20 Great Plugins for Vocals (VST, AU, AAX)
Vocals are a vital part of music production for most genres of music. Plugins help to tune vocals to the correct pitch, as well as process them in creative ways that work great for your style of music.
Many of these plugins work differently, and it’s great to have a few of them in your toolkit to work in different situations.
Some of them help you carve out the sound, others tune in near real-time, and others only work with pre-recorded audio. Whatever your goals are, make sure to check these out, as these are some of the best vocal plugins that you can find.
1. Antares Auto-Tune Pro
Starting off this list is the most obvious choice: Antares Auto-Tune Pro.
Known for its professional pitch and time correction, Antares Auto-Tune Pro is a popular plugin. Its potential to coordinate transparent, natural sound music with hints of classics has made it a top-notch plugin. The swift interface of Antares autotune pro is the selling point of the plugin. The Classic Mode ‘Auto-tune 5 sound’ is a much-celebrated feature of the Auto-Tune Pro. Additionally, the Auto Key feature helps to detect the key and scale of any project.
It can be used to improve vocals, while also adding a great amount of creativity to sounds. Auto-tune is often used as a pop and hip-hop vocal plugin to give the vocals a signature sound that is common across some sub-genres.
Graph mode for manual editing
Live input for low latency monitoring
Audio Random Access Support for tight integration
Very popular in the industry
Known for its professional pitch and time correction, Antares Auto-Tune Pro is a popular plugin. Its potential to coordinate transparent, natural sound music with hints of classics has made it a top-notch plugin. The swift interface of Antares autotune pro is the selling point of the plugin. The Classic Mode ‘Auto-tune 5 sound’ is a much-celebrated feature of the Auto-Tune Pro. Additionally, the Auto Key feature helps to detect the key and scale of any project.
It can be used to improve vocals, while also adding a great amount of creativity to sounds. Auto-tune is often used as a pop and hip-hop vocal plugin to give the vocals a signature sound that is common across some sub-genres.
Graph mode for manual editing
Live input for low latency monitoring
Audio Random Access Support for tight integration
Very popular in the industry
Check it out: Antares Auto-Tune Pro
2. Melodyne 4 Essential
Celemony Melodyne 4 is a top choice for processing recorded vocals (and other sounds).
It is known for its time correction, natural-sounding mix, easy navigation, and other useful tools which helps to tighten a track’s pitch impeccably.
A vast range of melodies and rhythms gives enough room for experimentation. Conclusively, Celemony Melodyne 4 includes almost all features that can transform your vocals to perfection.
Transpose music and scales easily
AAX, RTAS, AU, VST formats available
Heavily used in the industry for processing recorded vocals
It is known for its time correction, natural-sounding mix, easy navigation, and other useful tools which helps to tighten a track’s pitch impeccably.
A vast range of melodies and rhythms gives enough room for experimentation. Conclusively, Celemony Melodyne 4 includes almost all features that can transform your vocals to perfection.
Transpose music and scales easily
AAX, RTAS, AU, VST formats available
Heavily used in the industry for processing recorded vocals
Check it out: Melodyne 4 Essential
3. iZotope VocalSynth 2
This is a great plugin to sculpt and transform vocals.
Since it is not only a wonderful voice processor but also comes out stronger with its instrumental processes for all kinds of audio. It has got all the creative tools, a user-friendly design interface, and a revamped CPU optimization.
The Biovox tool is an innovative addition to VocalSynth 2 that helps to adjust vocal nasality, vowel sounds, and formatting. The plugin can also help to establish inter-plugin communication with the Ozone, iZotope's Neutron, Tonal Balance Control, etc
AAX, RTAS, AU, VST2, VST3, AudioSuite
Bivox module
Advanced view of the synth engine
Enhanced sound effects
Includes five vocal engines; Vocoder, Compuvox, Polyvox, Talkbox, and Biovox
Since it is not only a wonderful voice processor but also comes out stronger with its instrumental processes for all kinds of audio. It has got all the creative tools, a user-friendly design interface, and a revamped CPU optimization.
