7.8Good
Output Arcade is a subscription-based playable sampler and instruments plugin with a continuously updated, royalty-free sound library.
Plugin comparison
Arcade vs Dillon Bastan Iota II
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which sampler to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.5Great
Iota II is a visual multi-sampling spectral and granular synthesizer you play by drawing on a spectrogram, with 12 Paths, resynthesis, and physics-driven Auto Emit.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Dillon Bastan Iota II comes out ahead (8.5). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Arcade | Dillon Bastan Iota II |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 | $60 |
| Dubspot Score | 7.8 | 8.5 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX, VST (macOS) | VST3, AU, LV2, Standalone |
| Pricing model | Subscription, from $12.99/mo USD; royalty-free, cancel anytime | — |
| Library size | 60+ product lines, 4,400+ samplers, 1,300+ chromatic instruments, 64,000+ samples (per Output) | — |
| Plugin formats | 64-bit AAX, AU, VST3 (plus VST on macOS) | — |
| Operating systems | macOS 12+; Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | — |
| RAM | 8GB required, 16GB recommended | — |
| Processor | Intel i5/AMD equivalent (i7 recommended); Apple Silicon M-series supported | — |
| Type | — | Visual multi-sampling spectral and granular synthesizer |
| Samples | — | Up to 6, factory library or user files, per-sample gain and tuning |
| Interface | — | Zoomable spectrogram you draw playback paths onto |
| Paths | — | Up to 12, each normal, spectral, or resynthesis playback |
| Layers | — | Unlimited per Path, freeform sequences with length, repeat, ordering |
| Playback | — | Granular, classic, and scrub; image-to-sequence conversion |
| Effects | — | Multimode filter (spectral FFT, biquad, ladder), delay, overdrive, sample-rate reduction, ring modulation |
| Modulation | — | 2 LFOs (Perlin option), 2 looping envelopes, 2 path sequencers, 2 random sprays, 2 macros, amp ADSR, MPE |
| Triggering | — | MIDI keyboard repitch and physics-based Auto Emit with gravity attractors |
| Formats | — | VST3, AU, LV2, standalone |
| Operating system | — | macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux |
| Price | — | $60, free trial available |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.