8.7Great
FabFilter Pro-DS is a de-esser plug-in with two detection modes and wide-band or split-band processing for taming sibilance in vocals and audio.
Plugin comparison
FabFilter Pro-DS vs iZotope VocalSynth 2
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
7.6Good
VocalSynth 2 is a creative vocal synthesizer plugin combining five modules to produce electronic vocal textures, robot voices, and computerized harmonies.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, FabFilter Pro-DS 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 | FabFilter Pro-DS | iZotope VocalSynth 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $199.00 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.7 | 7.6 |
| Formats | VST, VST3, AU (Audio Units), AAX Native, AudioSuite, CLAP | AAX, AU, VST2, VST3 |
| Detection modes | Two modes: Single Vocal and Allround | — |
| Processing | Wide Band or linear-phase Split Band | — |
| Look-ahead | Optional, up to 15 ms | — |
| Oversampling | Up to 4x linear-phase oversampling | — |
| Stereo handling | Adjustable stereo linking with mid-only or side-only processing | — |
| Internal processing | 64-bit, with sample-accurate automation of all parameters | — |
| Processing modules | — | Five modules: Biovox, Vocoder, Compuvox, Talkbox, and Polyvox |
| Multi-effects chain | — | Seven stompbox-style effects |
| Processing modes | — | Auto, MIDI, and Sidechain |
| Architecture | — | 64-bit only |
| Mac support | — | macOS Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe; Intel and Apple silicon M-series |
| Windows support | — | Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (24H2) |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.