The Biovox tool is an innovative addition to VocalSynth 2 that helps to adjust vocal nasality, vowel sounds, and formatting. The plugin can also help to establish inter-plugin communication with the Ozone, iZotope's Neutron, Tonal Balance Control, etc
AAX, RTAS, AU, VST2, VST3, AudioSuite
Bivox module
Advanced view of the synth engine
Enhanced sound effects
Includes five vocal engines; Vocoder, Compuvox, Polyvox, Talkbox, and Biovox
Check it out: iZotope VocalSynth 2
4. iZotope Nectar 3
iZotope is a front runner in quality plugins and their vocal processing plugins, and this is no exception.
The great features of iZotope Nectar 3 justifies its popularity. The plugin includes six main modules, including EQ, Harmony, Dimension, and Compressors. The plugin saves you a whole lot of time with its speeding and mixing effect simultaneously. It crafts a better vocal track with its fine series of audio processors and a virtual vocal assistant.
The latter takes care of your pitch and automation corrections and much more. All in all, iZotope Nectar 3 is a great choice for a vocal plugin.
Very easy to use.
De-esser module
Pitch and auto-level module
Vocal assistant is very helpful
Dynamic and EQ mode is amazing
The great features of iZotope Nectar 3 justifies its popularity. The plugin includes six main modules, including EQ, Harmony, Dimension, and Compressors. The plugin saves you a whole lot of time with its speeding and mixing effect simultaneously. It crafts a better vocal track with its fine series of audio processors and a virtual vocal assistant.
The latter takes care of your pitch and automation corrections and much more. All in all, iZotope Nectar 3 is a great choice for a vocal plugin.
Very easy to use.
De-esser module
Pitch and auto-level module
Vocal assistant is very helpful
Dynamic and EQ mode is amazing
Check it out: iZotope Nectar 3
5. Waves Vocal Plugin Bundle
The waves vocal bundle comes with a diverse range of four processors in one package.
The waves vocal bundle is great for fine-tuning, voice processing, and pitch correction issues. The ‘De-breath’ plugin, reduces and eliminates human excessive breathing while singing.
Its Renaissance Channel and Equaliser, De-Esser, and Compressor plugins can help you polish vocals in your track. The virtual channel strip attends to the EQ, compression, limiting, and gating.
Great pitch correction
Works for both monophonic and polyphonic sounds
Streamlined compressor
Vintage modeled EQ
Intuitive user interface
The waves vocal bundle is great for fine-tuning, voice processing, and pitch correction issues. The ‘De-breath’ plugin, reduces and eliminates human excessive breathing while singing.
Its Renaissance Channel and Equaliser, De-Esser, and Compressor plugins can help you polish vocals in your track. The virtual channel strip attends to the EQ, compression, limiting, and gating.
Great pitch correction
Works for both monophonic and polyphonic sounds
Streamlined compressor
Vintage modeled EQ
Intuitive user interface
Check it out: Waves Vocal Plugin Bundle
6. Little AlterBoy
Little AlterBoy specializes in dramatic sound effects and voice transmissions.
The plugin is from Soundtoys, a well-respected plugin development company. It has you covered starting from vocal melody, vocoder effects, single pitch robotic sounds, to formants. The plugin provides hard-tune effects and locks vocals.
Moreover, Little AlterBoy also creates mixes using instant vocal harmonies. The plugin includes four formats: AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite, VST, and Audio Units (AU).
Vocal formant and pitch shifting
Hard Tune FX
Robot/Vocoder Mode
Tube Drive
Monophonic Voice manipulation with Pitch, Format, Drive and Mix Controls
MIDI vocoder
The plugin is from Soundtoys, a well-respected plugin development company. It has you covered starting from vocal melody, vocoder effects, single pitch robotic sounds, to formants. The plugin provides hard-tune effects and locks vocals.
Moreover, Little AlterBoy also creates mixes using instant vocal harmonies. The plugin includes four formats: AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite, VST, and Audio Units (AU).
