Dillon Bastan Iota II is a visual multi-sampling instrument you play by drawing on a spectrogram. Released September 10, 2026, it revives the sample-as-canvas idea of iZotope Iris 2 and extends it with granular and resynthesis playback, up to twelve independent Paths, and a physics-driven Auto Emit engine that generates evolving textures on its own.
You load up to six samples, sketch how playback moves through them on a zoomable spectrogram, and layer freeform sequences inside each Path. A per-Path effects section adds a multimode filter, delay, overdrive, and sample-rate reduction, while two LFOs, looping envelopes, path sequencers, and MPE handle motion. It runs as VST3, AU, LV2, and standalone across macOS, Windows, and Linux for $60, with a free trial.
Iota II suits ambient, cinematic, and experimental producers who build sounds rather than pick presets. Its closest reference points are Output Portal and Output Arcade for granular texture, and XLN Audio XO for sample-driven design. For the full breakdown, see the Iota II review.