Concept 2
by Krotos · Synth · Granular and subtractive synth
Not rated yet
Concept 2 is a Krotos synth that pairs conventional oscillators with a granular engine that can load your own samples.
Drag-and-drop modulation, stackable filters and three effect slots keep it approachable. It costs $149 with a 10-day trial.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic.
Keywords: granular, modulation matrix, subtractive, sound design, pads, textures, analog, cinematic, drones, evolving, FM, hybrid, randomize, virtual analog.
What it does
Concept 2 is Krotos' hybrid synth, pairing virtual analogue oscillators with granular oscillators that load your own samples. Krotos aims it at people who want "beautiful sounds without the complexity" of many other synths, and wraps it in a colour-coded, drag-and-drop interface.
- Oscillators: two standard oscillators with switchable, blendable waveforms, detune and FM, plus two granular oscillators.
- Granular engine: load any sample and set grain start, size, rate and pitch, with randomisation (spray, density, flux and drift), grain shape and a grain-count limiter; about 300 sound files are included.
- Filter: a multimode filter (Sound On Sound counts seven modes, including formant) with resonance, overdrive and a mix control; Krotos describes a filter stack with several modulation sources.
- Modulation: drag a colour-coded source onto any control; sources include LFOs, envelopes, audio-input detection, a mod wheel curve, an X/Y pad that can record your movements, and the Advanced Shape modulator for drawing complex LFO shapes.
- Effects: three slots chosen from about ten effects, including filter, EQ, compression, saturation, delay, ring modulation and a convolution reverb with 160 impulse responses.
- Presets: around 700, with sounds from Roni Size, Richard Devine, Kayla Painter, Dom Ruckspin, Hieroglyphic Being and others.
It has no arpeggiator or sequencer. A 10-day demo is available.
When to use it
Concept 2 is the pick for producers who want granular pads and textures without a steep learning curve. Compared with Arturia's Pigments 7, which also combines granular and analogue-style engines, it is simpler and cheaper but has fewer modulation slots and no arpeggiator or sequencer. Next to Serum 2 or Vital it is less deep for basses and leads and has a much smaller preset and tutorial ecosystem, though its granular oscillators are easier to get into.
- Best for: granular pads, drones, evolving textures and sound-design patches built from your own samples, with quick, visual modulation.
- Genres: ambient, cinematic, experimental and electronic.
- Look elsewhere if: you need a deep modern synth with sequencing (Pigments 7 or Serum 2) or a free wavetable synth (Vital).
- Tip: there is no dedicated filter envelope, so assign an envelope from the modulation slots to the filter cutoff.
What producers say
Reviewers liked the granular engine and the modulation workflow; the gripes are about missing extras and modulation limits.
- MusicTech (Clovis McEvoy, 2021) gave it 9/10, saying the new granular oscillators "sound great" and praising the modulation routing and the Advanced Shape modulator; it missed a sample player.
- Sound On Sound (Robin Vincent, 2022) said it balances accessibility and depth "brilliantly," praising the colour-coded modulation, the clear granular controls, the effects and the presets.
- Criticisms: Sound On Sound noted no dedicated filter envelope, only one modulation source per parameter, few modulation slots, and no way to save granular settings on their own.
Where to buy
- Krotos: $149
Tutorials and reviews
- Krotos Concept2 Synth - Presentation
- CONCEPT2 synth by KROTOS reviewed!
- Krotos Concept 2 Tested - A Synth You Shouldn't Ignore
- What's New in Concept 2?
- Concept 2 Synthesizer by Krotos (No Talking)
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