VANGUARD 2
by reFX · Synth · Wavetable-based synth
Not rated yet
VANGUARD 2 is reFX's update of its VANGUARD synth, adding ten new wavetables, two new filter types and new delay, reverb and distortion effects.
It ships with 2,568 presets and all 19 expansions. It is on sale for $79 (regular $99).
Best for: Keys & Synths, Bass, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Pop.
Keywords: wavetable, classic, preset-driven, resizable UI, arpeggiator, FM, plucks, simple, leads, pads, sound design, tempo-synced.
What it does
VANGUARD 2 is reFX's remake of its classic VANGUARD trance synth, which the developer calls "remade, enhanced, and improved" rather than just remastered. It is a three-oscillator synth that mixes classic waveforms with wavetables, sold as one Complete edition.
- Oscillators: three oscillators with volume, semitone, detune and pulse-width controls, plus FM and cross-modulation carried over from the original. You can import your own wavetables.
- New wavetables: ten, including async PWM, FM simple 1–3, mirror, nasty 1–2, sinebend 1–2 and yay.
- Filters and LFOs: two new filter types driven by cutoff and resonance, and LFOs that can now sync to tempo.
- Trance gate and arpeggiator: the trance gate and multi-mode arpeggiator from version 1 return.
- Effects: a new delay algorithm, a new reverb based on reFX's RutaVerb, and a new distortion.
- Sounds: 136 new factory presets, 2,568 presets in all across 23 categories, all 19 expansions (four of them exclusive to VANGUARD 2) and 63 drum samples.
- Librarian and GUI: a three-column browser with search-as-you-type, colour-coded tags, bookmarks and favourites, in a resizable vector interface that replaces the old silver-and-green look.
When to use it
VANGUARD 2 is the pick when you want classic trance and EDM sounds from a big preset library rather than a deep sound-design tool. It covers the same supersaw, pluck and gated-pad ground as Sylenth1 and Spire, and it has a built-in trance gate that Sylenth1 lacks. Compared with Serum 2 or Vital, its engine is much simpler, with fewer wavetables and modulation options, so it suits fast preset browsing more than programming from scratch. With all 19 expansions included, it also costs less than Sylenth1 or Spire.
- Best for: trance and EDM leads, plucks, supersaws and gated pads straight from presets.
- Genres: trance, EDM, hard dance and pop.
- Look elsewhere if: you want deep modulation and wavetable editing; Serum 2 or the free Vital are far more flexible.
What producers say
Coverage treats VANGUARD 2 as a welcome but modest update of a classic rather than a new-generation synth.
- Synth Anatomy called it "not a revolution but a larger update," and liked the clearer, resizable black, grey and green interface.
- Criticisms: the same article found the engine looks "old-fashioned even in 2022" next to Serum and Vital.
Where to buy
- reFX: $79 (regular $99)
Tutorials and reviews
- Vanguard 2 Is Back! First Look at reFX’s Rebuilt Synth Legend (macOS / Windows)
- reFX releases Vanguard 2
- Just bought REFX Vanguard 2 - Testing it out for the first time.
- What it Sounds Like - REFX Vanguard 2
- REFX Vanguard 2 - Vengance Reloaded 3 preset review (no talk)
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