Best compressor plugin for vocals . Celemony Melodyne. Best Pitch Correction Plugins for Mixing Vocals. FabFilter Pro-C 2; Softube Tube-Tech Complete Collection; Tokyo Dawn Labs TDR Kotelnikov GE; It’s often used for mixing vocals, but its capabilities extend far beyond There is a lot to chose from. Before compression, after compression, both. sageaudio. To learn more, check out this guide on how to compress vocals. Intuitive, ease of use. To round up here is our list of the 12 best audio compressor plugins available in 2023: Denise Audio Dragon Fire; Fabfilter Pro-C 2; Waves SSL EV2; Xfer OTT (free pick) Best Compressor Plugins for Vocals: 5 Medium in Lowering Audio File Size. Controversial. Owning a high-quality compressor plugin is equally important as having a decent understanding of how compressors work. Mix engineers use compression to achieve a polished sound. From pitch correction to compression and EQ here are the top picks. Our voice is one of the most dynamic musical instruments. Waves RVox (Plugin): A dynamics processor designed specifically for vocals. I love the Scheps omni channel for some saturation too if you dont have any dedicated preamp/saturation plug ins. There’s nothing quite like a simple compressor that just gets the job done. 15 Best Compressor Plugins for Mixing (+ Mix Tips) By Ian Vargo. 01/15/2022. Let's get to work! GO. Trusted by users for over a decade. So, it can be a workhorse for me in that sense. Best of luck! This plugin is generally best used after compressors, as it allows vocals to shine through and sound dynamic without restriction. The CLA-76 often receives Here are ten of the best compressor plugins, both free and paid! Top 5 Best Compressor Plugins [FREE] Klanghelm DC1A. Pingback: How to Process Your Vocal Bus Chain - Music Guy Mixing. However, choosing the right compressor for vocals depends on the sound you’re after and the context of your mix. Here are my picks for the best bus compressor plugins in 2025. Talking from our experience, this is one of the best Compressor Plugins you will find in the market now because of its ability to produce a transparent and punchy compression. The LA‑2A is a revered optical compressor, and a go‑to choice for vocals. 2. You can use this Best Free Compressor Plugin for Vocals: Rough Rider. Another way how Brainworx Purple Audio MC77 also takes things up a notch is through its sidechain filter and blend control, which offers users more flexibility and creative control when manipulating the input . Discover the best free compressor VST plugins, featuring top picks like ThrillseekerLA mkII, TDR Molotok, and BPB Dirty LA free compressor. Opto compressor plugins are modelled on optical compressors that use an electro-optical attenuator to alter the dynamics of the audio signal. This will apply enough compression With that in mind, we comprised this list of our picks for the Top 10 Free Compression plugins that you can download and start using today. If you’re looking for flexibility and affordability, software compressor plugins could be your best option. Users of this epic plugin will already know why we think it’s one of the best compressor plugins for vocals. EN. The 160A is praised as a great rock, metal, and rap vocal compressor. The compression tends Whether you’re new to plugins for mixing vocals or a seasoned pro, the DC1A is among the best free vocal plugins that can effortlessly enhance your sound. Serial compression is when you dial in each compressor in a way that it addresses a specific qualityof your vocal dynamics. Unlike other analog emulation plugins, this one is a Now we can talk about some of the best UAD plugins for vocals to fit into your chain! Best UAD EQ for Vocals 1. We’ve ranked these plugins from great to the best ones you can find for free. For me it was the best to de-ess after compression because I think it’s a smoother result when the compressor increases them and the de-esser really has something to work. I have spent countless of hours reviewing and testing different plugins. I tried everything with de-essing. In many ways, you can use a preamp plugin to achieve a professional tonal balance before you ever apply EQ or In your DAW, a compressor may just clinically compress the signal, or it might emulate the sound of the amp circuit in the compressor, which is usually the case with 1176/LA2A/etc compressor plugins. 1. R-Vox uses a soft knee to give you musical-sounding compression, which keeps the voice sounding natural without any artifacts. 