The Best Plugins of 2024: Top Audio Processors
Some of this year's most exciting plug-in releases.
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We look back at some of the best plugins designed for music production, mixing, and mastering released over the course of this year.
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As new plug-ins are released almost every other day, how do we decide what makes one great? Well, for the most part, there are very few that are offering something completely new. In fact, it’s more about offering a unique combination of processes that not only gets you great-sounding results, but also improves your workflow.
The Best Plugins of 2024
Because vocals are the most commonly recorded musical instrument in any modern style of music, many of today’s plug-in designs are focussed on the processing of vocal signals.
Naturally, when assessing a new plug-in, we always compare it with the average stock plug-in you find in your DAW these days, which is, in fact, very good. This will give us an indication as to how any new plug-in might fit into our workflow, and what makes it worthwhile overall.
The Best Plugins of 2024: Universal Audio Topline Vocal Suite
Topline Vocal Suite is a comprehensive vocal processing system packed into one easy-to-use plug-in interface. There are three main sections that cover everything from autotune and pitch shifting, to saturation, compression, and EQ, as well as modulation, delay, and reverb effects.
Each effect section has a simple one or two-knob interface, but there is still enough variety to produce a wide range of sounds. What’s more, with formant shifting and effects ducking, you can go beyond just making your vocals sound professional and get creative.
Now that the price has come down by half, Topline Vocal Suite is a competitive option for producers. Although the controls are fairly limited in some sections, the sonic quality of the effects is great, and you can select the combination that suits your track fast.
- More from Universal Audio
The Best Plugins of 2024: SSL Module8
Module8 is a plug-in that steps outside of the scope usually covered by SSL’s range of processing plug-ins. With its flexible interface, you can mix and match any of the 6 modules to create your own effects chains.
Also, each of these phaser, chorus, flanger, vibrato, tremolo, and panner modules can be individually bypassed and there are rate controls that can sync up with your DAW tempo. There is also a global LFO rate, so each module can link up with this or you can use different divisions or LFO speeds (Hz).
In addition, there are fixed Lo-Fi and reverb modules to add even more character and depth to your sound. Overall, Modulate is a versatile creative processor, and although the controls are simplified in some areas, it’s still a great platform for effects.
- More from SSL
The Best Plugins of 2024: Oeksound Bloom
With its unique approach to signal processing and interface design, the Finnish developer Oeksound launched another great audio plug-in this year called Bloom. According to Oeksound, Bloom is not a multiband dynamic EQ.
Instead, the developer prefers the term adaptive tone shaper, as Bloom can be put to work in situations where you would normally use multiband compression, saturation, or dynamic equalization.
Bloom’s processing engine is divided over four frequency ranges where you can add compression and expansion, with mid and side processing modes. Without threshold controls, Bloom analyzes and makes adjustments according to the dynamics and frequency range of the input signal. This makes it useful on just about anything, from individual tracks to your mix bus.
The Best Plugins of 2024: Brainworx bx_enhancer
Besides the impressive mastering plug-ins released by Brainworx this year, the bx_enhancer was one of the most exciting offerings. There are many plug-ins trying to provide professional audio tools that are straightforward enough for beginners, but Brainworx has created something special with the bx_enhancer.
As a beginner, the more technical aspects of music production like compression and equalization can come across rather obtusely when you’re just trying to make beats. Many of the pro audio plug-ins you find force you to put your analytical hat on, which can stifle creativity.
Instead, bx_enhancer allows you to make adjustments to an entire channel-stip quickly and easily, so you can focus on making the music you love. The combination of saturation, clipping, compression, EQ, stereo width controls, and metering makes this a great plug-in to have in your arsenal.
- More from Brainworx
The Best Plugins of 2024: NoiseWorks DynAssist
A release that may have gone under the radar for many of us this year, myself included, was that of NoiseWorks DynAssist. This useful plug-in is designed to shave hours off your editing time when dealing with vocals.
Essentially, DynAssist is a vocal gain rider, an AI-powered vocal gate, as well as a breath and sibilance attenuator in one easy-to-use plug-in. With each of the four sections, you have a set of controls to adjust the depth of the processing.
Whether you’re recording vocals for music, or speech for video or podcast content, DynAssist is a great solution for getting a more professional sound and it’s a great addition to any DAW workflow.
More about the Best Plugins:
- Thomann’s Guide To Plug-ins
- All about Audio Software
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