BioTek 3

Name: BioTek 3
Price: 179 USD
Author: Tracktion

by Tracktion · Synth · Hybrid synth with sample and granular oscillators

Not rated yet

BioTek 3 is Tracktion's flagship hybrid synth, mixing sampler, granular and Spinal Saw oscillators with up to 44 oscillators per voice.

Version 3 adds a simplified Easy page, an XY morphing pad and 800+ presets; it costs $179, or $99 as an upgrade from BioTek 2.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design, Bass. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic, Pop.

Keywords: hybrid, granular, evolving, organic, preset-driven, sample-based, sound design, textures, cinematic, pads, transistor.

What it does

BioTek 3 is Tracktion's deep hybrid synth for organic and evolving sounds, which the developer calls "a true evolution" of its earlier versions. It pairs a large layered engine with a reworked interface and audio engine that put the main controls on one page.

Oscillators: standard waveforms, noise, sampler, granular and Spinal Saw types, up to 44 oscillators per voice.
Unison and layers: up to 16 unison voices per note and what Tracktion calls a nearly unlimited number of layers; by its count one note can play up to 11,264 oscillators.
Filters: several filter types, with new Transistor Ladder and Sallen-Key models in version 3.
Effects: nine effects, with four effect slots per voice.
Easy page: a redesigned single page with the essential controls assigned, so you can shape a patch without opening the full editor.
XY pad: a dynamic pad for morphing and evolving sounds in real time.
Presets: over 800 factory patches, including 300+ new ones from sound designers such as ModeAudio, Spektralisk and Databroth; expansion packs are sold separately.
CPU: Tracktion says it can run 50+ instances.

A 30-day unlimited trial is available. An upgrade from BioTek 2 is available.

Source: Tracktion product page

When to use it

BioTek 3 is the better pick for organic, layered textures. Compared with Arturia Pigments 7, it offers far more oscillators per voice and deeper layering, while Pigments has the more guided modulation workflow. Unlike Omnisphere 3, it is a synth engine with a modest preset library rather than a huge sound library, and it costs much less. Against Kilohearts Phase Plant it is similar in depth, but its Easy page and XY pad make quick tweaks simpler. It is not aimed at the classic wavetable bass and lead sounds that Serum 2 or Vital cover.

Best for: evolving textures, layered pads, organic and hybrid sound design.
Genres: electronic, ambient, cinematic and pop production.
Look elsewhere if: you want a quick preset player with little editing (Tracktion's Collective 2 or Attracktive are simpler), a vast sound library (Omnisphere 3) or a wavetable synth for EDM leads and basses (Serum 2).

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

Similar plugins

Falcon by UVI · Hybrid synth and sampler · $299
VPS Avenger 2 by Vengeance Sound · Hybrid synth workstation · $249
Padshop 2 by Steinberg · Granular and spectral synth · $117.52
Polaris by Spitfire Audio · Hybrid synth instrument · $349
Concept 2 by Krotos · Granular and subtractive synth · $149
Absynth 6 by Native Instruments · Semi-modular hybrid synth · $99
NOVUM by Dawesome · Granular sample-decomposition synth · $179
SynthMaster 3 by KV331 Audio · Modular multi-synthesis synth · $99
Equator2 by ROLI · MPE synth · $249
Surge XT by Surge Synth Team · Open-source hybrid synth · Free

All synths