Quanta 2 vs Redux

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.

Redux is a sample-based instrument that combines a phrase sequencer with MIDI implementation. Its tracker notation lets users enter notes and control sample playback precisely, while the sequencer creates phrases using notes and program-change events. Redux can send MIDI note events to its host so the tracker interface can trigger instruments in a DAW. Effects and a quasi-modular system let devices modulate one another. The waveform editor can adjust volume, remove leading or trailing silence, apply effects, and slice samples; those edits are saved with the preset. A built-in recorder and draw tool support sample creation, and drag-and-drop import accepts common audio formats, including SFZ multisamples. Users can save and recall presets by section, add content libraries by dragging and dropping, and connect eight global macro controls to multiple parameters and functions. Redux is a plugin, not a standalone app, and runs in a DAW that supports VST3 or Audio Unit. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The demo is otherwise fully functional but generates a subtle hiss. A Redux license costs $5,600 as a one-time purchase and covers versions 1.4.4 to 2.4.4.