RENOWNED AND POPULAR MUSIC PRODUCTION PLUGINS.
Music production has come a long way in recent years, and with the availability of powerful digital audio workstations (DAWs) and high-quality plugins, it has never been easier for artists and producers to create professional-sounding music from the comfort of their own homes.
In this article, we will take a look at 15 of the most popular and highly-regarded plugins in the industry, covering a range of categories including samplers, synthesizers, EQs, compressors, reverbs, and more. Whether you are just starting out in music production or are a seasoned professional, these plugins are sure to help you achieve the sound you are looking for and take your music to the next level.
KONTAKT BY NATIVE INSTRUMENTS.
Kontakt by Native Instruments is a popular virtual instrument plugin used by music producers and composers to create a wide variety of sounds and samples. It is a software sampler that allows users to import and manipulate their own samples, as well as access a vast library of pre-made sample instruments. A myriad of add-on instruments, such as vintage keyboards, guitars, powerful orchestral sounds, lush synthesizers, and much more, can be downloaded (both free and paid add-on libraries are available).
Kontakt features advanced sound-shaping tools, including filters, envelopes, LFOs, and effects processing, as well as a range of modulation options for creating complex and dynamic sounds. It is also known for its intuitive interface, which makes it easy to navigate and access various settings, adjust parameters, presets, and more.
Kontakt’s versatility, powerful features, and ability to access stunning presets and virtual instruements, has made it a go-to tool for many professional music producers and composers.
SERUM BY XFER RECORDS.
Serum by Xfer Records is a wavetable synthesizer plugin released in 2014, and is arguably one of the most popular virtual synthesizers among music producers.
It is known for its powerful sound engine, which offers a variety of wavetable synthesis options, including the ability to import custom wavetables. Serum also features advanced modulation options, such as an extensive selection of LFOs, envelopes, and custom macro controls, which allow for complex sound shaping and manipulation.
Additionally, Serum offers a range of built-in effects processing tools, including filters, distortion, reverb, and more, which can be used to further enhance and shape the sound.
With its easy-to-use interface and powerful sound engine, Serum has become a top-choice for many music producers across various genres, from electronic music to hip-hop and beyond.
PRO-Q 3 BY FABFILTER.
Equalizers (EQs) are an almost essential part in achieving a well-rounded mix. These plugins allow, among other things, for different frequencies to be controlled and refined to better balance various sounds. The first equalizer plugin in this list is the Pro-Q 3 by FabFilter.
Pro-Q 3 is a professional equalizer plugin that offers high-quality sound processing and precise control over your mix. The plugin comes with a range of advanced features, including dynamic EQ (with a well-designed visual and interactive EQ display), mid-side processing, full surround support, a spectrum analyser, and more.
SSL E-CHANNEL BY WAVES.
The SSL E-Channel plugin is a digital emulation of the classic SSL 4000 console channel strip. It offers a range of processing options, including EQ, compression, gating, and more, and is popular among producers and engineers for its rich, analog-like sound.
SOUNDTOYS 5 BY SOUNDTOYS.
Soundtoys 5 is a bundle of creative effects plugins that includes a total of 21 plugins by SoundToys. These range from classic analogue emulators, to innovative processing tools (compressors, reverb, delay, distortion, etcetera). Some of the SoundToys plugins included with this bundle are: Decapitator, Little AlterBoy, PrimalTap, EchoBoy, Little Plate, and the Effect Rack.
The plugins in the Soundtoys bundle are popular among producers and sound designers for their unique sound and creative potential.
ARCADE BY OUTPUT.
Arcade is a sample and cloud-based plugin developed by Output. It provides access to a vast library of high-quality short-format loops and samples (over 50,000 sounds), which users can browse, download, and manipulate to create their own music compositions.
Arcade features a user-friendly interface that allows users to quickly find and audition sounds, as well as manipulate them in various ways. Users can browse the library by genre, mood, instrument, and other parameters, and can also search for specific sounds using keywords. Once a sound is selected, it can be adjusted through various controls, including pitch, tempo, and numerous effects (delay, reverb, etcetera).
It is now also possible to play the sounds from some of the instruments as individual presets/notes (rather than short-format loops). Previously, it was only possible to play short pre-made loops through Arcade, but this has since been changed, granting further abilities for near complete customization.
Another noteworthy feature of Arcade is its ability to automatically sync with the tempo and key of a project, making it easy to incorporate loops and samples into your composition.
L2 ULTRAMAXIMIZER BY WAVES.
