Plugins can transform a mix, but with thousands to choose from, it’s easy to buy the wrong ones or use the right ones badly. This hub gathers our plugin guides: what you need for a full mix, the best free mixing plugins, mastering plugins, multiband compression, stereo imaging, exciters, gain staging, pitch correction, lo-fi effects and metering.
It’s for producers building or trimming a plugin folder, and for anyone who wants to understand what a type of plugin does before reaching for it. Start with The Plugins I Need To Do A Full Mix to see the core toolkit, then the free mixing plugins roundup if you’re on a budget. After that, explore by job: mastering, imaging, dynamics, tuning or creative effects. The Voxengo SPAN guide shows how to use a free analyzer to check your mixes as you go.
Start here: the best Plugins guides
- The Plugins I Need To Do A Full Mix
The EQ, dynamics, reverb and delay plugins you need for a complete mix. - The Best Free Mixing Plugins You Need to Try
Free mixing plugins worth trying, including Slate Digital Fresh Air, Valhalla Supermassive and TDR Nova. - Importance Of Gain Staging Plugins
Why gain staging matters and which plugins help keep levels clean. - How to Use VOXENGO SPAN for Mixing and Mastering
How to use the free Voxengo SPAN analyzer to spot problem frequencies in mixing and mastering. - The Best Waves Plugins and Bundles
Waves plugin picks for mastering, compression, EQ, reverb, vocals and more. - Which Plugins Are Recommended for Audio Mastering
Recommended mastering plugins, including FabFilter Pro-MB, Ozone and the Abbey Road TG chain. - Best Multiband Compressor Plugins For Mixing And Mastering
How multiband compressors work and top picks for mixing and mastering. - Best Stereo Imaging Plugins: Elevate Your Mixes!
Width, depth and mono compatibility, with the best stereo imaging plugins. - What is Harmonic Excitement and Exciter Plugins
What harmonic exciters do and when to use one in your productions. - Basics Of Vocal Tuning Using Pitch Correction Plugins
How pitch correction works, with Auto-Tune, Melodyne and Waves Tune compared. - Free Lo Fi Processing Vst Plugins
Free lo-fi plugins for vintage grit, including TAL-Dub-X, iZotope Vinyl and Krush. - The Best Tape Stop Plugin For Studio One 4
Tape stop plugins for Studio One, including Cableguys HalfTime and Kilohearts Tape Stop.
Plugins doing their job? Let Solar Heavy handle the last step: book a professional master, or browse all tutorials.
All Plugin Guides articles - Page 6
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