8.0Great
Native Instruments Massive is the classic wavetable synth behind a generation of electronic bass and lead sounds, still sold as a Komplete staple.
Plugin comparison
Massive vs Arturia Pigments
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
9.1Essential
Arturia Pigments is a software synthesizer combining six synthesis engines, drag-and-drop modulation, filters, effects, and sequencing.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Arturia Pigments comes out ahead (9.1). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Massive | Arturia Pigments |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $199 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.0 | 9.1 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | Standalone, VST, VST3, AAX, Audio Unit (AU), NKS |
| Type | Wavetable synthesizer | — |
| Developer | Native Instruments | — |
| Typical price | $99 | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | — |
| Relation | Predecessor to Massive X | — |
| Catalog status | Current as of 2026 | — |
| Synthesis engines | — | Six engines: Modal, Granular, Wavetable, Sample, Harmonic, and Virtual Analog (plus a Utility engine) |
| Filters | — | 19 filter types and 68 filter modes |
| Effects | — | 20 effects, with 3 FX slots per bus across two insert buses and one send/return bus |
| Presets | — | Over 1,700 presets |
| Current version | — | Pigments 7 |
| Platforms | — | Windows 10+ (64-bit) and macOS 11+ (incl. Apple M1); 4 GB RAM, 3 GB disk space |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.