The best plugins: Discover the best choice for your library

There are a lot of plugins to choose from. Finding the best plugins for your library can be a daunting task. We’ve done a lot of plugin rundowns that cover different categories.

Here we go over our favorites in each type – paid and free – so you can save some time shopping around and get back to making music.

Best channel strip plugin: Waves Scheps Omni Channel

Channel strip plugins combine multiple processors in a single plugin, which is convenient and frees up recording computer resources for other mix elements. Waves’ Omni Channel offers different preamps, filters, EQs, compressors, de-esser, and a gate/expander in one GUI.

You can customize the signal chain however you want, and it works in mono, dual mono, stereo, and mid-side modes.

Best EQ plugin: FabFilter Pro-Q 4

Pro-Q 4 might be the most versatile EQ plugin ever. There are up to 24 bands, and through the interactive display you can add or sketch them where you need, enable them as dynamic, and manipulate the parameters of multiple bands at once.

Features like Spectrum Grab and EQ Match speeds up your workflow so you can mix in the moment. You can control other plugins through the interface, or use Spectral Dynamics mode to change the gain of a band if it exceeds your set threshold.

It’s impossible to lay out everything you can do with Pro-Q 4, that’s what makes it one of the best EQ plugins. And you don’t have to worry about sterile, digital sounds. Different EQ types let you add color if you want.

Best Pultec plugin: UAD Pultec Collection

It’s no surprise the most convincing and best Pultec plugin comes from Universal Audio. It accurately models the signal path of the original hardware units, which is critical in bringing this beloved mythical analog EQ to the digital realm.

Included are the EQP-1A, MEQ-5, and HLF-3C Pultec models. What sets the Pultec apart from other equalizers is that it can cut and boost simultaneously. You have to learn how to use it, because it’s unlike any other. There’s a reason professionals swear by it.

Best free EQ plugin: Sonimus SonEQ

One of the best free EQ plugins is one that should be more popular. SonEQ is a great all-around equalizer, even if it does only offer three frequency bands.

You can boost and attenuate the lows, and the mids and highs have a single gain knob. You can select between four frequencies over the lows and highs, and there’s a slider to set the midpoint from 150Hz to 4kHz. 

Input and output controls keep levels in check, and a defeatable drive lets you get the signal dirty or you can leave it clean. Low-pass and high-pass filters handle shelving.

All-in-all it’s a well-rounded EQ that sounds great, doesn’t take up much system resources.

Best compressor plugin: FabFilter Pro-C 2

Compressor plugins are as varied as the source material they’re used on, so you want at least one versatile option in your plugin library. Pro-C 2 is that and more. 

It’s great for clean compression, but can get vibey if that’s what your tracks call for. Multiple metering views let you know exactly how your signal is being effected, and the attack and release can be set to a program-dependent mode for more accurate time constants.

If you’re going for a lot of color it’s probably not the best choice, but when it comes to versatility not many do it better.

Best free compressor plugin: Analog Obsession Fetish

There are so many free compressor plugins it’s beyond overwhelming. But few are truly designed to model analog hardware, much less the most famous compressor of all time – the 1176.

Everything from the circuit behavior to the GUI is accurate, but Analog Obsession took it a step further in adding a 4-band EQ and wet/dry Mix control. It’s not just one of the best free 1176 plugins. It’s one of the best compressors, free or paid, you’ll find.

Best saturation plugin: Soundtoys Decapitator 5

Another plugin meticulously modeled after analog hardware, Decapitator brings authentic analog saturation to your DAW. From subtle to extreme and the spectrum in between you get five hardware models. 

Five buttons at the bottom of the GUI provide different sound options, and then you further customize the sound with the control knobs. Mix lets you blend in the effect with the dry signal, so no more cumbersome routing to achieve parallel saturation.

Drive it as hard as you want. It gets nasty, but in the most musical way possible.

Best reverb plugin: Liquid Sonics Seventh Heaven

There isn’t any plugin equivalent of the heavenly Bricasti M7 reverb unit, and few have tried. But Liquid Sonics knocked it out of the park with Seventh Heaven. There are two versions to choose from. Professional comes with 256 sounds and Standard with 30.

The reverbs are lush and authentic, and the GUI isn’t too busy. Other reverb plugins can get crazier sounds, but none of them sound as natural as this.

Best delay plugin: FabFilter Timeless 3

FabFilter does it again with one of the most customizable delay plugins. It’s not about what can you do with it, more about what you can’t do. Which is pretty much nothing. From simple taps to tweaked out modulation effects you’re only limited by the time you want to spend with it. 

It has filtering, onboard effects, feedback routing, and analog tape parameters like wow and flutter. The biggest issue is how daunting it can be to learn, but there are plenty of presets to give you a head start.

Best virtual instrument plugin: Native Instruments Kontakt 8

Kontakt is the platform for virtual instrument plugins. It’s equipped with features for sparking new ideas fast, and it allows you to build custom instruments. The best part is that it supports thousands of third party sample-based instruments, so there’s no end to the sonic exploration you can do with it.

Conflux hybrid synthesizer combines wavetable and FM synthesis so you can manipulate samples like no other plugin but Kontakt can. 

Best free virtual instrument plugin: Native Instruments Kontakt Komplete Start

Kontakt is great, but it’s always good to give a plugin a go before you commit to it. Komplete Start gives you over 2,000 sounds to play around with over every type of virtual instrument imaginable, which is a pretty amazing sample size (pun intended!).

It’s not just the 18 free virtual instruments. You get loops, samples, and effects all curated by Native Instruments. 

FAQ

Do I need a lot of plugins to make great music?

Not at all. In fact, many successful producers limit themselves to a core group of well-known selections. Mastery of a few versatile plugins often leads to better, faster production than constantly chasing the next best thing.

Are there any plugin bundles that are worth investing in?

Bundles can save you a lot of money. FabFilter Total Bundle includes world-class EQ, compressor, reverb, limiter, and more. Soundtoys 5 Suite provides a complete arsenal of creative FX. 

Plugin Alliance’s MEGA Bundle gives you access to analog-modeled gear from SSL, Neve, and more with subscription flexibility. Komplete 14 by Native Instruments is an enormous bundle that includes synths (Massive X, FM8), samplers, pianos, orchestral instruments, and effects perfect for hybrid composers or producers.

What does VST stand for? DONE

Created by Steinberg in 1996 at the advent of modern digital recording, VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology.  It’s a standard for audio plug-ins that allows processing and virtual instruments to be integrated into DAWs to create and manipulate digital audio.