentic Sound: OsTirus reproduces the exact sound of the Virus TI, down to the finest details.
2. Original Patches: It supports all the original patches, ensuring you have access to the full range of classic Virus TI sounds.
3. Identical Behavior: The emulator behaves just like the hardware, offering the same workflow and features.

OsTirus is part of an ambitious project by The Usual Suspects, a group dedicated to emulating classic synthesizers through DSP56300 processor emulation. This approach ensures an unprecedented level of accuracy in replicating the Virus TI's sound and functionality.

For trance producers, this means access to the legendary Virus TI sound in a convenient software format, without any compromise in quality or functionality. Whether you're after those signature warm pads, cutting leads, or rich bass sounds that the Virus TI is famous for, OsTirus delivers them with perfect authenticity.

3. Vengeance Sound Avenger

Avenger is a powerhouse synthesizer that has quickly become a favorite among trance producers. What sets it apart is its pedigree – Avenger was created by Manuel Schleis, the legendary sound designer behind Vengeance Sound. Schleis's expertise in crafting sounds for electronic dance music, particularly trance and progressive, is evident in every aspect of Avenger.

This synth combines multiple synthesis types, including virtual analog, wavetable, and sample-based synthesis. Its extensive library of presets, many crafted by Schleis himself, provides an excellent starting point for trance production. The intuitive sound-shaping tools allow for deep customization, enabling you to create your unique signature sounds.

Key features that make Avenger stand out for trance production include:

1. Powerful Arpeggiator: Perfect for creating those hypnotic, rhythmic patterns essential to trance.
2. Trance Gate: Ideal for crafting pulsating, sidechained-style effects without the need for complex routing.
3. Expansion Packs: Avenger comes with several expansion packs, many tailored specifically for trance and progressive genres. These packs, curated by top sound designers including Schleis, offer a wealth of production-ready sounds and inspiration.

The combination of Schleis's sound design expertise, the versatile synthesis engine, and the high-quality expansion packs make Avenger a comprehensive tool for trance production.

4. Reveal Sound Spire

Spire has gained a stellar reputation as the go-to synth for trance and progressive house producers, and for good reason. Its popularity within the trance community is not just due to its powerful sound engine, but also because of the involvement of renowned trance artists in creating presets for it.

Key features that make Spire a trance producer's dream include:

1. Versatile Sound Engine: With four oscillators, each offering unique waveforms and extensive modulation capabilities, Spire allows for complex and rich sound design.
2. Built-in Effects: The high-quality onboard effects, including a superb reverb, are perfect for creating those spacious, atmospheric sounds that trance is known for.
3. Clean and Crisp Output: Spire's ability to produce pristine, crisp leads and punchy basses makes it indispensable in any trance producer's toolkit.

What truly sets Spire apart is the involvement of top trance artists in its preset library. The synth features sound banks created by some of the biggest names in trance, including:

• Myon
• Luke Bond
• ReOrder
• Dave Parkinson
• Darren Porter

These artist-created presets not only provide production-ready sounds but also offer invaluable insights into the sound design techniques used by leading trance producers.

5. reFX Nexus 5

reFX Nexus has long been a staple in trance production, and with the release of Nexus 5, it has evolved into an even more powerful tool. While traditionally known as a ROM synthesizer, Nexus 5 introduces hybrid synthesis, offering producers significantly more control over sound shaping.

Key features of Nexus 5 include:

• Hybrid Synthesis: Nexus 5 combines sample playback with virtual analog synthesis, allowing for deeper sound design possibilities while maintaining its renowned ease of use.
• Enhanced Sound Control: The new version provides more parameters for tweaking sounds, including additional envelopes, LFOs, and modulation options.
• Vast Sound Library: Nexus continues to offer a massive library of high-quality, ready-to-use sounds perfect for trance production.

What truly sets Nexus apart is its extensive library of expansion packs:

• Manuel Schleis Expansions: Many Nexus expansions are crafted by Manuel Schleis, the legendary sound designer behind Vengeance Sound. His expertise in electronic dance music, particularly trance, is evident in these meticulously designed sound sets.
• Trance-Specific Expansions: Nexus offers several expansions dedicated specifically to trance, covering various subgenres and styles within the trance spectrum.
• Armin van Buuren Expansion: One of the most notable expansions is created in collaboration with trance icon Armin van Buuren, bringing the sounds of one of trance's most influential artists directly into your productions.

These expansions not only broaden the sonic palette of Nexus but also provide access to professional-grade, genre-specific sounds that can instantly elevate your trance productions. With Nexus 5's new hybrid synthesis capabilities, you can now take these sounds even further, customizing them to fit your unique style.

Each of these synthesizers brings something unique to the table, from authentic hardware emulation to vast sound libraries and artist collaborations. Whether you're a seasoned trance producer or just starting out, these tools provide the sonic foundation needed to create captivating, professional-quality trance tracks. Experiment with them, push their boundaries, and most importantly, let your creativity flow!