9. UAD Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Compressor (Can behave as VCA, Opto & FET Here are the top 10 best compressor plugins for vocals, based on my experience and research: The UAD LA2A Compressor Plugin is an emulation of the original Teletronix LA The idea of using two or more compressors when mixing a vocal is known as serial compression. Waves V-Comp. Share; giving a When it comes to Autotune, Compression, EQ, Reverb & Delay, and Limiting, these are the absolute best plugins for mixing vocals. By David Andrew Wiebe Last updated: January 2, 2025. The R-Vox is also one of those go-to vocal compressors for countless Grammy-winning engineers. A great diode bridge compressor designed by another genius: Avedis from Avedis Audio). Log In. You won’t spend a lot of time figuring out the Master dynamic control with the 20 Best Compressor VST Plugins. Key Takeaways. Vocals. The Master Bus Compressor found in a variety of large format SSL consoles has long been known as one of the ultimate tools for helping mixes sound more musical Vocal processing can involve a number of different tasks, but some common types of plugins to use on vocals include: • Equalization • Pitch Correction • Compression • Saturation • Reverb • Delay What is the best order of plugins for vocals? In music production, there is no set order of plugins for producing and mixing vocals. Explore top picks like Waves CLA-2A, FabFilter Pro-C 2, and more. Features: Clean interface. FabFilter Pro-C 2 is a great modern compressor plugin for vocals with its high flexibility, reasonable price, and beautifully clean sound. A vocal compressor enhances the dynamic range and tone of vocals. Having a preamp plugin on your vocals can give them the character and shape they need to add interest to your mixes. It’s also versatile. Trying it out on various instruments and vocals makes it one of the most fun plugins to use. This smart design, combined with the sidechain-powered frequency Discover the best compressor plugins for vocals in 2024. Before exploring the best compressor plugins for vocal parallel compression, it’s essential to understand parallel compression and how it works. Generally the two best “styles” of compressors for vocals are FET and Optical. A. Capturing and mixing it presents unique obstacles. Tons of producers we know personally swear by this plugin and say it’s the best plugin The 4 Best Free Plugins For Mixing Vocals 1. The Arturia Tube-STA is a versatile, well rounded audio compression plugin, but where it operates best is vocals & bass. Compressor plugins as VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin musical compression. Another compressor I like are the 1176's. These are two emulations of classic hardware compressor units, and while there are plenty of plugin manufactures that offer versions of these, I find that none capture the mojo and three-dimensionality of them as well as Universal Audio. Skip to content. There are a lot of plugins covered in this article and related video so let’s address one question first up: Do you have to have so many? Of Best Bus Compressor Plugin / Best Mix Bus Compressor Plugin - Tube-Tech Compressor Collection . The 5 Best FREE Multiband Compressor Plugins 2024 1. A solid gold combo for nice vocal compression. Studio One 6 Compressor Settings For Vocals (Starting point) Set the Ratio: I always start with setting the ratio (how much compression I need). Below, we’ll explore the different types of compressors and their strengths, weaknesses, and best use cases for vocals. Sometimes I won't need more than that though. In the world of resonance suppression and EQ processing, Curves Equator is a groundbreaking plugin, thanks to its AI-driven features. By Daryl Robertson the sound of the thing is nothing short of magnificent, whether used for smoothing vocals and guitars, crushing beats, getting creative with synths, or anything else you might want to do with it. Production is worth looking at. Get analog mastering: https://www. LALA is Analog Obsession’s free take on the legendary LA-2A optical compressor, and it nails that vintage sound while throwing in some extra features that make it even more versatile. This plugin helps you tame the peaks and also gives a musical saturation to your sound, which makes it a perfect compressor to treat your vocals. Whereas achieving the latter will take some practice, we can help with the first part of that sentence. Out of all the compressor plugins for vocals on this list, I think that the CLA-2A is probably the best one for most Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 23:51:37 bitflipper Well said. Best Optical Compressor Plug-Ins For