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
Serum 2 is Xfer Records' wavetable synthesizer plugin with five oscillator engines, flexible effect routing, an arpeggiator, and a clip sequencer.
Unglued Harmonic Bass Machine: monophonic bass synth with locked sub, harmonic oscillator and note-tracking distortion. $45 at Plugin Boutique until 30 Nov 2026.
Score verdict
On the Dubspot Score, Serum 2 comes out ahead (9.2). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Serum 2 | Harmonic Bass Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $45 (intro, until 30 Nov 2026) |
| Dubspot Score | 9.2 | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Oscillator engines | 5 (Wavetable, Multisample, Sample, Granular, Spectral) | — |
| Factory presets | Over 626 presets | — |
| Wavetables | 288 wavetables | — |
| Plugin formats | VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit) | — |
| Platforms | Windows 10+ and macOS High Sierra+ (Intel) / Big Sur+ (Apple Silicon) | — |
| Additional tools | Arpeggiator, clip sequencer, flexible effect routing | — |
| Type | — | Monophonic bass instrument |
| Oscillators | — | Two phase-locked sines; Extra Sub |
| Distortion | — | 12 shapes; note-tracking crossover; final clip |
| Noise | — | Six characters with envelope follower |
| Formats | — | VST3, AU; macOS 12+, Windows 10+, Linux x64 VST3 |
| Price | — | $45 until 30 Nov 2026 at Plugin Boutique ($69 list); £59 at Unglued |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.