Go2

There are many ways to choose soft synths; of course, the main criteria should be your own needs as a music producer. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a plugin that’s loaded with features, you should usually start saving a bit, because the complex synths cost a lot, and the sound quality they offer is unmatched.

There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule, and Rob Papen’s Go2 is a pretty obvious one.

At the moment, Go2’s price could fool many about its capabilities, but once you load it into your DAW, it becomes clear that this a (very inexpensive) gem. Even without loading any presets, you are sure to enjoy a sound that can best be described as “balanced”. The music is generated by the synth’s central piece, the morphing oscillator that supports many types of waveforms. Even though it’s just one oscillator, you can mix two different waveforms and edit them in a manner that is not too different from wavetable synthesis.

All of Go2’s parameters can be found in the main interface, from the two filters to the amp with distortion capabilities, from the LFO to a few effects. But probably the most interesting unit is the synth’s sequencer/arpeggiator; a common feature in Rob Papen’s plugins, this is a powerful and versatile tool that you can use to add rhythm do you leads, basslines, and anything you wish to compose.

While the morphing oscillator may be a bit difficult for beginners to comprehend from the very first session, the rest of the interface is clear and, in a way, stripped down to the basics. Even so, Go2 offers way more versatility than one would expect from a plugin in this price range. If you’re a beginner and on a budget, this could definitely be your go-to soft synth, as its name blatantly suggests.