reFX Nexus 2

4.5 (964)

220 Reviews

reFX

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reFX Nexus 3

4.5 (21)

Find out who is using reFX Nexus 2

568 wishlisted

2237 saved

Page last updated Jul 01, 2026

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Description

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Dive into the world of infinite sound possibilities with the reFX Nexus 2, a powerhouse synth plugin that has become a staple in the toolkit of producers across various genres. Known for its massive sound library, Nexus 2 provides a wealth of high-quality presets that cater to everything from EDM and hip-hop to cinematic scores. Whether you're composing catchy hooks or deep atmospheric pads, this synth plugin simplifies the creative process with its intuitive interface and versatile features.

Nexus 2 stands out with its ability to deliver stunningly realistic sounds, thanks to its advanced sample playback engine. The plugin also offers a broad range of expansions, allowing users to tailor their sound collection to fit their specific music production needs. With its easy-to-navigate layout and powerful mixing capabilities, Nexus 2 ensures that both beginners and seasoned producers can create polished tracks with minimal effort.

Key Features:

Comprehensive library of high-quality presets
Advanced sample playback engine for realistic sound reproduction
Intuitive user interface designed for ease of use
Wide range of expansion packs available for diverse sound customization
Suitable for various music genres, including EDM, hip-hop, and cinematic scoring
Built-in effects for enhanced sound processing
Flexible routing options for creative sound design

Product specs

Plugin Format

AU, VST

Videos

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VSTPluginReviews

ReFX Nexus 2 VSTPlugin Review

VSTPluginReviews

reFX Nexus 2 VST Sound Demo

Beat Production

90s Dance mix | Play (reFX Nexus 2)

Whentherushcomes

ReFX Nexus 2 - Hollywood Expansion

SIGMusic

ReFX Nexus 2 | Fantasy & Dream Presets

Simon Le Grec

Reviews

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PROS

Extensive library of high-quality presets and expansions
Sleek, user-friendly interface with intuitive controls
Regularly updated with new expansions every 2-3 months
CPU-friendly design for efficient use in projects
Widely used and trusted by top producers in the industry
Excellent for layering and creating fuller soundscapes
Particularly strong in orchestral and piano sounds
Quick setup with minimal sound design required
Offers great inspirational tools for quick music production
Versatility across multiple genres, not limited to EDM

CONS

Limited sound design capabilities, relies heavily on presets
High price point for base plugin and expansions
Requires a USB dongle for activation, which can be inconvenient
Sounds can become overused or generic without significant tweaking
Some users find the effects like reverb and delay to be lacking
Not all parameters are automatable, limiting creative flexibility
Price may be prohibitive for aspiring producers
Sounds can be easily recognized in other tracks, reducing uniqueness
Some presets feel dated, reminiscent of early 2000s
Limited modulation and customization options compared to other synths

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about reFX Nexus 2.

Features and functionality

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Some users prefer Nexus 2 for its original sound quality, which they feel was altered in later versions like Nexus 3.
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Nexus 2's Hollywood expansion packs offer a cost-effective alternative to high-end orchestral libraries, featuring Steinway piano samples and full orchestral setups without requiring additional samplers or massive storage.
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Software and compatibility

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MacOS updates can break compatibility with older plugins, which may lead users to stick with Nexus 2 if it still functions on their systems.
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Users transitioning from simpler setups like Sibelius are recommended to explore DAWs like FL Studio, which offers user-friendly functionality and free lifetime updates.
Source

Use cases and applications

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Nexus 2 is favored by those producing styles from the 2010s, such as hands-up, due to the era-specific sounds in its expansions.
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Nexus 2 is particularly popular in the hip hop and trap communities due to its versatility and accessibility, making it suitable for producers in these genres.
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User experience

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Professionals often avoid updates to maintain stability in their current setup, as newer versions can introduce bugs.
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The Hollywood expansion packs are noted for their flexibility in simple orchestral compositions but may struggle with more intricate classical articulations like tremolos and trills.
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Other

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The prevalence of pirated copies may contribute to continued use of Nexus 2, despite the availability of newer versions.
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Setup and maintenance

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The Steinberg E-Licenser is required for Nexus 2, and if it breaks, a replacement process involves mailing the broken device and purchasing a new one, which can take about two weeks.
Source

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 220 Reviews and 964 Ratings