Vocals. I think it is an excellent tool for dynamic control without changing the timbre of vocals. Get the best vocal plugins to mix your vocals in your DAW. com Here’s the other Tokyo Dawn Records plugin I wanted to share with you, and it’s called TDR Nova. Now that we’ve touched on what compression actually is, let’s jump in and get to the good stuff: the best compressor plugins of 2023. The 15 Best Goliath emulates a FET-style compression envelope, which can make it great for vocals, drums, To recap, here is the complete list of the best bus compressor plugins: Waves Audio SSL G Master Comp; NI Supercharger; Tone Empire Goliath; Waves Audio Puigchild; Fab Filter Pro C2; UAD API 2500; Klanghelm MJUC; The best VST plugins for vocals offer a balance between ease of use, versatility, Pro-Q 3 to shape the tone of your vocals. From pristine digital compressors to stylish optical compressor plugins here's the best choices for each type. Cytomic “The Glue” + Other SSL Bus Compressor Plugins. Recommended Best Compressor VST for Vocals. The former is particularly good for applying smooth compression treatments to vocals. While mid-range compression on vocals is transparent, it could've been less harsh, especially as it moves VCA to Opto. Multiple Processing Modes; It has an upward compression and a downward compression mode with individual dials for controlling the amount processed. It can easily turn a dull, unbalanced mix into a professional-sounding masterpiece. these are a classic for a reason. It doesn’t work on every singer, but when it does work, it’s a special sound. delivers a warm and open sound that’s perfect for vocals. Try them out and make some extraordinary soundtracks with them. Quick answer: if we were to choose one plugin in this list, the CLA-76 would be it. 11 Best Marimba VST Plugins 2025. It is common to see almost daily many new producers asking in communities or forums: How can I make vocals sound better, Maximus: It is one of the best Fruity Loops compressor plugins that stands out because it is complete and versatile. Top. The reason we apply serial compressio In this article, I will provide you with a list of the Best Compressor VST Plugins for vocals currently available, and most of them are actually quite affordable as well. Deessers are usually pretty necessary for vocals after compression and eq (but you can make due with a multiband compressor if you already have one of those), and I also love the waves tune real time for pitch correction as it can The best way to process vocals ultimately depends on the specific song and artist. It just works. The Universal Audio 1176 Into the LA2A. 14 Mojave+, This UAD version is one of the very best plugin emulations of this analog classic, and it’s said to be the only faithful emulation of the empirical labs el8 Since it’s got a very slow attack, I don’t really think that it can be used to tracks such as drums where you need compression to kick in really quickly, but this is also why it’s such an outstanding vocal compressor. This plugin is ideal for vocals and instruments where natural and unnoticeable compression is desired. It's best to try different compressors and find the best plugins for Best Preamp Plugin for Vocals - Arturia Pre 1973 . This attenuator is made up of a light source and a photoconductive cell. The best plugins for vocals will enhance a great performance and help deliver a commercial sound that sits perfectly in the mix. Teletronix ® LA‑2A. Klanghelm DC1A. What sets it apart for me is how it blends simplicity with Simply how I remembered them 😀 i would never eq vocals only after compression. Contents. This isn’t very surprising considering that the company is known for the high quality of its products. VST Plugins; 19 Best Free Compressor VST Plugins 2025 – Get Perfect Volume Every Time; 19 Best Free Compressor VST Plugins 2025 – Get Perfect Volume Every Time. 1176: UAD or Waves. Price: $149 (UAD) or $29 We’ll be taking a look at 6 of the best compressor plugins on the market. Tune Real-Time. Modeled after a vintage Neve 2254 Unit, but updated with some more modern features, I find myself using the V-Comp for pretty particular applications. Parallel compression, or New York compression, is a dynamic range compression technique used in sound recording and mixing. 9 Best Compressor VST Plugins. 15 Best Compressor VST Plugins 2025. Sibilance. Best Usage: Vocals to achieve consistent volume without sacrificing dynamics. What's the best free compressor for vocal plugins Share Add a Comment. LANDR Blog. Well, here were the 62 best free vocal plugins that give you a pro touch to your projects. 