Professional Vocals: Top 10 Plugins for Making Your Vocalist Sound Famous
Every producer and mixing engineer wants to send the song they poured their blood, sweat and tears into back to the artists and have them lose their mind with how amazing their vocal sounds. While no plugin can turn an iPhone recording into studio perfection, there are some incredible plugins that can help get you closer to that radio sound. Here are my top 10 plugins for audio mixing vocals:
Oeksound Soothe 2: Soothe 2 is a dynamic resonance suppressor that intelligently tames harsh frequencies in vocals. It's an invaluable tool for achieving a smooth and polished vocal sound, particularly in dynamic performances. This is the closest thing to a magician on the list.
Antares Auto-Tune: No list of vocal plugins is complete without the industry-standard pitch correction tool, Auto-Tune by Antares. Loved by professionals worldwide, it provides subtle pitch correction or creative pitch manipulation, depending on the artistic intent. Auto-Tune also adds a desirable and familiar sheen to the vocal.
CLA Vocals by Waves: Crafted in collaboration with renowned mixer Chris Lord-Alge, CLA Vocals is a powerhouse that streamlines vocal processing. It combines compression, EQ, and reverb in a single interface, allowing users to quickly achieve that signature professional sheen in their vocal mixes. While I don’t use all of its features on every lead vocal, I always add a little bit of parallel compression with “spank.”
UAD LA-2A Compressor: Emulating the iconic Teletronix LA-2A, this UAD plugin is a go-to for smooth and transparent vocal compression. Its classic tube design imparts a vintage warmth that adds character to vocal performances.
FabFilter Pro-MB: Pro-MB is a dynamic multiband processor that excels in transparently shaping the dynamics of vocals. With its intuitive interface and precise control over multiple frequency bands, it allows for surgical compression, expansion, and upward/downward compression tailored to each segment of the vocal spectrum. This one has a bit of a learning curve, but once mastered it becomes indispensable.
Valhalla VintageVerb: VintageVerb by ValhallaDSP is renowned for its lush and authentic-sounding reverb algorithms. Tailored for vocals, it adds a rich sense of space and ambiance, offering various vintage reverb modes to enhance the depth and character of vocal performances.
Waves H-Delay: Waves H-Delay is a versatile delay plugin that brings character and depth to vocal tracks. With customizable modulation and various delay modes, it's a go-to choice for adding creative echoes, widening vocals, and achieving a professional sense of space.
Soundtoys EchoBoy: EchoBoy is a favorite among producers for its creative delay capabilities. From classic tape echoes to modern ambient textures, EchoBoy adds character and dimension to vocals. Its intuitive interface allows for easy tweaking, making it an essential tool for professional vocal processing.
Kush Audio Clariphonic: The Clariphonic Parallel EQ is a unique addition for adding brilliance and air to vocals. Focused on the high-frequency range, Clariphonic imparts a natural and euphonic sheen to vocals without introducing harshness. Its parallel processing approach allows for enhancing the top end while preserving the original vocal character.
Eiosis Deesser: Targeting sibilance and harsh frequencies in vocals, Eiosis Deesser is a specialized tool for smooth and effective de-essing. Its advanced algorithms allow for precise control over problematic elements in vocal recordings, ensuring a polished and professional result.
These plugins collectively form an arsenal for producers and mixing engineers, elevating vocal recordings to a professional standard. Whether it's pitch correction, compression, or effects, these tools empower creators to mix songs to a pro-level sonic result.
