Squid3

Name: Squid3
Price: 225.96 USD
Author: Acustica Audio

by Acustica Audio · Synth · Hybrid analog-style synth

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Squid3 (SQ3) is a hybrid synthesizer built on Acustica's MUST and MAREA technology, aimed at analog-style behavior rather than a specific hardware copy.

It supports MPE, includes studio effects and costs €199 (about $225.96).

Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: warm, hybrid, MPE support, subtractive, analog, original design, polyphonic, vintage, basses, leads, modulation matrix, modern, oversampling, pads, sound design, steep learning curve, surgical, thick.

What it does

SQUID-3 is a polyphonic subtractive synth from Acustica Audio, an original design rather than a copy of one instrument. It runs on Acustica's MUST engine, which combines modelling with convolution, and tries to capture "the behavior of analog gear - better than gear does".

Oscillators: two oscillators plus a sub oscillator with selectable waveforms, feeding a single filter, with envelopes and LFOs for modulation.
Up-Rate Wave Morphing (UPRM): true audio-rate, oversampled morphing between waveforms.
Return and Drive: Return is pre-filter feedback that thickens the sound before the filter; Drive is a polyphonic, analog-style drive after the filter.
Berserkr: a tone control that moves continuously from a vintage roll-off to full modern clarity.
Superstereo: analog-style drift that spreads voices across the stereo field for width and depth.
MPE: per-note pitch, pressure and timbre control, with sample-accurate event and modulation timing.
Effects and views: built-in shimmer, reverbs, chorus, delays, distortion, OTT and EQ, plus a gear-style multi-page GUI and a flat single-page GUI.

It runs at 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz. Forum users say a demo is available from Acustica's site.

Source: Acustica Audio product page

When to use it

SQUID-3 sits close in intent to Diva, the reference for analog-modelled synths with circuit-level models of classic filters and oscillators: analog-style tone and movement. Unlike Diva, or Arturia's CS-80 V, which recreates one specific vintage instrument, it is its own design, built on Acustica's sampling and convolution technology, with feedback, drive, stereo drift and a full effects rack aimed at sounding finished straight away. It covers far fewer synthesis types than Pigments 7 and Serum 2. SQUID-3 is the better pick if you want a warm, coloured subtractive synth with polished presets and MPE, rather than a broad sound-design workstation.

Best for: warm, moving analog-style pads, basses and leads that need little extra processing.
Genres: any; especially electronic, pop and film work that wants analog warmth.
Look elsewhere if: you want wavetable, granular or multi-engine sound design (Serum 2, Pigments 7), a specific vintage synth (CS-80 V), or a free option (Vital).
Tip: forum users suggest reading the manual first, since some routing options are hard to find from the panel alone.

What producers say

Early forum feedback is warm about the sound and presets, with the learning curve the main complaint.

VI-Control thread users called the sound "jaw dropping" and praised the preset range and the "top notch fx"; one said it sounds "both familiar and unique at the same time".
Criticisms: a steep programming curve, and routing parameters that are hard to discover without the manual or video tutorials.

VI-Control forum thread

Where to buy

Acustica Audio: $225.96 (€199 (KVR listing price) converted to USD (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))

Tutorials and reviews

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