Vocal formant and pitch shifting
Hard Tune FX
Robot/Vocoder Mode
Tube Drive
Monophonic Voice manipulation with Pitch, Format, Drive and Mix Controls
MIDI vocoder
Check it out: Little AlterBoy
7. Vocal Splitter
The Vocal Splitter is a definite win for producing wide-sounding vocals.
This is a very common process used in modern vocal productions. The plugin provides easy and time-saving ways to bring your mono vocals into a modern-sounding stereo.
Its dry/wet mix dialing, frequency parameter, speed and depth, and drive and filter adjustments are on point. It puts forth wide and modern vocals from a mono source, includes presets with one-click transformation, and tunes the speed and depth of power effect.
Drive dial to add grit and increase definition
Mute Source buttons for effects
Full PDF Manual and Tutorial video
This is a very common process used in modern vocal productions. The plugin provides easy and time-saving ways to bring your mono vocals into a modern-sounding stereo.
Its dry/wet mix dialing, frequency parameter, speed and depth, and drive and filter adjustments are on point. It puts forth wide and modern vocals from a mono source, includes presets with one-click transformation, and tunes the speed and depth of power effect.
Drive dial to add grit and increase definition
Mute Source buttons for effects
Full PDF Manual and Tutorial video
Check it out: Vocal Splitter
8. TAL-Vocoder (Free)
A nice free vocoder from a great maker of plugins.
Tal vocoder is great for producing retro-style vocals, as well as sounds that can be processed and sculpted in interesting ways. If you're tired of the stock vocoder in your DAW, then you have nothing to lose by downloading this one.
11 band vocoder engines
Can route an external carrier signal
Harmonic control
Low CPU usage
Windows and OSX plugins available
Tal vocoder is great for producing retro-style vocals, as well as sounds that can be processed and sculpted in interesting ways. If you're tired of the stock vocoder in your DAW, then you have nothing to lose by downloading this one.
11 band vocoder engines
Can route an external carrier signal
Harmonic control
Low CPU usage
Windows and OSX plugins available
Check it out: TAL-Vocoder
9. MAutoPitch (Free)
This is a nice, free auto-tune-style plugin.
It certainly doesn't have the features and sound of the bigger, paid auto-tune and post-processing plugins that we have previously gone through, but it's still really great for a free plugin.
It has creative features such as formant shift and stereo expansion. The plugin has an easy-to-use interface and is free of cost.
Multiple options and effects
Preset switching
Automatic gain compensation
Supports VST, VST3, AAX, AU formats
Free
It certainly doesn't have the features and sound of the bigger, paid auto-tune and post-processing plugins that we have previously gone through, but it's still really great for a free plugin.
It has creative features such as formant shift and stereo expansion. The plugin has an easy-to-use interface and is free of cost.
Multiple options and effects
Preset switching
Automatic gain compensation
Supports VST, VST3, AAX, AU formats
Free
Check it out: MAutoPitch
10. FabFilter Pro-Q 3
Fabfilter Pro-Q is the EQ plugin choice among many top producers.
It exports the highest quality sound, with a great interface. The plugin is high on useful features such as external spectrum visualization with overlaps frequency content, new filter types, and Brickwall modes for LPF and HPF.
To top it all off, Pro Q3 has three processing modes; Zero Latency, Natural Phase, and Linear Phase to tackle every vocal and pitch issues you might encounter.
Dynamic EQ
Up to 24 bands and a huge range of filters
Highly efficient processing and low memory usage
A highly respected plugin in the industry.
It exports the highest quality sound, with a great interface. The plugin is high on useful features such as external spectrum visualization with overlaps frequency content, new filter types, and Brickwall modes for LPF and HPF.
To top it all off, Pro Q3 has three processing modes; Zero Latency, Natural Phase, and Linear Phase to tackle every vocal and pitch issues you might encounter.
Dynamic EQ
Up to 24 bands and a huge range of filters
Highly efficient processing and low memory usage
A highly respected plugin in the industry.
