Synthesis software / tools

Analysis

Audacity - Wave editor with analysis and basic synthesis / modification tools. Free

Ardour - Digital audio workstation. Free

SPEAR - Spectrum analysis and resynthesis tool. Proprietary freeware

VSTHost - Host for VST plugins. Windows. Free

Pure Data (Pd) - Audio processing, synthesis and analysis environment. Free

OpenMusic - Visual programming language based on CommonLisp / CLOS. Free

Kyma - Sound design environment. Proprietary

Max / MSP - Audio processing, synthesis and analysis environment. Proprietary

Reaktor - Audio processing, synthesis and analysis environment. Proprietary

Synthedit - Modular synthesizer / VST plugin builder. Proprietary

SuperCollider - Object orientated audio programming language. Free

Overtone - Functional audio programming language written in Clojure, interfacing with SuperCollider. Free

CSound - Audio programming language. Free

Nyquist - Audio programming language. Free

ChucK - Strongly-timed, Concurrent, and On-the-fly Music Programming Language. Free

SynFactory - Modular software synthesizer. Free

SynthEdit - Modular software synthesizers and effects units. Proprietary