5 Types of Plug-ins Every Studio Needs

Plug-ins are often the most flexible and cost-effective way
to take a sterile performance and transform it into a show-stopping piece of
sonic artwork. And, for most of us who don’t have the space or cash it takes to
accumulate costly outboard gear, working in the box is the only way our
recordings can reach radio readiness. Here at Sweetwater, we think that every
studio can benefit from plug-ins, no matter if you’re recording your own demos
or serving elite clientele. You’ll need at least one plug-in of the five major
types. Here are Sweetwater’s top picks in each category.

UtilityCompressionEqualizationReverbEffects

Utility

In addition to the artist’s performance, today’s hits owe a lot of their success to utility plug-ins. But what is a utility plug-in? They’re the oddball plug-ins in your library that you don’t think about until you need them. You may not need to use a utility plug-in every day, every week, or even every month, but, when you do need one, you’ll be glad you have it. For example, what do you do when you need to make a stereo file into surround sound? Fire up the appropriate utility plug-in. Next week, you might hear something weird in your track and be unable to find it. There’s a utility plug-in for that, too. Whether you’re restoring audio, metering, searching for anomalies, or time aligning overdubs, utility plug-ins are a must-have for every studio.

Steven Slate Drums Trigger 2 PlatinumLearn More

iZotope Insight 2 EssentialLearn More

Audified MixCheckerLearn More

Kilohearts MultipassLearn More

Sonarworks SoundIDLearn More

Synchro Arts VocAlign UltraLearn More

Zynaptiq IntensityLearn More

Steven Slate Drums Trigger 2 PlatinumiZotope Insight 2 EssentialAudified MixCheckerKilohearts MultipassSonarworks SoundIDSynchro Arts VocAlign UltraZynaptiq Intensity

Compression

At its most basic, a compressor plug-in reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal. By adding compression, you quite literally minimize the differences between the peaks and valleys of a sound. Compression can help even up wishy-washy dynamics in a take, resulting in a much more consistent product. We constantly call on compression at Sweetwater to squash drums, iron out vocals, and fatten up bass guitars. Plus, it’s one of the secrets to a killer clean-guitar tone. While they’re squashing unruly signals, compressor plug-ins give life to your tracks by adding color and character to the finished product. Every compressor plug-in will have its own sonic stamp whether it takes sonic cues from legendary hardware compressors or blazes its own digital path. Beyond that, your compression plug-in is the “glue” that holds all the tracks together. If you don’t have a compressor plug-in yet, then make sure to get one. It’ll change the way your tracks sound — for the better.

Waves CLA-76Learn More

FabFilter Pro-MBLearn More

Sonnox Oxford Dynamics Learn More

McDSP Analog Channel NativeLearn More

Solid State Logic SSL LMC+Learn More

Leapwing Audio DynOneLearn More

Sonnox Oxford InflatorLearn More

Waves CLA-76FabFilter Pro-MBSonnox Oxford Dynamics McDSP Analog Channel NativeSolid State Logic SSL LMC+Leapwing Audio DynOneSonnox Oxford Inflator

Equalization

An EQ plug-in, short for “equalizer,” makes it easy to correct frequency imbalances and issues in a mix. Whether it’s a graphic multiband EQ or an old-school fixed-band emulation, an EQ plug-in can help you bring an instrument to life and cut down on frequencies you don’t want. But, beyond that, well-applied EQ places each element of your mix into its own box. Once there, it won’t overwhelm or interfere with other instruments, percussion elements, or vocal tracks. If you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of EQ, that’s okay! We know how to EQ specific sources and offer a free EQ frequency cheat sheet of all the “magic” frequencies to help you get up to speed.

Sonnox Oxford R3 EQLearn More

Waves PuigTec EQsLearn More

FabFilter Pro-Q 3Learn More

KIT Plugins BB N105Learn More

Sonible smart:EQ 3Learn More

Baby Audio Smooth OperatorLearn More

Sonnox Oxford R3 EQWaves PuigTec EQsFabFilter Pro-Q 3KIT Plugins BB N105Sonible smart:EQ 3Baby Audio Smooth Operator

Reverb

While there are a few famous songs that feature absolutely zero reverb, the vast majority of today’s music features reverb in some capacity. Be it lightly applied to pianos and keys or drenching the lead vocals of a shoegaze track, reverb is everywhere in contemporary music. Alongside compression, reverb gives your mix the sense that each element occupies the same space. Applied correctly, reverb can make a guitar take recorded in California sound like it was recorded right next to your drum kit in Cleveland. Reverb plug-ins range from straightforward plug-ins to complex multi-effects processors that can achieve any sort of reverb your projects demand. Whether you’re looking for a room, hall, chamber, spring, plate, or algorithmic reverb, Sweetwater has them all!

Soundtoys Little PlateLearn More

iZotope NeoverbLearn More

Audio Ease Altiverb 7Learn More

Apogee Clearmountain SpacesLearn More

Baby Audio Spaced OutLearn More

Eventide BlackholeLearn More

Soundtoys Little PlateiZotope NeoverbAudio Ease Altiverb 7Apogee Clearmountain SpacesBaby Audio Spaced OutEventide Blackhole

Effects

Generally, effects plug-ins function as useful sound-design tools. Of course, many different options, effects, and intended uses influence a purchase, but the principle remains the same. An effects plug-in is a sound-design tool that takes your original signal and transforms it into something utterly unique. Need to saturate a bass line? No problem. Adding analog-like warmth to a hushed vocal is child’s play. With the right special-effects plug-ins at your disposal, the creative possibilities are limitless. Do you desire to have vocals that sound like you’re singing through a megaphone at the bottom of the ocean? Check. Want to see what happens when you put a triangle sample through a sequenced modulation effect? No problem. Below are some favorites that users at Sweetwater recommend.

XLN Audio RC-20 Retro ColorLearn More

iZotope VocalSynth 2Learn More

Soundtoys DecapitatorLearn More

Baby Audio Super VHSLearn More

Kilohearts FaturatorLearn More

Sugar Bytes EffectrixLearn More

Output PortalLearn More

XLN Audio RC-20 Retro ColoriZotope VocalSynth 2Soundtoys DecapitatorBaby Audio Super VHSKilohearts FaturatorSugar Bytes EffectrixOutput Portal

Every Studio Needs Plug-ins!

Plug-in proselyte or professional, if you’re ready to take your audio production to the next level, then you’ll need the right plug-ins. The options represented here are but a fraction of Sweetwater’s plug-in selection. You can browse all of our plug-in options here or reach out to your personal Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 to get help finding the perfect plug-in for your needs.

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