Instrumentation Generation is a tool for composers—the first tool in a planned compositional toolkit. Instrumentation Generation allows you to generate random groups of instruments, with varying parameters and templates to mix things up. Instrumentation Generation will generate you a list, and then you, the composer, are challenged to create some new piece of music, just using the given random instruments.

Not a composer? That's okay too! The tool is still fun to play with, and when that get's old, you can make your way to the Instrument Library and learn about new instruments through their descriptions, youtube links and wikipedia references.

The generator contains over 200 instruments and over 25 templates to start with!

If you would like to support the project, please check out the "support" section, and consider donating or purchasing the instrument icons for commercial and personal use! And if you come across an error of any kind, please let me know via the 'Feedback' page!

If you're sitting here worried about the fact that you might not have your clavicord nor crumhorn nor your sitar nor sheng still laying around, then let me tell you not to worry!

When recording, or atleast sketching, with these instruments, you are more likely than not going to be using a virtual instrument (.vst, .vst3) within a digital audio workstation (DAW). There are a number of free and cheap ones (some that contain lots of instruments) that i will reccomend to you to get started!

• General
• Spitfire Labs - A collection of free high quality instruments. I especially reccomend the lap steel, tape orchestra and atmospheres, but they are all fantastic.
• Xpand!2 - Another large collection of virtual instruments. Not super realistic or anything, but has quite a lot of charm.
• Sforzando is a free soundfont player. Lots of soundfonts are hosted here.
• DSK offers dozens of free instruments.
• Orchestral/Ensemble
• Fantasi - A small collection of free orchestal like virtual instruments.
• BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover - Free with a wait (or $49 for instant), the free version of what is in my opinion, the best orchestral plugin out there.
• Orchestral Tools Layers - A really simple instrument that makes it easy for even beginners to add orchestral elements to their compositions.
• Project SAM The Free Orchestra - An incredibly high quality of cinemaic music sounds.
• Contemporary Instruments
• Vital - My main workhorse synth. I use it for 95% of my synth needs. Don't let the price full you, it's incredibly powerful. Patch Bank Here!
• Keyzone Classic - A free sample based Piano VST
• MTPowerDrumKit2 - Free drum kit plugin
• STL Emissary - A super high quality guitar amp and cab simulator.
• Synth 1 - A very powerful synth for being free, with tons of community made preset packages.
• dexed - An FM soft synth modelled after the Yamaha DX7.
• Sitala - Just a really solid drum machine plugin
• A few more free soft synths
  • OB-Xd - Based on the Oberheim OB-X, with some additional features.
  • Surge XT - A free and open source hybrid synthesizer, with many techniques, filters, modulations and effects.
  • MinDy S - A free synthesizer based on the Mini Moog, a classic analog synthesizer.
  • Odin 2 - A feature-rich polyphonic synthesizer capable of basses, leads and everything in between.
• Tools/Utilities
• RandArp - A VST plugin arpeggiator with many randomization features, allowing incoming notes or chords to be manipulated in various rhythmic ways.
• Chordz - A VST plugin that allows you to trigger full chords by playing single notes. Basically the 'harmonizer' feature found on some synths.

P.S. Don't forget to check and see what, if any, free instruments come with your Digital Audio Workstation! They are usually pretty high quality!

P.S.S. Be cautious not to get too caught up in collecting plugins. Just get what you need and make some music.

Check out 'A Free Studio' for a really cool guide on budget music production and the software you'll need!

If you're looking to invest in paid plugins, check the Recommended Plugin List for a full list of my suggested plugins!

Parameters

Start with a template: Clicking on the 'Templates' button, brings up a window that will allow you to peruse a couple dozen templates that you can start with and modify the instrumentation of.

Generate a new list of instruments: Generating a new list will replace your current instrumentation with an entirely new list. It asks for a range, but if you want a specific size, you can just put the same number in both fields.

Add a random group of new instruments: Adding a new group of instruments will generate as many random instruments as you ask for and add them to your list!

Choose an instrument to add to the list: Choose one specific instrument to add to your instrumentation list.

No Duplicates: If you dont want multiple of each instrumnet to be able to be generated, check 'No Duplicates' and it will make sure every instrument that is generated for your list is not a duplicate. This does not retroactively apply to instruments already in your list.

Clear List: Clicking 'Clear List' will remove all instruments from your list, starting you over fresh

Instrument Cards

Lock: Locking your instrument prevents it from being deleted in all fashions.

Shuffle: The shuffle button will replace just that instrument with a random instrument.

Delete: The delete button removes your instruments from the list.

Replace: The replace button allows you to pick an instrument to replace it with.

Coming Soon!