Must-Have Plug-Ins for Music Production

Plug-ins are loved and detested at the same time. Analogue-based sound engineers find them clinical and unnatural, while for in-the-box* producers, plug-ins offer access to eye-wateringly expensive studio hardware without actually having to fork out thousands of pounds, making them infinitely useful. Guest-blogger Daan van Dreumel is here to tell you which plug-ins are a must-have for pro-grade music production, how they work and to which bit of legendary kit they owe their name and fame.

*In-the-box production refers to when the music is made (almost) entirely using nothing but a computer and software.

Before we dig in, I want to make it clear that there is no wrong or right here. Every producer has their own mixing routines, tools and tricks, and that’s the way it should be. Now let’s go through a list of illustrious, industry-standard plug-ins.

The 1176 Compressor

We’re kicking things off with one of the most iconic compressors of all time. Released in 1967 by UREI/Universal Audio, the 1176 analogue compressor is known for its fast attack and release and, as a result, the ability to create fat-and-punchy sound. The 1176 adds presence to your sound and works fabulously with vocals, guitars and drums, which is why you’ll find the real thing in many big studios. Universal Audio has also released a more than solid digital clone of the 1176, just like various plug-in makers have tried to capture the analogue magic for in-the-box use (see the IK Multimedia 76, the Slate FG-116, the Arturia Comp FET-76 and the Native Instruments VC 76).

The LA-2A Compressor

Another well-known Universal Audio-designed compressor is the LA-2A, which is kind of the 1176’s antagonist. Instead of fast attack and release times, the LA-2A is known for its slow and warm sound. This classic compressor coats your tracks in a thick sauce, greasing things up. The 1176 and LA-2A are often simultaneously applied to vocals so that one boosts the attack and punch while the other injects warmth and smoothness. It’s worth pointing out that the LA-2A is equipped with just two controls (Gain and Peak Reduction) so the attack and release can’t be tweaked. It’s also been recreated time and time again, so be sure to check out the Native Instruments VC 2A and IK Multimedia White 2A.

The Fabfilter Pro-Q 3

Every producer is better off with a solid equaliser. While every DAW features a built-in EQ, stock EQs are usually fairly limited — both in terms of tweakability and the frequency info displayed. Not the Fabfilter Pro-Q 3. This extensive EQ plug-in kits you out with mid-side equalisation, dynamic equalisation, Dolby Atmos Surround support, and more. I won’t lie, this is my go-to EQ.

Antares Auto-Tune Pro

Antares Auto-Tune Pro is no doubt the most loved and most hated plug-in of the past couple of decades. Made instantly-famous by Cher back in 1998, Auto-Tune has been a mainstay of music production ever since, even if it raises the occasional set of eyebrows. Nine times out of ten, those who claim that singers who use Auto-Tune can’t actually sing are in the wrong. Auto-Tune is simply the ideal tool for giving tracks a poppy edge.

Melodyne

Melodyne is similar to Auto-Tune but does pitch-correction a bit differently. Where Auto-Tune automatically tunes your vocals, Melodyne allows you to tweak the pitch manually. Since you can tweak individual notes with Melodyne, you can polish off more natural vocals where the sound isn’t the result of any algorithm. What’s more, Melodyne also lends itself to fixing out-of-tune guitar solos and offers a quantise function for tightening up sloppily played parts.

Soundtoys 5

Soundtoys 5 is a deeply-loved plug-in bundle among its users. The included Decapitator plug-in is one of my favourite saturation plug-ins of all time since it can enrich sound like no other. The collection also includes the Echoboy plug-in, which enables you to create everything from super-basic to super-complex delays, while Filterfreak 1 & 2 are perfect for designing neat rhythmic filters. Soundtoys 5 includes a lot more highly effective plug-ins, all of which can be picked up separately as well if you don’t mind missing out on the bundle discount.

If you started mixing and producing music not too long ago, then the above list of plug-ins can definitely help you on your way. There are obviously a million more fantastic plug-ins out there, including instrument plug-ins. If you’re in need of the latter, I would recommend checking out Native Instruments Komplete. This collection serves up a long list of extremely realistic virtual instruments and even includes a fistful of FX plug-ins.

Which must-have plug-ins have I forgotten to cover? Don’t hesitate to drop names in the comments below!

See Also

» Effect Plugins
» Instrument Plugins
» DAW Software
» All Studio & Recording Gear

» What’s the Best Instrument Plug-In for Me?
» Mixing in Mono: The Secret to Better Mixes
» Studio Subwoofers – The What & Why
» DAW Automation: What It Is And How It Works
» Should You Mix with Headphones?
» 5 Ways to Make Your Mix Sound Louder
» 3D Stereo Mixing: Create Depth with Just Two Speakers
» Mixing Flawless Vocals in 5 Steps
» Mixing with the Mix Bus
» What is an Equaliser and What Is It Used For?
» The Reverb Effect: What is it?
» The Finer Points of Studio Monitor Placement

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