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 Pure SUB is a dedicated bass design synthesizer with independent sub, harmonics, and texture layers plus a deep built-in processor.
Serum 2 is Xfer Records' wavetable synthesizer plugin with five oscillator engines, flexible effect routing, an arpeggiator, and a clip sequencer.
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 | Arturia Pure SUB | Serum 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79 | $249 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.4 | 9.2 |
| Formats | VST, VST3, AU, AAX, standalone, NKS | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Type | Bass design synthesizer | — |
| Layers | Sub, Harmonics (Pressure / Reese), Texture (Texture / Corroder) | — |
| Filters | 40+ modes with independent routing per layer | — |
| Sub Processor | 33 distortion/reshaping modes with 6 shaping macros | — |
| Effects | 12-slot FX rack, 18 types, plus Maximiser (Soft/Hard) | — |
| Modulation | 3 envelopes incl. dedicated Pitch Envelope, 6 modulator slots, 4 macros, MPE + Slide | — |
| Presets | 300 | — |
| Formats | VST, VST3, AU, AAX, standalone, NKS (64-bit) | — |
| Platforms | Windows 10+ (no ARM); macOS 11+ (Intel or Apple Silicon) | Windows 10+ and macOS High Sierra+ (Intel) / Big Sur+ (Apple Silicon) |
| Oscillator engines | — | 5 (Wavetable, Multisample, Sample, Granular, Spectral) |
| Factory presets | — | Over 626 presets |
| Wavetables | — | 288 wavetables |
| Plugin formats | — | VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit) |
| Additional tools | — | Arpeggiator, clip sequencer, flexible effect routing |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.