It seems Korg Supporter has replied to this thread in a more useful way than you have.Lbdunequest wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 5:43 amDid you deliberately searched for this 11 year old necro topic to revive?Korg Supporter wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2026 2:57 am Spire has many filter saturation options that Hive lacks. Spire also uses less CPU than Hive 2 for the most part. Hive has more of a cold and neutral sound that brings it to Novation Peak territory, while Spire sounds brighter, more plastic, and is often in your face. Spire wins for presets and sound design, but Hive is more of a bread and butter synth.
If you could only pick one, Spire or Hive?
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- KVRAF
- 3279 posts since 21 May, 2010
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Korg Supporter Korg Supporter https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=386399
- KVRAF
- 1916 posts since 4 Oct, 2016
Yes. I thought it would be good to compare them since Hive 2 has wavetables, new filter types, and other cool stuff.Lbdunequest wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 5:43 amDid you deliberately searched for this 11 year old necro topic to revive?Korg Supporter wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2026 2:57 am Spire has many filter saturation options that Hive lacks. Spire also uses less CPU than Hive 2 for the most part. Hive has more of a cold and neutral sound that brings it to Novation Peak territory, while Spire sounds brighter, more plastic, and is often in your face. Spire wins for presets and sound design, but Hive is more of a bread and butter synth.
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- KVRian
- 1387 posts since 24 Sep, 2021
Since then Spire was also re-released with improved and much more efficient DPS engine.
For me Hive 2 wins.
For me Hive 2 wins.
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- KVRAF
- 37476 posts since 14 Sep, 2002 from In teh net
I rarely use Spire, I find it too unstable but tbh haven't updated it for a couple of years, Hive is lovely and capable of a wide range of great sounds, plus has some great preset packs (better than Spire for me, the Spire ones seem more generic and mostly boring, much less diverse)
Hey just updated, nice to have a CLAP version at least
Hey just updated, nice to have a CLAP version at least
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Korg Supporter Korg Supporter https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=386399
- KVRAF
- 1916 posts since 4 Oct, 2016
Hive has a bad UI? Have you tried Plugmon's skin?Vortifex wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 9:02 am Neither. Spire has bad workflow and Hive has bad UI. Sold my copy of each for precisely those reasons.
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- KVRAF
- 4258 posts since 1 Sep, 2016
For me the UI is a bit overwhelming. It has poor at-a-glance recognition of what is happening and the left/right mirroring is inconsistent, adding to the feeling of 'wtf is going on here'. If you mean the Izmo skin, I didn't like it.
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concealed identity concealed identity https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=215821
- KVRian
- 1071 posts since 21 Sep, 2009
Overall I like the sound of Hive 2 more, but I'm not a fan of the mirrored controls- it's just annoying enough to make it less enjoyable to use. I think the Plugmon skin is easier to use in some aspects, and more difficult to use in others.
On paper, the Spire setup should be unintuitive compared to some newer synths, but for some reason it all just clicks for me. I usually hate tabbed oscillators and envelopes in synth UIs, but in Spire it just works for me and makes it easy to keep track of all the parameters.
On paper, the Spire setup should be unintuitive compared to some newer synths, but for some reason it all just clicks for me. I usually hate tabbed oscillators and envelopes in synth UIs, but in Spire it just works for me and makes it easy to keep track of all the parameters.
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- KVRAF
- 14239 posts since 20 Nov, 2003 from Lost and Spaced
I haven't tried Hive 2, but I have demoed both and I think it comes down to sound. Spire reminds me of an Access Virus and Hive is more buttery, like a JP-8000. (IMO)