5 star

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kupta_13

about 2 years ago

One of the best VSTs

You will hear quite a lot that Nexus isn't that good anymore and generally some hate. I have to disagree. People usually judge this synth purely on its core library from 2007. Although the main library sounds like average dated electro, this synth is still updated, has brand new expansions added every 2-3 months and it sounds so good and professional. One downside is that this is not your average synth, but it is more of a Rompler, meaning you cannot do much sound design and have to rely on tweaking presets if you want to be creative with this thing. Other than that this is 11/10 for me.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

SEQ Plotter

Roles:

Keyboardist Composer Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Rock Orchestra

lukeepic

1468

almost 5 years ago

love it

I love this synth, because it has all the sounds you need to make solid dance music.

akivix

120

about 6 years ago

Best Preset Synth

Nexus 2 is The Thing That Finishes An Unfinished Track For Me

seanstevens

104

about 6 years ago

Got nice sounds

If you find some expasions then you can get some pretty cool sounds

buzzard

244

over 6 years ago

Nexus

Everyone uses Nexus these days, but it you layer your sounds you can come up with some new ideas

chrislvck

over 6 years ago

ROM synth

Amazing with the fatness of sound in each expansion and stock-spansions

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Composer

Genres:

Electronic Hip Hop Dance music

dylansalesss

almost 7 years ago

Great VST

Use this 95% of the time when I make beats. So many sounds already on there and you can also import presets made by other producers.

dizzydyl

almost 7 years ago

Great Plugin

Bought this plugin a few years back and never regretted it. Presets which are easily customizable and ReFX are always bringing out more expansions.

ignor

158

about 7 years ago

it can do better, really

i kind of use it when i'm just scrolling through already made sounds when looking for ideas, but do not use it too often, in addition to that it really does have cool presets and sounds already made for it, not to mention those that you can download

tomdocker

157

about 7 years ago

Fantastic!

I love the Pianos reFX used in this Plugin. Nexus is my goto plugin for quite a few of the elements used in my tracks.

Artist usage

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Martin Garrix

Music Producer

AREA21

Verified via Photo

In this photo from Martin's Instagram, Martin is holding the CD for reFX Nexus 2 above its case. Both the CD and the case have the Nexus 2 logo facing the camera.

Skrillex

Music Producer

From First to Last

Verified via YouTube

Channel 110 in Skrillex's Ableton Project file for Fuji opener has an instance of Nexus 2 open.

Deadmau5

Music Producer

BSOD

Verified via Twitter

In this tweet deadmau5 mentions using Nexus presets in one of his EDM trolls.

Avicii

Music Producer

Jovicii

Verified via YouTube

Avicii frequently uses the stock sounds in Nexus when coming up with ideas for leads, chords, and melodies in his tracks.

Hardwell

Music Producer

Verified via YouTube

Hardwell lists the Nexus as one of his top 3 favorite synthesizers. He uses two instances of this synth for the lead sound in his track "Apollo."

Zedd

Music Producer

ARE WE DREAMING

Verified via Beatport

One of the synths occasionally used by Zedd, second to his all time favorite, Sylenth.

Tiësto

Music Producer

Alibi

Verified via Photo

Tiësto used the reFX Nexus 2 plugin on the track "Secrets (Drop)" according to this Splice file.

Armin Van Buuren

Music Producer

Wodka Wasters

Verified via YouTube

"I made some pads. There are some really greta pad sounds coming form the Nexus. This particular pad is one I edited from one of the presets."

David Guetta

Music Producer

Africanism All Stars

Verified via Refx

"This is probably the synth that is the most related to the music I produce and the most complete. Everything is there from classic string sounds to the most cutting edge electronic sounds. Nexus also has some really powerfull FX and arpeggios.These guys are incredible!"

Afrojack

Music Producer

AJXJS

Verified via Refx

"I looove the nexus, it has all the famous sounds in its presets and it has an easy and clear setup that's perfect for endless tweaking to get that one sound you wanted!"

Nicky Romero

Music Producer, DJ

Verified via Refx

Nicky Romero speaks highly of the Nexus synth. From his testimonial on refx.com: "I'm a big fan of ReFX products, using the Nexus 2 since the beginning of my career, great to use as single synth, and to stack it up for layers."

Steve Aoki

Music Producer, DJ

Rifoki

Verified via Photo

In this Instagram photo posted by Steve Aoki Feb 2016, he taped his iLok and eLicenser USB keys to his USB ports. He mentions the "nexus key" by name, which is reFX Nexus' eLicenser, implying he uses the software synth.