The Best Chorus Plugins for Modern Metal Mixes

Chorus. For a lot of metal producers, the word brings to mind cheesy '80s power ballad tones and over-the-top clean guitars. But let's be real—chorus is a secret weapon that’s all over your favorite heavy records, you just might not realize it.

From the hauntingly wide clean tones of Gojira to the subtle grit and movement on a modern metalcore bass, the right chorus can add depth, width, and character that makes a mix feel three-dimensional.

But here’s the thing about plugins: getting obsessed with having twenty different versions of the same tool is a one-way ticket to Plugin Acquisition Syndrome. It’s a distraction. For general tools like EQ, the one you’re most comfortable with is usually the best one for the job. But for character effects like chorus, the specific plugin actually does matter. A vintage bucket-brigade emulation sounds nothing like a modern multi-voice widener. The tool you choose directly impacts the flavor you get.

So, instead of just a random list, let's break down the best chorus plugins by the job you need them to do in a metal mix.

The Classic Analog Vibe: Bucket-Brigade Emulations

This is the sound that started it all. Based on old-school "bucket-brigade device" (BBD) chips, these plugins deliver a warm, slightly dark, and unmistakably lush swirl. If you want instant vintage character, this is where you start.

Universal Audio UAD CE-1 Chorus Ensemble

The UAD CE-1 is an emulation of the granddaddy of all chorus pedals, the Boss CE-1. This thing is an absolute legend for a reason. It’s not just a chorus; it’s a vibe machine. The built-in preamp adds its own subtle grit and character, and the chorus itself is thick, soupy, and beautiful.

Best for:

• Massive Clean Tones: Think of the atmospheric intros on tracks by Metallica or Opeth. Dial in a slow rate and crank the depth for a wide, dreamy swirl that fills the stereo field.
• Leads: Add a touch of the CE-1 to a lead guitar to help it sing and give it a liquid-like quality that stands out.

TAL-Chorus-LX

Don’t let the fact that it's free fool you. The TAL-Chorus-LX is an insanely good emulation of the iconic chorus circuit from the Roland Juno-60 synthesizer. It’s dead simple, with just two buttons that give you two different preset modes of chorus.

Best for:

• Synth Pads: Instantly makes any synth pad sound wider, richer, and more "80s" in the best way possible.
• Bass Guitar Grit: Slap this on a parallel track for your bass guitar, filter out the low end, and mix it in. It can add a killer midrange grind and movement that helps the bass cut through on small speakers without sounding obviously "chorused." When it comes to shaping a bass tone, knowing how and when to apply principles from EQing metal guitars can be surprisingly relevant.

The "Dimension" Effect: Subtle Widening and Movement

Sometimes you don't want a wobbly, obvious chorus effect. You just want something to sound… wider. More spacious. That's the magic of the "Dimension" style chorus.

Arturia Chorus DIMENSION-D

Arturia’s Chorus DIMENSION-D is a spot-on emulation of the legendary Roland SDD-320 Dimension D rack unit. This thing is the king of subtle. With just four buttons, you can create gorgeous, understated stereo widening that just makes things sound better.

Best for:

• "Invisible" Width on Cleans: When a CE-1 is too much, the Dimension-D gives you width and space without screaming "I'm using a chorus!"
• Atmospheric Layers: Perfect for making guitar layers, pads, or even background vocals feel wider and sit better in the mix without drawing attention to themselves. It’s a texture tool more than an effect.

Valhalla Space Modulator

Known for their legendary reverb plugins, Valhalla also makes one of the most versatile (and affordable) modulation tools out there. Valhalla Space Modulator can do it all, from flanging to phasing, but its Dimension-style modes are phenomenal. It can perfectly replicate that subtle, spacious effect or be pushed into totally bizarre new territory.

Best for:

• The Tweakhead's Choice: If you want the Dimension sound but also the ability to control every single parameter, this is your plugin.
• Modern Spatial Effects: You can get that clean, modern width and then add other modulation types on top for truly unique textures that are perfect for industrial, djent, or more experimental metal subgenres.

Modern and Surgical: The Multi-Voice Powerhouses

These are the modern titans of chorus and widening. They often work by using micro-pitch shifting and short delays rather than traditional LFO-based modulation. They are perfect for achieving that super-wide, polished sound of modern metal production.

Soundtoys MicroShift

If you’ve ever wondered how producers get those impossibly wide vocals and guitars, there’s a good chance you’re hearing something like the Soundtoys MicroShift. It’s a dead-on emulation of the classic stereo widening trick from the Eventide H3000 and AMS DMX 15-80s hardware units. It works by slightly detuning and delaying the left and right channels.

Best for:

• Widening Heavy Guitars (Safely!): Slapping a traditional chorus on a high-gain guitar is usually a bad idea—it can sound dated and create phasey mud. But putting MicroShift on a parallel bus and blending it in subtly underneath your main guitars is a go-to trick for massive width without the negative side effects. Just watch out for phase issues when doing parallel processing—some DAWs handle delay compensation better than others.
• Modern Vocal Sheen: A touch of MicroShift is the instant "pro vocal" button for adding width and polish to your vocal mix.

FabFilter Timeless 3

Okay, technically FabFilter Timeless 3 is a delay plugin, but its modulation system is so powerful that it's one of the most insane chorus/flanger/phaser tools you can buy. With its drag-and-drop modulation matrix, you can create incredibly complex, evolving chorus textures that are impossible to get anywhere else.

Best for:

• Sound Design: If you want to create a totally unique, signature chorus sound for a synth lead or a post-rock guitar melody, Timeless 3 gives you a blank canvas.
• Rhythmic Chorus: Because it's a delay, you can sync the modulation to your session's tempo to create pulsing, rhythmic chorus effects that add another layer of groove to a track.

The Real Secret: It's Your Ears, Not Your Gear

Having a great chorus plugin like the ones above is awesome. But the truth is, no plugin will magically fix your mix. The best tool in your arsenal is your own taste and skill.

Knowing when to use a lush CE-1 on a clean tone, how to subtly blend in a MicroShift to widen heavy guitars, or why you might want to put a Dimension-D on a synth pad—those are the decisions that separate a good mix from a great one. These plugins are just tools to execute your vision.

That's what we focus on at Nail The Mix. It's not about what plugins to buy; it's about learning the techniques and training your ears by watching the world's best producers work. Every month, you get to see guys like Jens Bogren, Andrew Wade, and Will Putney mix a real song from scratch using the tools they trust. You learn their mindset, their workflow, and the why behind every EQ boost, fader move, and effect choice.

If you’re ready to move beyond just collecting plugins and start making better mixing decisions, check out our full catalog of sessions and see how the pros really build these massive metal mixes from the ground up.