Scaler Music Carbon Electra 2

The new version of Scaler Music’s Carbon Electra soft synth incorporates intelligent tools from their Scaler 3 software.

Scaler Music are best known for Scaler, which, as described in the SOS February 2026 review of Scaler 3, combines compositional tools, music theory assistance, a virtual instrument, plug‑in host and sequencing environment, all available in both standalone and plug‑in formats to integrate within your usual music production workflow. It’s deep, fascinating and undeniably impressive.

However, it’s not the only product in Scaler Music’s catalogue... There is also Carbon Electra, a rather neat four‑oscillator synth with an analogue‑style GUI that arranges all the key controls within a single‑page window. We reviewed Carbon Electra in the December 2015 edition of SOS and, while it’s been some time, Carbon Electra 2 is now with us. Ten years on from the original, it would be surprising if this new release didn’t bring some significant changes. Yes, there’s some blue (in the UI), but what’s old, what’s new... and what’s borrowed (rather cleverly) from Scaler itself?

Carbon Core

Carbon Electra 2 is available for both Windows and macOS with support for VST3, AU and AAX plug‑in formats. At its heart, and as shown within the main screenshot, the core features of the synth engine remain intact. This includes all the key synth engine controls being contained within a single‑screen layout, mimicking the old‑school hardware experience. Well, nearly... The Advanced button (top centre) pops open an additional panel at the bottom of the UI that provides access to the effects section and the sequencer. It’s a sensible compromise, allowing you to make things a little more compact when needed.

The Advanced section containing the effects and sequencer functions can be popped open as an additional panel at the bottom of the UI.

On the left, the synth engine includes four oscillators, each offering a range of oscillator types — Classic, Wavetable and (new for this release) Waveterrain — each of which then has a selection of sub‑types. The mixer lets you blend the relative oscillator levels and, via the Routing switch, lets you pass each oscillator’s signal to either or both of the filters. You can also adjust the order of signal flow through the filters on a per‑oscillator basis. Filter 1 offers...