Icarus 3

Name: Icarus 3
Price: 169 USD
Author: Tone2

by Tone2 · Synth · Wavetable synth workstation

Not rated yet

Icarus 3 is Tone2's wavetable synth workstation, with over 30 synthesis methods, 3D wavetables and a built-in wavetable editor with resynthesis.

It includes an arpeggiator, a drum sequencer and more than 2,000 patches, for $169 (listed down from $199).

Best for: Keys & Synths, Bass, Drums, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Hip-Hop & Trap, Pop.

Keywords: wavetable, additive, sequencer, arpeggiator, sound design, FM, polyphonic, granular, basses, classic, CPU-light, evolving, leads, modular, MPE support, pads, preset-driven, sample-based, spectral, steep learning curve, subtractive, physical modelling.

What it does

Icarus 3 is Tone2's flagship synth workstation. Wavetables sit at its center, but the developer lists over 30 synthesis methods in one instrument, from FM and additive to granular, formant, vocoder and physical modeling.

Oscillators: three true-stereo oscillator blocks, each with up to 16 detuned hypersaw or additive voices and 42 unison modes (hypersaw, supersaw, megasaw, stacking, chords and flanging); 64-voice polyphony.
Synthesis methods: 3D and classic wavetables, analog-style subtractive, FM with up to six operators, phase distortion, PWM with any waveform, sync, ring and amplitude modulation, sample playback, granular and resynthesis.
Wavetable editor: over 100 tools, including a spectral/additive editor, waveform drawing, de-noising and one-click resynthesis of any audio file into a wavetable.
Filters and distortion: 78 filter types (low-pass, vocal, phaser, comb, formant, fractal and resonator types, among others) in two modular stereo filter blocks, plus two stereo distortion sections with 16 modes each.
Modulation: three LFOs with 45 morphable waveforms, a step LFO, two MSEGs that work as LFO or envelope, four AHDSR envelopes and more, all routed through a matrix that supports audio-rate modulation.
Effects: 54 effects, including 11 reverb and 9 delay types, saturation, a 1024-band vocoder and a grid-based glitch sequencer with 10 effect modules.
Sequencing and play: an arpeggiator with auto-chords and swing, an X0X-style drum sequencer with 100 patterns, MPE support and 21 microtuning modes.
Interface: 26 sizes and 37 colour schemes, with sections such as the keyboard that can be hidden.

This is version 3.2. It ships with over 2,000 factory sounds, and Icarus 1 and 2 owners can upgrade at a reduced price. A free demo is available.

Source: Tone2 product page

When to use it

Icarus 3 is the pick for producers who want as many synthesis methods as possible in one plugin at a mid-range price. Compared with Serum 2 it adds a drum sequencer, a glitch sequencer, a vocoder and more filter types, and its resynthesis turns samples into wavetables in one click; Serum 2, though, has far more third-party presets and tutorials. It costs less than Phase Plant or Pigments 7, but its fixed layout is less modular than Phase Plant's. Against the free Vital it offers much more scope, at the cost of a busier interface.

Best for: EDM basses and leads, supersaw stacks, evolving pads, and resynthesis-based sound design.
Genres: EDM, trance, dubstep, trap, pop and electronic.
Look elsewhere if: you want the most widely supported wavetable synth for preset packs and tutorials (Serum 2), or a fully modular layout (Phase Plant).
Tip: use the adjustable interface sizes and hide sections you don't need to cut down the visual clutter (MusicRadar).

What producers say

Reviewers rate it alongside the big-name softsynths, with its sheer scope both its strength and its main drawback.

MusicRadar (Andy Jones, 2024) called it "an almost overwhelming synth in terms of its scope", praising its versatility, supersaw modes and efficient CPU use, but warned the feature set may put some users off.
KVR users rate it 4.17 out of 5 from 6 reviews, praising the sound, the easy wavetable editing, resynthesis and low CPU use.
Criticisms: KVR users found some presets "drowned in effects", the preset organisation weak, the step LFO editor cramped and parts of the GUI dated.

Where to buy

Best Service: $169
Tone2: $169 (regular $199)
PluginFox: $169
AudioDeluxe: $169

Tutorials and reviews

Similar plugins

Serum 2 by Xfer Records · Wavetable / hybrid · $249
Vital by Vital Audio · Wavetable (spectral warping) · Free
Pigments 7 by Arturia · Multi-engine · $199
SynthMaster 3 by KV331 Audio · Modular multi-synthesis synth · $99
Electra3 by Tone2 · Multi-layer synth workstation · $169
Surge XT by Surge Synth Team · Open-source hybrid synth · Free
VPS Avenger 2 by Vengeance Sound · Hybrid synth workstation · $249
Zebra 3 by u-he · Modular hybrid synth · $245
Babylon 2 by W.A. Production · Wavetable synth · $99
Codex Wavetable Synth by Waves · Wavetable synth · $32.91

All synths