Check it out: . FabFilter Pro-Q 3
11. Image-Line Vocodex
The Image-Line Vocodex is well-known for its noise cancellation and flexible features. It also offers excellent noise reduction, which helps to reduce ambient noise and errors.
Voice doubling is also achievable with the plugin. This is very effective when harmonizing a line to add interest to your composition. The built-in reverb is a nice touch that complements the voice doubling and makes it sound more natural.
It also includes a Soundgoodizer plugin, which is essentially a sound-boosting plugin that helps limit and gives the recording a warm output. It also has up to 100 bands that can be used and updated to improve vocal quality anywhere on the spectrum.
All of this comes at a reasonable price, making this plugin one of the most popular on the market.
Speech enhancement useful for podcasts
Noise reduction or noise gate feature
Voice doubling and harmonizing features
Reverb
Built-in Soundgoodizer
Voice doubling is also achievable with the plugin. This is very effective when harmonizing a line to add interest to your composition. The built-in reverb is a nice touch that complements the voice doubling and makes it sound more natural.
It also includes a Soundgoodizer plugin, which is essentially a sound-boosting plugin that helps limit and gives the recording a warm output. It also has up to 100 bands that can be used and updated to improve vocal quality anywhere on the spectrum.
All of this comes at a reasonable price, making this plugin one of the most popular on the market.
Speech enhancement useful for podcasts
Noise reduction or noise gate feature
Voice doubling and harmonizing features
Reverb
Built-in Soundgoodizer
Check it out: . Image-Line Vocodex
12. Sonnox Vox Doubler
Wide vocal outputs and stereo capabilities are two of the plugin's most well-known features. This plugin can produce excellent double and triple vocal tracks with a lot of width and depth.
It also gives the vocal sounds greater thickness, giving them a more realistic quality. The Humanise feature of this tool is a fantastic addition, allowing you to experiment with the recording's timings and pitch for even more authentic results.
This plugin's depth control adds more depth to the scene, which may be utilized on multiple layers to make it more fascinating.
This is also a reasonably priced option for producers who are new to music creation and cannot afford to invest a lot of money in high-end plugins.
Double and triple vocal track capabilities
Humanise section
Depth control
It also gives the vocal sounds greater thickness, giving them a more realistic quality. The Humanise feature of this tool is a fantastic addition, allowing you to experiment with the recording's timings and pitch for even more authentic results.
This plugin's depth control adds more depth to the scene, which may be utilized on multiple layers to make it more fascinating.
This is also a reasonably priced option for producers who are new to music creation and cannot afford to invest a lot of money in high-end plugins.
Double and triple vocal track capabilities
Humanise section
Depth control
Check it out: . Sonnox Vox Doubler
13. iZotope Vocal Doubler
If you're looking for a free plugin to help you improve your vocals then look no further, iZotope has got you covered. The vocal doubler plugin is the perfect way to improve the quality of your vocals without having to spend more money on another plugin.
The plugin is relatively light on your CPU as well so if you're working on a low-end workstation, this is the perfect plugin for you.
A simple and clear user interface adds to the plugin's ease of use and makes it even more appealing to newcomers interested in getting into music creation.
Low CPU usage
Ease of use
The plugin is relatively light on your CPU as well so if you're working on a low-end workstation, this is the perfect plugin for you.
A simple and clear user interface adds to the plugin's ease of use and makes it even more appealing to newcomers interested in getting into music creation.
Low CPU usage
Ease of use
Check it out: . iZotope Vocal Doubler
14. Krotos Dehumaniser Simple Monsters
This plugin, unlike others before it, will cost you a little more, but it will undoubtedly deliver, and it is nowhere near the price of professional plugins.
The 5 dynamic settings and sample scrubber function set this apart from the competition, allowing you to rapidly and simply build sounds and adjust the audio to your liking.
It also includes an iOS app, which is a nice addition to an already excellent plugin.
Dynamic parameters
Sample scrubbing feature
New TouchOSC integration for iOS
Solo scrubbing playback
The 5 dynamic settings and sample scrubber function set this apart from the competition, allowing you to rapidly and simply build sounds and adjust the audio to your liking.
