Decent Sampler vs Quanta 2
Decent Sampler
decentsamples.comQuanta 2
audiodamage.comSide by side
| Figure | Decent Sampler | Quanta 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Sampler Software | 8.8 (#2) | 8.2 (#5) |
| Effects | Documented effects include filters, EQ, gain, reverb, delay, chorus, phaser, convolution, pitch shifting, wave folding, wave shaping, stereo simulation, bit crushing, compression and stutter. | Built-in effects include chorus, stereo dual delay, and reverb. |
| Headquarters | Decent Samples says it is based in Philadelphia. | Bellows Falls, Vermont, United States |
| What it does | Decent Sampler is a free sample player for instruments stored in the DecentSampler .dspreset and .dslibrary formats. | Quanta 2 is a granular synthesizer plugin that loads audio samples and generates up to 100 simultaneous grains per voice. |
Plans
In their own words
Decent Sampler
Decent Sampler is a free sample player for libraries in DecentSampler format. It opens.dspreset and.dslibrary files and is available as a standalone app or a plugin. Supported systems include Windows 10 and later, Mac computers with Intel or Apple Silicon, Linux x64 and ARM64, and iOS; plugin formats differ by platform. Its supported sample formats include WAV, AIFF, and FLAC, and it offers sample mapping and round-robin playback. The product page lists version 1.34.0, with updates including shelf EQ, darker delay repeats, and the ability to turn modulators on or off. Usage guides cover Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic, and GarageBand. Downloading requires an email address. The maker also provides library-creation documentation and directs creators to its Q&A page and Pianobook Discord help channel. Bug reports can be submitted through a contact form or bug tracker, which requires a separate account. The listed price is free.
Quanta 2
Quanta 2 is a granular synthesizer plugin for shaping imported audio samples into playable sounds. Its grain engine can produce up to 100 simultaneous grains per voice and works with AIFF, WAV, Broadcast WAV, FLAC, MP3, and Ogg files in any sample rate, bit depth, or channel configuration. Two virtual analog oscillators and a noise source add other sound sources, with dual filters that can run in series or parallel. Modulation includes four envelope generators of up to 99 steps each, two LFOs, sample and hold, and four assignable macros. Chorus, stereo dual delay, and reverb are built in. Quanta 2 supports MPE controllers, MTS-ESP microtuning, and TUN-format tuning tables. Desktop plugin formats are VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP; the iPhone and iPad version is AUv3 and is sold separately. A fully functional demo has a 20-minute session timer and disables saving. The listed desktop license is $99 as a one-time purchase, with no subscription or DRM. A 2026 update added real-time recording and additional filter modes.