Synth / Synapse Audio
DUNE 3
8.6Great
DUNE 3 is Synapse Audio's software synthesizer combining virtual analog, wavetable and FM synthesis with a dual-oscillator-stack architecture.
Plugin comparison
DUNE 3 vs u-he Hive 2
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
8.7Great
Hive 2 is a u-he subtractive/wavetable software synthesizer with two stereo oscillator pairs, dual multimode filters, and onboard effects.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, u-he Hive 2 comes out ahead (8.7). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | DUNE 3 | u-he Hive 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | €149 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.6 | 8.7 |
| Formats | VST2, VST3, Audio Unit (AU), AAX | CLAP, VST3, AUv2 (macOS), AAX (64-bit) |
| Synthesis types | Virtual analog (VA), wavetable, and FM synthesis | — |
| Oscillator architecture | Two oscillator stacks with 32 oscillators each, plus a third oscillator; up to 520 oscillators per note with 8x unison | — |
| Filters | Dual multimode filters with insert effects | 2 multimode filters (lowpass, highpass, bandpass, bandreject, peaking, comb, reverb, dissonant, sideband) |
| Effects | Two master FX busses with 9 high-quality effects each | 7 onboard effects (distortion, chorus, delay, phaser, EQ, reverb, compressor) |
| Modulation | Four graphical envelopes (MSEG), three LFOs, and a dual arpeggiator with MIDI file import | 2 LFOs, 2 pairs of ADSR envelopes, 12x2 modulation matrix slots with modifiers, shape sequencer, function generators |
| Presets | More than 1000 patches; patch-compatible with DUNE 2 | 2400+ NKS-ready factory presets |
| Oscillators | — | 2 pairs of stereo oscillators, 9 waveforms each, plus wavetable option (140 wavetables included), up to 16x unison per oscillator, tunable sub-oscillators |
| Polyphony | — | Up to 16 voices; mono, legato and duophonic modes |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.