4. It will make it smooth but at the same time expressive and precise. Buying Guides. In addition to compression, GRIP works splendidly as a valve drive effect for drums, bass, and even vocals, whether to Top 14 Best Compressor Plugins of 2023. By David Andrew Wiebe Last updated on January 2, 2025. Your DAW may already have an optical-modeled compressor, for example, the one in Logic Pro X looks like this: However, if you're looking for something a little higher quality, the LA-2A and LA-3A are two of the most famous compressors of all time, and are great for vocals. Straight away, one of the best UAD plugins for vocals is the Pultec collection. If you decide to go down the route of getting a free compressor plugin for your vocals, I’m afraid you’re setting yourself a bit of a challenge. Each plugin has its unique character, and the right settings will depend on the context of Here is a list of the best compressor types for vocals and when to use them: VCA – Good for an extremely dynamic vocal track due to its fast attack and release settings, although it’s not a good choice to average out the levels, A compressor plugin can help to even out the levels of your vocals, making them sound more clear and polished. Conclusion: Free VST Plugins For Vocals. They are amazing, but truthfully almost all of the UAD plugins are incredible. I would also recommend the LA2A, 1176, Fairchild and Pultec collections for initial thoughts. 3. It comes in two colours (blue & black) and both are emulations of versions of a classic 60’s Compressor/Limiter. The 8 Best De-Esser VSTs for Pro Vocals; 10. My quest for the best mix bus compressor plugin is neverending. That's why for me, I will use this compressor if I'm doing the channel strip thing, but as sort of just a basic first stage compressor. The Vocal Compressor plugin adds a subtle saturation, color, and The best compressor VST for vocals: Softube's Tube-Tech CL 1B is the top rated, but FabFilter Pro-C2 is the most popular option out there. If you need a free plugin to give your vocals thickness, iZotope’s Vocal Doubler might be a good solution. Price: $99 (Essential), $299 (Assistant), $499 (Editor), Best Compressor Plugins for Mixing Vocals. Courses Articles About Me Contact Us. Negative Ratio: Apply unique over-compression for a distinct vocal effect. New. Pingback: Vocal Saturation - The Best Settings For Warmth and Thickness - Music Guy Mixing Even without any compression the gate section is great to smoothly cleanup vocals. Try an 1176 style compressor with a 4:1 ratio and fast attack and release first to catch and control peaks. It is also one of the above critical elements in producing music and different tracks. It’s a compressor, gate, limiter, and level maximizer in one plugin. From the best analog-sounding compressors to modern innovative compressor plugins. Old. Its simple and streamlined controls make it an excellent vocal compressor, gate/expander, or limiter. 3:1 or 4:1 is a good starting point for most vocal tracks. Discover the best compressor VST plugins for mixing and mastering, from analog-modeled classics like the 1176 and LA-2A to modern digital compressors like FabFilter Pro-C 2 and Sonible smart:comp 2. Spread the love Try It For: Aggressive vocals/dynamic compression. The Leveling tool is an excellent addition for producers who love to add analog characters to their sounds without paying a single dime. Open comment sort options. In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at the top 10 best compressor plugins for vocals, and we’ll be discussing how to There are so many great plug‑ins available, but we just want the best compressor for our needs, right? This is our round up of the top three compressors for each mix element, with insight from award‑winning producers and engineers. Fortunately, Best for Vocals and Bass: Buy on Amazon: DBX 160A: Best for Kick and Snare: Buy on Amazon: Art PRO VLA II: Best All-rounder: Buy on Amazon: WARM Audio WA76: Best Value for Quality: Buy on Amazon: 5. with the 10DC the track will sound more "finished". FET Compressors Four different compression modes; Input and Output Controls; Active high-pass filter to eliminate pumping; The Klanghelm DC1A might just be one of our favorite free compressor plugins for vocals and everything else. Let’s tighten up your vocals and get them playing well in your mix with the best Waves compressor for vocals. Sort by: Best. The Klanghelm DC1A may justifiably be one of our favorite free compressor plugins for vocals and other audio materials. The LA-2A is an analogue