L2 Ultramaximizer by Waves is a limiter that can increase the loudness of your tracks without compromising the dynamics or clarity. It also offers a range of features that can help you shape your sound and optimize it for different platforms and formats.
The L2 Ultramaximizer works by applying a brickwall limiter to your signal, which prevents it from exceeding a certain threshold level. You can adjust the threshold and the output ceiling to control how much limiting is applied and how loud your final output is. The plugin also has a release control that determines how fast the limiter reacts to changes in the signal level. You can use the auto-release mode to let the plugin adjust the release time automatically based on the characteristics of your audio.
A unique feature of the L2 ultramaximizer is the IDR (Increased Digital Resolution) system, which allows you to reduce the bit depth of your output without introducing unwanted noise or distortion. The IDR system consists of two components: a dither and a noise shaping algorithm. The dither adds a small amount of noise to your signal to mask the quantization errors that occur when reducing the bit depth. The noise shaping algorithm then shapes the noise spectrum to make it less audible and more compatible with your audio system. You can choose from four different types of dither and noise shaping to suit your preferences and needs.
OZONE 10 BY IZOTOPE.
Ozone by Izotope is an all-in-one mastering suite that includes a range of tools and processors designed to help users achieve a professional-sounding final mix.
Ozone features a versatile and modern interface and offers a variety of modules, including EQ, dynamics, exciter, imaging, and a limiter. The EQ module offers both digital and analog emulations of classic EQs, while the dynamics module includes a compressor, expander, and transient shaper, among other tools. The exciter module can add warmth and harmonics to the sound, while the imaging module can enhance stereo width and depth. Finally, the limiter module ensures that the final output is at a consistent and appropriate volume level.
With its comprehensive set of tools and modules, Ozone has become a prominent choice among mastering plugins.
PRO-L2 BY FABFILTER.
Pro-L 2 is a limiter plugin that offers advanced features such as true peak limiting, mid-side processing, and dynamic EQ, as well as a range of presets for different mastering scenarios.
MASSIVE BY NATIVE INSTRUEMENTS.
Massive is a popular virtual synthesizer plugin with a wide range of sound-shaping capabilities, including wavetable synthesis, modulation, and effects.
OMNISPHERE BY SPECTRASONICS .
Developed by Spectrasonics, Omnisphere is a highly regarded virtual synthesizer plugin among music producers and composers.
It is known for its extensive sound library, which features over 14,000 sounds and includes a range of synthesis techniques, such as wavetable, granular, and sample-based synthesis.
Omnisphere also features advanced modulation options, including an extensive selection of envelopes, LFOs, and custom macro controls, which allow for complex sound shaping and manipulation.
Additionally, it offers a range of built-in effects processing, including filters, delay, reverb, and more, which can be used to further enhance and shape the sound.
Omnisphere is a powerful tool that is used in a variety of genres, including film scoring, electronic music, and more, and is known for its versatility and flexibility in sound design.Â
VINTAGEVERB BY VALHALLA.
VintageVerb is a reverb plugin that has a range of vintage-style reverb algorithms, as well as advanced features such as modulation and decay control.
H3000 FACTORY BY EVENTIDE.
The H3000 Factory is a plugin version of the classic Eventide H3000 hardware effects processor. It offers a range of unique and innovative processing tools, including pitch shifting, harmonizing, and more.
SSL G-MASTER BUSS COMPRESSOR BY WAVES.
The SSL G-Master Buss Compressor is a plugin version of the classic SSL 4000 console bus compressor. It is popular among mixing engineers for its ability to glue a mix together and add punch and character.
AUTO-ALIGN BY SOUNDRADIX.
Auto-Align is a plugin that automatically corrects phase issues between multiple microphones or instruments. The plugin’s ability to improve the clarity and definition of a mix has made it a prominent choice among mixing engineers.
CONCLUSION.
Thanks to the abundance of powerful plugins available to producers and engineers, music production has never been more accessible. In this article, we explored 15 popular and highly-regarded plugins that offer a range of features and capabilities to help you achieve the sound you are looking for. From virtual synthesizers and samplers, to EQs, compressors, limiters, and reverbs, these plugins are known for their high-quality sound processing capabilities and have been used on countless hit records.
By incorporating these plugins into your workflow and exploring their unique features and capabilities, you can unlock new creative possibilities and refine your production skills. Whether you are just starting out in music production or are a seasoned professional, these plugins are sure to help you take your music to the next level.
