# mtytel/helm

Helm - a free polyphonic synth with lots of modulation

Repository: https://github.com/mtytel/helm
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/mtytel-helm
Homepage: http://tytel.org/helm
Language: C++
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Archived: true
Last push: 2022-09-24T04:23:20+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 10/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4255, "days_push": 1439, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: archived
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2504, forks 230 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:57.066228+00:00)

## What it is
Helm is a free, cross-platform polyphonic software synthesizer with extensive modulation capabilities, available as a standalone application and as LV2/VST/VST3/AU/AAX plugins. It offers 32-voice polyphony, dual oscillators with unison, LFOs, a step sequencer, arpeggiator, and built-in effects.

## Use cases
- create electronic music with a free software synthesizer
- add a polyphonic synth plugin to my DAW
- synthesize sounds with deep modulation and LFOs
- make music on Linux with an open-source VST synth
- use a free alternative to paid software synthesizers
- experiment with waveshaping, filters, and effects for sound design

## When to choose
- you want a free, GPL-licensed synthesizer with no DRM
- you need a synth that runs standalone or as a plugin on Linux, Mac, or Windows
- you want rich modulation options with visual feedback
- you need polyphonic synthesis with built-in effects like reverb and delay

## When to avoid
- you need a actively developed project with recent updates and support
- you require sample-based or wavetable synthesis rather than subtractive synthesis
- you need commercial support or guaranteed bug fixes

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: maintenance
- function: audio-processing, gui, plugin-system
- domain: media, cross-platform
- platform: windows, cross-platform
- tags: synthesizer, vst-plugin, lv2-plugin, audio-plugin, music-production, daw-plugin, free-software, audio, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- mtytel/helm (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:57.066228+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:26:45.357621+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/mtytel/helm (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:57.066228+00:00, sha abeeb446d8b8)
  - homepage: http://tytel.org/helm (fetched 2026-08-29T10:09:05.881105+00:00, sha 7d98a04ae40d)
  - site_page: https://tytel.org/helm/faq (fetched 2026-08-29T10:09:05.890326+00:00, sha 51893ceaaaf0)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.