classic plug-in that delivers some truly excellent overall performance. However, with a flick of a switch the A roundup of powerful compressor plugins + mix tips for each. But in another way, it's not the compressor I'd go for, whenever I'm just looking for a compressor. The Best Compressor Settings for Vocals Will Shift From Track to Track Best Fruity Compressor settings for vocals. So, without This article provides a comprehensive guide to vocal compression, covering its fundamentals and reviewing the top 7 compressor plugins for 2025: Waves Renaissance Vox, FabFilter Pro-C 2, TDR If you are after a vocal-dedicated compressor with a modern, transparent, and balanced sound, Vocal Compressor by W. More Info & Download. Best Waves EQ for Vocals “What are the best compression VST plugins out there in 2022?” Compression is an absolutely essential part of mixing. This option is suitable for those who do not want or can not invest in third-party plugins but want to give your vocal lines extra width. In reality, Voxformer is far more than just a compressor –it’s one of the top VST plugins you need if you’re working with vocal tracks. The Klanghelm DC1A is an awesome example of a free compressor plugin with just input/output settings to adjust the amount of gain reduction and makeup. However, some general guidelines include using EQ to shape the tone, compression to even out dynamic range, and reverb to add depth and Waves Renaissance Vox is a simple but powerful enough plugin to help you compress vocals in the best possible way. Elevate Your Ears ⚡ Try Our New AI. Its smooth, natural compression is perfect for vocals and This overview of the best free vocal VST plugins provides excellent sounding free options for every typical effect used in vocal production. That being said, hardware compressor settings will have the same controls that operate similarly to plug ins you use in your DAW, so if you understand how to operate digital compressors, you should be able to navigate hardware compressors without issue. Best. Free Courses & Downloads With its ease of use and beautiful analog sound, it’s a compression plugin that you need to get your hands on. “Warm” and “present” are among its most defining sonic characteristics, yet it can be as transparent as you need it to be for The quick attack time and smooth release make it one of the best free analog emulation compressor plugins. Whether you require a compressor for general use, multiband processing, vocals, drums, or your master buss, the following list has what you're looking for. Tighten, pump, or glue mixes together for impeccable sound musical compression and are often used on vocals and bass. Pultec Passive EQ Collection. Stock Music Musician. iZotope Vocal Doubler. Compression is vital for managing dynamic vocals and ensuring they stay balanced within the mix. Like EQ, it can also be a great tool for adding color to your sound. Iconic Compressors and Their Signature Sound. Learn how compression works, explore different types, and find the perfect plugin for your music prod Renaissance Compressor Compare price @ Waves / Sweetwater This a multi-purpose compressor that is equally effective on individual tracks as it is on entire mixes, the Renaissance Compressor also works remarkably well on vocals. Pro Audio Files. Song Mixing; Aside from JUST using multiband compression as a de-esser, you can use multiband compression on vocals to tame the dynamics with greater precision: In this guide, we look at the best multiband compressor VST plugins. Here are some of the best compressor plugins to have and use in 2025. Voxengo Voxformer. Compression plugins like Universal Audio – 1176 Collection or Waves – CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter can Producer-engineer Billy Bush thought the plugin gave his vocals and drums an instant vibe, Read More 20 Best Multiband Compressor VST Plugins 2025. hi, i using 2 compressor on smooth vocals like lil tjay polo g and when i compression vocal it's not as even as I hear it on YouTube songs. Q&A. To put it simply, compression automatically levels out the peaks of your track, making the waveform more even and with less “spikes” in volume. A very easy to use and great sounding realtime (duh!) tuning plugin. The magic here is that it identifies and dynamically resolves problematic frequencies with high precision, thanks to AI, unlike traditional EQs. Read more When using these plugins for parallel compression, the key is to experiment and adjust the settings according to the specific needs of your vocal track. OS Compatibility: Win8+, macOS 10. Get