It also includes an iOS app, which is a nice addition to an already excellent plugin.
Dynamic parameters
Sample scrubbing feature
New TouchOSC integration for iOS
Solo scrubbing playback
Check it out: . Krotos Dehumaniser Simple Monsters
15. J-Hud Vocal King
This is another free plugin for producers who want to learn but don't want to invest money. It includes two compressors/limiters, which is a nice feature. It also has a preamp and a final comp, allowing you to have more control over your audio file.
The plugin's signal flow also contains a four-band EQ, giving you more control and making the plugin even more user-friendly.
The plugin also acts as a preamp which helps in giving the signal a strong boost making it stand out on top of the instruments.
The easy interface with meters showing the in and out signals are a great addition to knowing exactly what you are doing with the vocal signal using the plugin and compressing the audio properly.
2 Compressors/limiters
Preamp knob
Final comp
The plugin's signal flow also contains a four-band EQ, giving you more control and making the plugin even more user-friendly.
The plugin also acts as a preamp which helps in giving the signal a strong boost making it stand out on top of the instruments.
The easy interface with meters showing the in and out signals are a great addition to knowing exactly what you are doing with the vocal signal using the plugin and compressing the audio properly.
2 Compressors/limiters
Preamp knob
Final comp
Check it out: . J-Hud Vocal King
16. Sonnox Oxford SuprEsser
Sonnox Oxford SuprEsser is a professional de-esser with a lot of features that makes it a suitable choice for numerous uses. It supports 64-bit AAX/AU/VST formats.
It also has a Linear Phase Dynamic EQ that may be used to make changes to the audio file. It also has automatic tracking that keeps track of your energy levels.
This implies you won't have to alter the take individually or utilize envelopes. The three distinct 'Listen' features are also a nice touch that adds to its versatility.
This plugin, however, is aimed at professionals, and when compared to other plugins in the same price range, the Sonnox Oxford SuprEsser falls short. As a result, it is not well-known among professional users, which is why it ranks so low on the list.
Highly featured De-esser
EQ
Full-spectrum operation
Automatic level tracking
It also has a Linear Phase Dynamic EQ that may be used to make changes to the audio file. It also has automatic tracking that keeps track of your energy levels.
This implies you won't have to alter the take individually or utilize envelopes. The three distinct 'Listen' features are also a nice touch that adds to its versatility.
This plugin, however, is aimed at professionals, and when compared to other plugins in the same price range, the Sonnox Oxford SuprEsser falls short. As a result, it is not well-known among professional users, which is why it ranks so low on the list.
Highly featured De-esser
EQ
Full-spectrum operation
Automatic level tracking
Check it out: . Sonnox Oxford SuprEsser
17. Accusonus ERA 4 Voice Leveler
This is one of those one-knob plugins that many producers will find extremely simple and efficient to operate. It gives the user very little control in general, which might be problematic for some users and producers.
It is, however, an excellent alternative for new users and producers who are looking to learn more about audio music production. It's also a wonderful option for minimalist producers who don't want to dig too deep into the control and just want a quick repair for their vocal tracks.
It comes with a simple control that is normal and tight. The regular setting produces a standard output, whilst the tight setting produces a more radio-friendly and pop standard output.
Both audio and video Recordings
Single Knob Plug-In
Balanced Audio Levels
2 different Modes
It is, however, an excellent alternative for new users and producers who are looking to learn more about audio music production. It's also a wonderful option for minimalist producers who don't want to dig too deep into the control and just want a quick repair for their vocal tracks.
It comes with a simple control that is normal and tight. The regular setting produces a standard output, whilst the tight setting produces a more radio-friendly and pop standard output.
Both audio and video Recordings
Single Knob Plug-In
Balanced Audio Levels
2 different Modes
Check it out: . Accusonus ERA 4 Voice Leveler
18. W.A. Production Vocal Compressor
Because this plugin is specifically created for vocal processing, it has three compression levels to provide the most authentic output.
