Effect / Soundtoys
Soundtoys Crystallizer
8.2Great
A granular echo plugin that combines pitch shifting and reversed echo processing, based on the Eventide H3000's reverse shift algorithm.
Plugin comparison
Soundtoys Crystallizer vs Sugar Bytes Graindad
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.4Great
Sugar Bytes Graindad is a real-time granular effect that records incoming audio and rebuilds it from up to 64 grains, driven by transients, clock or MIDI.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Sugar Bytes Graindad comes out ahead (8.4). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Soundtoys Crystallizer | Sugar Bytes Graindad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | €99 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Formats | AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite, VST 2, VST 3, Audio Units (AU) | AU, VST2, VST3, AAX, Standalone, AUv3 (iPadOS) |
| Presets | Over 200 included | — |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz minimum, 192 kHz maximum | — |
| Architecture | 64-bit only; Apple Silicon compatible | — |
| Key features | MIDI sync and automation, built-in gate and duck, low- and high-cut filters | — |
| Current version | 5.5 | — |
| System requirements | macOS 10.15 or later; Windows 10 or later (not ARM-based Windows); internet connection required for activation | — |
| Type | — | Real-time granular effect |
| Grain engine | — | Up to 64 simultaneous grains, 12 main controllers |
| Grain actions | — | Loop, stutter, time-stretch, pitch-shift, reverse, harmonize |
| Triggering | — | Host clock, MIDI note, or transient detection |
| Modulation | — | Harvester system, step sequencers, LFO, envelope, wide randomization |
| Effects | — | Filters (LP/BP/HP/band-reject), reverbs (HQ, spring, shimmer), delay, chorus, flanger |
| macOS formats (64-bit) | — | AU, VST2, VST3, AAX, standalone (Intel and Apple Silicon) |
| Windows formats (64-bit) | — | VST2, VST3, AAX, standalone |
| iPadOS | — | AUv3 |
| Operating system | — | macOS 10.13 or later; Windows 7 or later |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.