1. Reaktor – Build your own synths/fx/plugins from the ground up the easy(ish) way. Short of being an electronics expert or setting up a small company this software has given the realms of true synth design to the masses. There's no surprise it has a massive cult following.
2. Arturia Moog Modular V – The first serious powerful analogue softsynth that's wasn’t only a landmark in digital analogue emulation but offered more features than the original hardware with the digital conveniences of patch memory of MIDI polyphony ect and out of all the other analogue emulations I think the MMV’s layout lends itself perfectly for a softsynth GUI (as long as you have a 19" screen). Purists will argue about small inaccuracies compared to the hardware but its pretty close and for the cost difference who cares? (Klaus Schulze doesn’t)
3. Virsyn Cube – Amazing Spectral morphing resynthesizer which is probably the most innovative new synth design of the last 10 years making the likes of the K2000, K5000 and Wavestation look like childs toys in comparison. Making this into hardware synth would be hugely expensive and pointless as a software interface is the only way to practically implement the features of such a complex synth design. This synth goes where no other synth has gone before.
4. FM7 – (My own personal choice) I suppose you could make one with Reaktor but I really like the complex looping envelopes that are easy to use (with a template bank), user definable algorithms, 32bit sound, 31 waveforms (including formant), twin filter with variable cutoff slopes, great MIDI implementation and well thought out GUI make this the near perfect FM synth.
5. Reason – Ok more of a complete softstudio but a great intuitive hardware style interface which is fun to use and great for beginners and experienced users alike. A basic setup like what you get in Reason would have cost you a few grand 15yrs ago. I wish they would have released this when I bought my first MC303 for £500!!!!.
