synthInitial Audio
808 Studio 2
A dedicated 808 bass synthesizer with pitch-glide, distortion, and a built-in EQ. Produces the melodic sliding 808s at the heart of trap and drill production.
Best Trap VST Plugins
Booming 808s, crisp hats and dark melodies. The synths and effects that power modern trap and its many offshoots.
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synth
effectAntares
Auto-Tune Pro
The original and industry-standard vocal pitch correction. Auto Mode for real-time tuning and the signature hard-tune effect, Graph Mode for detailed note editing, plus Flex-Tune and Humanize for natural results.
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.
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.
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.
effectAuburn Sounds
Graillon 3
A free live voice changer and pitch corrector with the instant hard-tune sound built in. The standard free entry into Auto-Tune-style vocals, with pitch-tracking modulation for creative voice design; a paid full edition unlocks the extras.
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.
effectXfer Records
OTT
The free multiband upward/downward compressor that defined the Skrillex-era EDM sound. A single knob for depth, from subtle glue to aggressive smash.
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.
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.
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.
14 curated Trap plugins.
Popular comparisons
Serum 2 vs VitalSerum 2 vs DivaSerum 2 vs Sylenth1Auto-Tune Pro vs Melodyne 5 StudioSerum 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 2Surge XT vs VitalMassive X vs Pigments 7Phase Plant vs Vital