RAV3 vs Rave Generator 2 vs Rave Generator 3: Which Rave Stab VST?

Rave stabs are back at the center of hard house, trance and hard techno, and three plugins dominate the conversation: the free classic Rave Generator 2, AudioBlast's Rave Generator 3, and our own RAV3. They solve the same problem in very different ways, at very different prices. Here is an honest comparison to help you pick the right one for your workflow.

The short answer

If you want a free way to try classic 90s stabs, download Rave Generator 2. If you want the deepest sample library and multi-layer sampler workflow and the price does not bother you, Rave Generator 3 is a serious tool. If you want modern, playable stabs and chords with a synth layer, a built-in FX chain and a price under 25 euros, that is exactly why we built RAV3.

Quick comparison

	Rave Generator 2	Rave Generator 3	RAV3
Price	Free	$160 list	€24.99
Engine	Rompler, up to 16 layered samples	Multi-timbral sampler, 16 layers	Dual-layer: rave stab samples + synth layer
Content	147 internal sounds	256 presets, 1000+ stabs, ~500 bass and synth sounds	269 one-shot samples, 171 factory presets
FX	Delay, reverse, AKAIZE stretch	Global delay, reverb, filters	Built-in multi-FX chain
Formats	VST, AU (Win, Mac, Linux)	VST, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP, Standalone	VST3, AU, Standalone
Best for	Trying the sound for free	Sample-library depth, sound archaeology	Fast, modern, playable stabs and chords

Rave Generator 2: the free classic

Released by DJ CSI and Wavosaur, Rave Generator 2 is a free rompler loaded with 147 stab and rave sounds sampled straight from the 90s. You can layer up to 16 sounds, assign MIDI channels per sample, tweak loop points, and abuse the AKAIZE effect for time-stretched speed garage voices. It is old software and the interface shows it, but the price is unbeatable and the core sounds are authentic.

Choose it if: you want to test whether rave stabs belong in your tracks before spending anything.

Rave Generator 3: the deep sampler

AudioBlast's Rave Generator 3 is a full multi-timbral sampler built around a huge library: 256 presets, more than 1000 stab samples, and roughly 500 bass and synth sounds, with kicks on top. It stacks up to 16 layers, has a patch randomizer for instant new combinations, loads your own WAV and AIFF samples, and ships in every format including AAX and CLAP, on Windows, macOS and Linux. The character is deliberately gritty, recreating the crunch of early samplers through multiple resampling.

Choose it if: you want the biggest possible library and a sampler workflow, and the $160 list price fits your budget (it is frequently discounted).

RAV3: the modern take

We built RAV3 because we kept programming the same stabs from scratch for our hard house and trance packs. Instead of a pure sampler, RAV3 pairs classic rave stab samples with a synth layer in a dual-layer engine, so every preset can be reshaped instead of just replayed. It ships with 269 one-shot samples and 171 factory presets, a built-in FX chain tuned for stabs, and runs as VST3, AU and Standalone. It costs €24.99.

The design goal is speed: open it, play chords, and get a finished, mix-ready stab sound in minutes. That is also why RAV3 shows up in our own hard house and trance project files.

Choose it if: you want modern rave stabs that are playable immediately, with sound-shaping beyond sample playback, at a fraction of the price of a full sampler.

Which one should you get?

For modern productions, RAV3 is the clear pick. It takes the raw character that made those 90s stabs iconic and rebuilds it for the way people actually produce today: a dual-layer engine you can reshape, presets that drop a finished stab into your track in seconds, and an FX chain tuned for the sound. Old-school energy, without the old-school workflow.

Rave Generator 2 is worth a free download to hear where the sound comes from, but it is dated VST2 software with a rompler workflow you will outgrow quickly. Rave Generator 3 is a capable sampler if you like digging through libraries and loading your own source material, but that is a slower, more technical way to work, and it lists at several times the price of RAV3. Neither was built for fast, modern writing.

If you make hard house, trance, hard techno or anything that leans on rave stabs, RAV3 gives you the sound and the speed in one plugin. Open the RAV3 page, play the demos, and you will hear it in seconds.

FAQ

Is Rave Generator 2 still free?

Yes. It is distributed free by Wavosaur and remains available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Is RAV3 a sampler or a synth?

Both: a dual-layer engine combines rave stab samples with a synth layer, so you can reshape presets rather than only trigger samples.

What DAWs do these work in?

All three run in any major DAW. RAV3 and Rave Generator 3 provide modern VST3 and AU builds; Rave Generator 2 uses the older VST2 and AU formats.

Where can I hear RAV3?

The RAV3 product page has audio demos and a full overview video, and the sounds appear throughout our hard house and producer pack catalog.