Synthesiser
Acid V
by Arturia
A paid TB-303 emulation from Arturia with a sub-oscillator, 14-algorithm distortion, three modulators, four effect slots and a polymetric sequencer and arpeggiator.
Before you buy
- Pricing model
- Paid[1] Also included in V Collection 11 Pro. Arturia offers a free demo.
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows No Linux version listed.
- Logic Pro
- AU version listed for macOS
- Other formats
- Standalone, VST, AAX, NKS
We don't list prices: they change often. Check the manufacturer for current pricing. Requirements below are as the manufacturer states them.
Documented features
- TB-303 emulation built with Arturia's TAE modelling of oscillators, filter and soft clipping; Arturia says it is modelled "down to component-level detail".[1][4]
- 303-style oscillator with sawtooth and pulse (square) waveforms, and a 24 dB/octave resonant filter modelled on the 303's diode ladder.[3][4][1]
- Sub-oscillator with square, sawtooth and sine waveforms, at the main pitch or one or two octaves below.[3][1]
- Vibrato that runs from slow detune to audio rate.[1]
- Distortion module with 14 analogue and digital algorithms, drive and dry/wet controls.[1][4]
- A hidden "hatch" for fine-tuning analogue components. The 1.0.0 manual lists its parameters as Bass Boost, PW (pulse width), Accent Attack, Cutoff Range, Pitch Tracking, Noise Gain and Clipper.[3][1]
- Three identical modulators with One, Loop and Run modes and 18 shape presets or drawn shapes, retriggered by key press, note, accent or sequencer restart, and assignable to most parameters by drag and drop.[3][1][4]
- Four serial, hard-wired effect slots drawing on 17 effects: Reverb, Delay, Tape Echo, PS Delay, Compressor, Multiband, Multi Filter, Param EQ, Distortion, Bitcrusher, Super Unison, Chorus, Chorus JUN-6, Flanger, BL-20 Flanger, Phaser and Stereo Pan.[3][1]
- Sequencer and arpeggiator with up to 64 steps; each step has its own octave and slide, accent and vibrato switches. In polymetric mode, the note, octave, slide, accent and vibrato lanes each have their own length. The arpeggiator has seven order modes.[3][4][1]
- Acid, Classic and Custom scale groups (Sound On Sound describes per-note probabilities in custom scales); Transmutation regenerates a sequence with Generate and Density controls.[3][1][6]
- Per-lane randomisers set how likely a different note or octave, or a slide, accent or vibrato, is on each step.[4]
- Sequences transpose by semitone and rotate left or right, follow incoming MIDI notes as a key change, sync to host tempo, and can be driven from the DAW.[3][1][4]
- Patterns drag into DAW MIDI clips or bounce to MIDI.[1]
- More than 150 factory presets and more than 350 sequence presets.[1]
- MTS-ESP microtuning support.[1]
- Installed and activated through Arturia Software Center.[1][4]
- The 1.0.0 manual (August 2023) listed Audio Units, AAX, VST2 and VST3 plug-in formats plus a standalone version, on Windows 8.1 or later and macOS 10.13 or later. Arturia's current product page lists higher minimum systems (Windows 10, macOS 11).[3][1]
Specifications
| Current version | 1.1.5 (build 1.1.5.6367, dated 9 October 2025); English manual 1.1.1, 25 June 2024[2] |
|---|---|
| Emulation options | One 303 model with a hidden 7-parameter fine-tuning panel[3][1] |
| Filter | Modelled diode ladder low-pass, 24 dB/oct[3][4] |
| Sequencer steps | Up to 64, with polymetric lane lengths[4][6] |
| Arpeggiator | Yes, 7 order modes[3] |
| Distortion | 14 algorithms, with drive and dry/wet[1] |
| Built-in effects | 4 serial slots, 17 effects[3][1] |
| Modulation | 3 function generators (LFO or envelope, drawable)[1][6] |
| Sub-oscillator | Yes: square, saw or sine, 0, -1 or -2 octaves[3][1] |
| MIDI pattern export | Drag to DAW or bounce to MIDI[1] |
| Microtuning | MTS-ESP[1] |
| Factory content | 150+ presets, 350+ sequences[1] |
Compatibility
| macOS | macOS 11 or later; 4-core 3.4 GHz CPU or Apple M1; 4 GB RAM; 3 GB disk; OpenGL 2.0 GPU[1] |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 or later (64-bit); 4-core 3.4 GHz CPU; 4 GB RAM; 3 GB disk; OpenGL 2.0 GPU; ARM processors not supported[1] |
| Plug-in formats |
Arturia's current pages list "VST" without saying whether that means VST2, VST3 or both. The 1.0.0 manual (August 2023) listed VST2 and VST3; that does not establish what the current 1.1.5 build ships. |
Who's using it?
Producers who have said on the record, or been shown, that they use Acid V. Each entry covers what the source shows and nothing more, and links to it so you can check. A name here isn't an endorsement, and it isn't proof the plug-in made the record.
galen tipton In their own words
In a Plugin Boutique interview, galen tipton describes using Arturia Acid V's sequencer to route MIDI to other synths and drums and generate syncopated patterns beyond conventional acid bass.
- Interview: galen tipton – Prolific and Playful, Plugin Boutique (Answers on classic instruments and hardware emulations).
Where we discuss it
Comparisons
Sources
Every fact on this page links to one of these manufacturer sources. Nothing here comes from hands-on testing.
- Acid V – Overview, Arturia. Accessed .
- Acid V – Downloads & Manuals, Arturia. Accessed .
- Acid V User Manual, version 1.0.0 (revision date 21 August 2023), Arturia. Accessed .
- Acid V General Questions, Arturia. Accessed .
- Virtual Instruments – Compatibility, Arturia. Accessed .
- Arturia Acid V review (Dave Cranmer, November 2023), Sound On Sound. Accessed .
- Arturia Acid V review (Adam Douglas, 22 August 2023), MusicTech. Accessed .