Vaporizer 2

Overview

Vaporizer 2 is a free, open-source desktop instrument that combines wavetable, additive, FM and subtractive synthesis with sampling. It suits producers who want a broad sound-design toolkit and sampler in one instrument, rather than a dedicated sample-library player.

Its range is the draw: four wavetable banks, extensive modulation and granular sampling make it unusually flexible for a free instrument. The trade-off is a substantial feature set to navigate, and compatibility depends on meeting its hardware and format requirements.

Key features

Synthesis and wavetable editing

Four independent alias-free wavetable oscillator banks, each with up to 24-oscillator unison, give sound designers room to build layered, animated tones. The engine also combines additive, FM and subtractive synthesis, so Vaporizer 2 is not limited to wavetable sounds. Its editor lets users draw wavetables with Bezier curves, edit cycles and import Serum- and Icarus-format wavetables. That makes it a stronger fit for creating or adapting sounds than for anyone who only needs to play existing samples.

The included library provides more than 780 wavetables and single cycles, alongside more than 410 factory presets. These offer starting points, while the editor and synthesis options support deeper customization.

Sampling and modulation

The sampler handles WAV, AIFF, OGG, MP3 and FLAC files, with loop points, key tracking, granular mode and sample-to-wavetable resampling. Granular processing and resampling broaden the instrument’s sound-design uses; however, sample mapping is not supported, so it is not a choice for building mapped sample-instrument programs.

Modulation spans 25 sources and 220 destinations, with five MSEG envelopes and five LFOs. This gives users many ways to shape evolving sounds, but the breadth is most useful to people prepared to work with detailed modulation rather than seeking a simple sampler workflow. MPE support includes pitch bend, aftertouch, release velocity and timbre controls for expressive controllers. Maximum polyphony is 32 voices.

Pricing

Vaporizer 2 is free software under GPL-3.0; its plan costs nothing. The plan includes the standalone app and plug-in formats for macOS, Linux and Windows, with no paid tier or free-plan cap stated. VAST Dynamics also promises lifelong free updates. Existing Vaporizer 1 licenses can be used with Vaporizer 2, and the maker says existing licenses remain valid and guarantee support after the software became open source.

That makes it an unusually broad no-cost option for producers who can use its workflow and formats. It is not the right fit if you need sample mapping, or if your computer does not meet the minimum requirements: 1 GB RAM and a CPU supporting AVX or SSE2.

Platforms

Vaporizer 2 supports Windows, macOS and Linux. The README lists VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP and LV2 plug-in formats, plus a standalone version; the product page also lists standalone builds for macOS and Windows. The maker's release notes list LV2 Linux builds in version 3.4.0. Operating-system requirements are Windows 8 or 10, macOS 10.13 or later, or Linux. Check the format and operating-system combination against your setup before choosing it.

Who it's for

Vaporizer 2 is best for producers and sound designers who want synthesis, wavetable editing, sampling and granular processing in a single free instrument. Its MPE support also makes it relevant to users with expressive controllers. It is less suited to people who need sample mapping or a focused library player; its broad synthesis and modulation toolkit may be more than those workflows call for.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Multiple synthesis methods, four wavetable banks and granular sampling give sound designers a wide range of sound-generation options without a purchase price.
• Pro: Wavetable editing, Serum and Icarus imports, and a substantial preset and wavetable collection support both custom work and quick starting points.
• Pro: MPE support and a large modulation system suit expressive, evolving patches.
• Pro: Lifelong free updates and support for existing Vaporizer 1 licenses make the free GPL-3.0 offering more useful to existing users.
• Con: Sample mapping is unsupported, ruling it out for mapped sample-instrument workflows.
• Con: A minimum of 1 GB RAM and an AVX- or SSE2-capable CPU is required, so older or lower-spec systems may not qualify.
• Con: Its extensive synthesis and modulation options are a poor match for users who want a narrowly focused, straightforward sample player.

Alternatives

For more options in this category, browse Sampler Software.

• sfizz is another free option if you want sampler software across Linux, macOS, Windows or web, rather than Vaporizer 2's combined synthesis and sampling workstation.
• Decent Sampler is free and suits users whose libraries use its .dspreset or .dslibrary formats.
• LinuxSampler is a free alternative for users who need its API and self-hosted availability; commercial hardware or software use requires prior written permission.
• TX16Wx Software Sampler offers a free sampler plug-in and a trial; consider it if you want a sampler-focused option rather than Vaporizer 2's synthesis toolkit.
• MASCHINE is a paid macOS and Windows alternative, with plans priced at $39 a month for the update-only version for Maschine 2 users and $109 a month for the version including Maschine Central.
• Quanta 2 is a paid alternative with a 99.00 USD once price for a perpetual license with no subscription or DRM; choose it if those terms suit you better than a free GPL-3.0 instrument.
• Speedrum 2 is a paid Linux, macOS and Windows option, with a 99.00 EUR once price or a 19.00 EUR once upgrade for existing Speedrum v1 owners who request a discount code by email.
• Waves Curves AQ is included in paid Waves Ultimate subscriptions, priced at $24.99 a month or $249 a year.

Verdict

Choose Vaporizer 2 if you want a free, open-source instrument that can move from wavetable editing and multiple synthesis methods to sampling and granular processing. Its breadth, MPE support and ongoing free updates are compelling, but the lack of sample mapping and the system requirements matter. If your priority is a dedicated sample player or mapped sample instruments, choose a more focused alternative.