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
Synth / Arturia
Arturia Analog Lab is a software instrument that combines 2000+ presets from across the V Collection synths and keyboards in one plugin.
Arturia Pigments Play is a free player edition of Pigments with all six synthesis engines, 68 filters, 20 effects, and 100 curated presets.
Score verdict
On the Dubspot Score, Arturia Pigments Play comes out ahead (8.6). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Arturia Analog Lab V | Arturia Pigments Play |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | Free |
| Dubspot Score | 8.4 | 8.6 |
| Formats | VST, VST3, Audio Units (AU), AAX, NKS, Standalone | Standalone, VST, VST3, AU (Audio Units), AAX, NKS |
| Presets | 2000+ curated sounds from the V Collection instruments | 100 curated presets |
| Plugin formats | VST, VST3, AU, AAX, NKS (64-bit DAWs only) | — |
| Price (USD) | US$199 (Analog Lab Pro) | — |
| Windows requirements | Windows 10+ (64-bit), 4GB RAM, 4-core CPU at 3.4GHz, 4GB free disk, OpenGL 2.0 GPU | — |
| Mac requirements | macOS 11+, 4GB RAM, 4-core CPU at 3.4GHz or M1 chip, 4GB free disk, OpenGL 2.0 GPU | — |
| Type | — | Free multi-engine software synthesizer (player edition) |
| Engines | — | Virtual analog, sample, wavetable, granular, modal, harmonic (all six) |
| Filters | — | 68 filter modes |
| Effects | — | 20 effect algorithms |
| Editing | — | 4 macros (brightness, timbre, time, movement) plus 4 effects |
| Operating systems | — | macOS 11+ (Intel or Apple Silicon), Windows 10+ (64-bit), OpenGL 2.0 GPU |
| Formats | — | Standalone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX, NKS |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.