Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
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Contenders
Arturia Pigments Play is a free player edition of Pigments with all six synthesis engines, 68 filters, 20 effects, and 100 curated presets.
GForce Axxess is a software recreation of the 1975 ARP Axxe, a single-oscillator mono synth with a sub oscillator, extra voice modes, a sequencer, and onboard effects. Currently free.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Arturia Pigments Play | GForce Axxess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Dubspot Score | 8.6 | — |
| Formats | Standalone, VST, VST3, AU (Audio Units), AAX, NKS | Standalone, AU, AAX, VST2, VST3 |
| Type | Free multi-engine software synthesizer (player edition) | ARP Axxe synthesizer |
| Engines | Virtual analog, sample, wavetable, granular, modal, harmonic (all six) | — |
| Filters | 68 filter modes | — |
| Effects | 20 effect algorithms | Distortion, Stereo Delay, Matrix Reverb |
| Editing | 4 macros (brightness, timbre, time, movement) plus 4 effects | — |
| Presets | 100 curated presets | — |
| Operating systems | macOS 11+ (Intel or Apple Silicon), Windows 10+ (64-bit), OpenGL 2.0 GPU | — |
| Formats | Standalone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX, NKS | — |
| Developer | — | GForce Software |
| Oscillator | — | Single oscillator plus sub |
| Voice modes | — | Unison, Mono, Mono Legato, Poly |
| Patches | — | 350+ |
| Systems | — | macOS 10.15+, Windows 7+ |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.