The first step of the peaks compressor evens out the audio and makes it sound smoother by removing amplitude spikes.
The next part of the chain is the balance compressor which is kind of a parallel compression that leaves out the loud transients but boots the softer parts of the vocals which even out the audio even more.
Flavour compression is the next phase, which adds tape saturation, harmonics, and other subtle modifications to the audio to make it sound more attractive to the ear.
The plugin also comes with noise gate ratio, frequency shaping, and other details which lets you dial in the perfect sound you are looking for in your vocal recordings.
Easy to use design
3 different compressors
Noise gate ratio feature
Frequency shaping features according to taste
The first step of the peaks compressor evens out the audio and makes it sound smoother by removing amplitude spikes.
The next part of the chain is the balance compressor which is kind of a parallel compression that leaves out the loud transients but boots the softer parts of the vocals which even out the audio even more.
Flavour compression is the next phase, which adds tape saturation, harmonics, and other subtle modifications to the audio to make it sound more attractive to the ear.
The plugin also comes with noise gate ratio, frequency shaping, and other details which lets you dial in the perfect sound you are looking for in your vocal recordings.
Easy to use design
3 different compressors
Noise gate ratio feature
Frequency shaping features according to taste
Check it out: . W.A. Production Vocal Compressor
19. Softube Vocoder
Softube Vocoder is a plugin from Universal Audio, a well-known developer. This plugin, however, does not produce the same high-quality outputs that the brand is recognized for.
This plugin is reasonably priced, making it an excellent alternative for newer producers who want to get a feel for industry-standard developers and try out their products without spending a lot of money.
This plugin has a lot of useful features. It's simply a vocoder emulator that produces a warm, three-dimensional, gritty sound. If you want to create a retro style, this is the tool to utilize. It also includes Resynthesis Control, which allows you to tweak the audio's spectral response.
It also has a futuristic freeze feature which can be used in creative ways to spit and cut audios to create sound effects for your tracks.
Analog synth Goodness
Resynthesis Control
Futuristic freeze
This plugin is reasonably priced, making it an excellent alternative for newer producers who want to get a feel for industry-standard developers and try out their products without spending a lot of money.
This plugin has a lot of useful features. It's simply a vocoder emulator that produces a warm, three-dimensional, gritty sound. If you want to create a retro style, this is the tool to utilize. It also includes Resynthesis Control, which allows you to tweak the audio's spectral response.
It also has a futuristic freeze feature which can be used in creative ways to spit and cut audios to create sound effects for your tracks.
Analog synth Goodness
Resynthesis Control
Futuristic freeze
Check it out: . Softube Vocoder
20. EasyVox
This is yet another free plugin that is always useful to have on hand in your workstation for when you want to try out new things.
It has a three-band equalizer, which is useful for quickly altering effects in audio recordings. It also includes an auto noise gate, auto gain, and pre limiters, all of which can help you regulate and enhance your audio recording to meet your specific demands.
This plugin comes with a lot of control and editing options that can be used to learn or create fascinating effects in your audio projects, especially considering its low price.
Dynamic mono vocal compressor/limiter/enhancer
3-Band EQ
Autiogain and Pre-limiter
Auto Noisegate
It has a three-band equalizer, which is useful for quickly altering effects in audio recordings. It also includes an auto noise gate, auto gain, and pre limiters, all of which can help you regulate and enhance your audio recording to meet your specific demands.
This plugin comes with a lot of control and editing options that can be used to learn or create fascinating effects in your audio projects, especially considering its low price.
Dynamic mono vocal compressor/limiter/enhancer
3-Band EQ
Autiogain and Pre-limiter
Auto Noisegate
Check it out: . EasyVox
Summary
Vocal plugins are great for helping create professional-level vocals in your music. Many of them are free, and some of them can be used in almost any DAW to help you tune your vocals precisely to the note that you want.
They also process vocals with amazing results, adding creativity where needed. This list has a wide selection of different plugins that will, without a doubt, help and improve vocals in your music production process.