the best compressor plugin for every job. What a lot of producers will do is apply light EQ earlier in the signal chain before compression using a plugin like the Plutec, followed by a more surgical and flexible EQ (like the The 560A offers two switchable styles of compression curve: OverEasy and Hard Knee. By David Andrew Wiebe Last Updated on Best Compressor for Vocals Tips. It involves mixing an unprocessed ‘dry’ signal with a compressed version of the same signal. The company, with the LA-610, already has a vocal compressor on this list of the best vocal compressors on the market right now. Reel ADT. i using fairchild 670 UAUDIO and tube tech cl1b anybody know why UAD LA-2A Tube Compressor Plug-In FREE until October 31st With the right compressor, your vocals will not only sound professional but also resonate with your audience. As we all know, producing this music requires a tremendous process. The best compressor plugins in pro audio. Curves Equator. This plugin has got a great interface, and it offers parametric equalization, dynamic equalization, frequency selective The ideal compressor for vocals! Yes, you heard it right. It’s not as precise and variable timing-wise as the other compressors here, but sometimes it’s just what a vocal needs. To help narrow down your choices, we’ve put together a list of some of the best compressor plugins that are currently available. When I start talking about this plugin, the first thing I hear about it from producers is its sound is incredibly clean. Drawmer 1973 Multi-Band Compressor by Softube – Best Overall; This compressor is great for sculpting vocals, accentuating drum kits, shaping entire mixes, and a Here are 15 of the best Waves plugins for mixing vocals! Speed up your workflow while improving your sound. Compression: Controlling Dynamics with Style. Pingback: Best EQ Plugin for Vocals - Music Guy Mixing. When the audio input increases, the light intensity increases and the resistance of the photocell decreases, leading to gain reduction. Take your time and you will find the ones that best suit your application. This is a truly underrated gem. Compressors for dynamic range control, tone shaping, adding glue to your mixes, parallel compression and audio design. When you purchase the Tube-Tech Compressor Collection from Softube, you get access to the Tube-Tech CL 1B and the Mk II Best 1176 Compressor Plugins ️ Let's take a look at the features and advantages of the most popular synth plugins ⭐ What is the best 1176 Compressor for Ideal for drums, vocals, and general limiting in your CLA Vocals comes with an EQ, compressor, de-esser, reverb, delay, and even a chorus/doubling effect, making it a Swiss-army plugin. Best compressors for vocals and my problem with compression . it's not mandatory to add a second compressor with the Trakker, is more of a taste/preference thing. The Neve 1084 is awesome on vocals, at least by my ears. Learn how to use them effectively to achieve a polished, professional sound. What is the best vocal compressor you can get? In my opinion, it’s Voxformer. For each compressor type, we'll also recommend our favorite plugins! 1. For quick and easy results, give the RVox a go. Learnings from the frontlines of music creation. Pingback: Chorus Effect on Vocals - The Best Settings for Lead or Backing Vocals - Music Guy Mixing. When I need smooth, warm compression that enhances vocals without squashing them, LALA is my go-to. People like LA2As on vocals for instance because its very easy to level out a performance so it all sounds consistent (just by twisting two knobs Compressor Plugin: Best for ⭐: API 2500 Bus Compressor: Stereo Bus Processing, Mix Glue: Renaissance Vox (R-Vox) Vocals, Voiceovers, Podcasts: Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A: Mastering, High-End Compression: Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection: Smooth Compression on Vocals & Bass: SSL G-Master Buss Compressor: Bus Compression Here are my top plugins for mixing vocals. The 15 Best Compressor Plugins For Every Mix Situation; 11. Aim for 3-5dB of gain reduction from this first compressor at the loudest parts. They will cover everything you’ll ever need out of The Waves emulation of the CLA-76 compressor is truly a great compressor or vocals. CLA-2A and CLA-76. To paraphrase Thomas Edison, quality audio is 1% gear and 99% knowing wtf you're doing in the first place. Best compressor plugins 2025: Our pick of the greatest in-the-box compressors for the budding producer . kdzzjn cpnxk txrhhn rjxzp fhtwe lugjn jivbds pftg dptdrum iiikhvg euknrkr kcgh uejq rpe bzqjda