samplerNative Instruments
Battery 4
A kit-based drum sampler built for detailed, playable kits: up to 128 layered cells, round robins, layering and per-cell effects, plus a large library of curated, ready-to-go kits across every genre.
Best Techno VST Plugins
Hypnotic, driving and raw. The synths, drum tools and effects built for techno's relentless grooves and industrial textures.
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sampler
effectD16 Group
Decimort 2
A bitcrusher and sample-rate reducer that emulates the colouration and aliasing of classic vintage hardware samplers, adding warmth, grit and lo-fi character to any sound.
synthSynapse Audio
DUNE 3
A powerful synth combining virtual analog, wavetable and FM with a huge unison engine. A trance and EDM workhorse known for fat supersaws, evolving pads and a clean, modern sound.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Pro-C 3
The studio-standard compressor with program-dependent styles and refined metering, from transparent bus glue to hard, punchy limiting.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Pro-L 2
The mastering limiter of choice for commercial releases. True peak limiting, eight limiting algorithms, and loudness metering to LUFS standards.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Pro-Q 4
The reference EQ, now with spectral dynamics, an instance list, EQ Sketch and vintage saturation. Linear phase, dynamic bands and a gorgeous spectrum display.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Saturn 2
A multiband saturation and distortion powerhouse: up to six bands, 28 styles from subtle tube to bit-crush, plus a deep modulation system. The flexible counterpart to a one-knob saturator.
synthSonic Academy
Kick 2
A dedicated kick drum synthesizer with pitch envelope, click layer, noise layer, and built-in distortion. Sculpts the perfect 4-on-the-floor kick in minutes.
effectKilohearts
Kilohearts Essentials
Kilohearts' free bundle: the Snap Heap modular effects host plus 30+ snap-in effects, filters, delays, choruses and more, patchable in any order with flexible modulation. A free construction kit for movement and multi-effect chains.
synthNative Instruments
Massive X
NI's next-generation wavetable synth. Phase modulation, a dual-filter path, and a modulation system built for complex, evolving textures and hard-hitting bass.
effectSonnox
Oxford Dynamic EQ
A 5-band dynamic equaliser with Type-3 EQ curves and threshold or transient-based processing, surgical control on sources, groups or the master bus.
synthKilohearts
Phase Plant
A modular hybrid synthesizer, stack oscillators, samplers, and wavetables in any configuration. The most flexible synth architecture available at this price.
synthArturia
Pigments 7
A flagship hybrid synth with six engines, wavetable, virtual analog, granular, sampling and more, and a colour-coded, drag-and-drop modulation workflow. The most-cited modern Serum alternative.
effectOutput
Portal
A granular FX plugin that chops, scrambles, and time-stretches any audio signal in real time. Extreme texture effects from subtle shimmer to full granular chaos.
synthXfer Records
Serum 2
The industry-standard wavetable synthesizer. Drag-and-drop wavetable editing, a world-class effects rack, and a modulation system that makes complex patches intuitive.
effectCableguys
ShaperBox 3
Eleven drawable multiband effects, Volume, Time, Drive, Filter, Crush, Pan, Width, Liquid, Reverb, Pitch and Noise, in one visual plugin. The go-to for rhythmic sidechain, stutters and movement.
synthSurge Synth Team
Surge XT
A free, open-source hybrid synthesizer, subtractive, wavetable, FM and additive across dual scenes, with 2800+ patches and 27 effect types. Astonishingly deep for nothing.
effectTokyo Dawn Records
TDR Nova
A free parallel dynamic equalizer, four fully dynamic bands that work as EQ and multiband compressor in one. The budget answer to surgical, transparent tonal control beside Soothe and Gullfoss.
effectOutput
Thermal
A multi-stage distortion effect with eight distortion engines in series. Goes from subtle harmonic saturation to total destruction, all with a single wet/dry knob.
samplerSpectrasonics
Trilian
Spectrasonics' total bass module, acoustic, electric and synth basses in a deeply playable 34GB instrument. A reference for realistic and powerful bass across genres.
effectValhalla DSP
Valhalla Delay
Sixteen delay modes, tape echo emulation, diffusion, and a feedback path that turns a simple repeat into a soundscape. Essential for ambient and electronic production.
synthVital Audio
Vital
A spectral-warping wavetable synthesizer with a fluid, modern modulation workflow, drag any control onto any parameter to modulate it. The free tier is the full engine; paid tiers only add wavetables and presets. The go-to free Serum alternative.
synthVengeance Sound
VPS Avenger 2
A flagship polyphonic synth with wavetable, FM, granular and spectral engines, deep modulation, a huge effects rack and built-in drum sequencing.
samplerXLN Audio
XO
A drum-sample organiser that maps your entire library onto a visual galaxy so similar sounds cluster together, plus a built-in sequencer for building beats. The modern way to wrangle thousands of one-shots.
24 curated Techno plugins.
Popular comparisons
Serum 2 vs VitalSerum 2 vs DivaSerum 2 vs Sylenth1Decapitator vs FabFilter Saturn 2Serum 2 vs DUNE 3Vital vs DexedFabFilter Pro-Q 4 vs Oxford EQSerum 2 vs Pigments 7Serum 2 vs Massive XXO vs Battery 4Serum 2 vs Phase PlantOmnisphere vs Serum 2EchoBoy vs Valhalla DelayOmnisphere vs Pigments 7Surge XT vs VitalPhase Plant vs Pigments 7Diva vs Pigments 7Massive X vs Pigments 7Phase Plant vs Vital