GForce Software has relaunched with a new website and identity, and it is celebrating with two free plugins. According to Synth Anatomy, the offer runs until December 1, 2026, and anything you download during the promotion is yours to keep.
What is on offer
The two plugins are Axxess, an emulation of the ARP Axxe, and M-Tron Select 2, a curated set of sounds from the M-Tron Pro line. Both come in VST, VST3, AU and AAX formats for macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows. The article also notes that other GForce plugins are available at up to 71% off through a partner retailer.
The coverage does not mention MPE support for either plugin. That is worth stating plainly, because many classic-synth emulations are monophonic or built around channel-wide controls. Still, free plugins give MPE players something valuable: a no-risk way to practice testing.
Why test free plugins for MPE
Marketing language around expression is often vague. A plugin may support aftertouch, pitch bend, or "MPE" in a way that varies a lot between products. The only reliable method is to play it. Here is a simple test plan you can apply to Axxess, M-Tron Select 2, or anything else you download.
Step 1: set up your controller
Put your controller in MPE mode. On devices such as the Expressive E Osmose or the LinnStrument, this usually means selecting an MPE preset. In your DAW, make sure the track accepts MIDI on all channels, or use the DAW's built-in MPE option if it has one. Our DAW comparison shows how the major hosts differ.
Step 2: test per-note pitch bend
Hold a chord and bend one note. If only that note moves, the plugin reads per-channel pitch bend. If every note bends together, it is treating pitch bend as global. Also check the bend range: if your controller sends a 48 semitone range and the plugin expects 2, notes will jump unexpectedly. Our pitch bend range fix guide walks through the settings.
Step 3: test pressure and slide
Press harder on one key. Map pressure or aftertouch to something audible such as filter cutoff or volume, then see whether other held notes react. Repeat with vertical movement, which is commonly sent as CC74 and often called slide or timbre.
Step 4: check voice behavior
A monophonic emulation behaves differently from a polyphonic one. With a mono plugin, expect only one note at a time and last-note priority. That is not a defect, but it limits what a polyphonic controller can do. Look for legato and glide options if you want to play expressively on mono instruments.
What to expect from these two
Axxess models a compact, mostly monophonic or duophonic-style classic, so full per-note MPE would be unusual. M-Tron Select 2 is built around sampled tape-style sounds, where handling of pressure depends on how the sounds are mapped. We have not verified either, so run the test yourself and treat the results as the answer.
If the plugins do not respond per note, you can still enjoy them. Many players use a controller in single-channel mode for these instruments, mapping pressure to a macro and keeping pitch bend global.
Take advantage of the window
A free download with a deadline is a good excuse to build the habit of testing. Grab both plugins before December 1, run the four steps above, and write down what you find. You will be better equipped for the next big release, when the word MPE appears in a headline and you want to know what it actually means. For more on that, read what MPE support in a plugin update really means.