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
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Dubspot may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our scores or what we recommend (read our policy).
Contenders
Reaktor 6 is Native Instruments' modular sound studio for building and playing custom synths, samplers, effects, and sequencers.
Syntronik 2 is IK Multimedia's virtual synthesizer collection using a hybrid sample-and-modeling engine, offered in CS, SE, full, and MAX editions.
Score verdict
On the Dubspot Score, Reaktor 6 comes out ahead (8.4). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Reaktor 6 | Syntronik 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $199.99 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.4 | 8.1 |
| Formats | Stand-alone, VST, AU (macOS only), AAX | VST 2, VST 3, Audio Units (AU), AAX, Standalone, 64-bit |
| Architecture | Two structural levels: Primary (graphical signal-flow, event/MIDI/OSC processing) and Core (runtime machine-code audio compiler for custom DSP) | — |
| Modular Blocks | Includes Blocks Base and Blocks Primes for patching modular synths, effect chains, and sequencers; expandable ecosystem | — |
| Operating system | macOS 13, 14, or 15 (latest update) or Windows 10/11 (64-bit, latest Service Pack) | — |
| CPU & RAM | Intel Core i5 or equivalent; Apple Silicon native or via Rosetta 2; 4 GB RAM (6 GB recommended) | — |
| Plugin formats (macOS) | Stand-alone, VST, AU, AAX (64-bit) | — |
| Plugin formats (Windows) | Stand-alone, VST, AAX (64-bit) | — |
| Synths | — | Up to 33 synth models (54 instruments sampled); MAX edition includes all 33 |
| Presets | — | Over 5,500 (MAX); over 4,000 (full); 1,000 (SE); 100 (CS) |
| Sound content | — | Over 210 GB (MAX); 80 GB (full); 13 GB (SE); 2.4 GB (CS) |
| Synthesis engine | — | Hybrid sample and modeling synthesis |
| Effects | — | 71 FX (MAX edition) |
| Other features | — | Arpeggiator/sequencer, multi-panel layering, FX rack, up to 400 automation lanes in DAW |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.