The Best Vocal Plugins for Modern Metal Mixes

Trying to find the "best vocal plugin" can feel like a rabbit hole. You see your favorite producers using some new, shiny tool, and suddenly you're convinced that's the missing piece for getting your vocals to sit right in the mix.

Here's the truth: for some jobs, the specific plugin you use matters a whole lot. For others? Not so much.

The real magic isn't in owning 20 different compressors. It's about knowing why you're reaching for a compressor in the first place. It's about your skill, your ears, and the decisions you make. That said, having the right tool for a specific job can make your life a hell of a lot easier and get you to the finish line faster.

Let's break down the essential vocal plugins for metal producers by the job they need to do, from foundational tools to creative weapons.

Foundational Tools: EQ and Compression

This is where people get the most hung up, but it's where the specific plugin matters the least. Your DAW's stock EQ and compressor are incredibly powerful. A pro can get a killer vocal sound with just those. The main reason to grab a third-party plugin here is usually for workflow or a specific, subtle character.

EQs: The Surgical vs. The Broad Strokes

You don't need seven different EQs. The most critical skill is understanding how to EQ metal vocals to carve out space and add presence.

• The Surgeon: FabFilter Pro-Q 3
  You see Pro-Q 3 everywhere for a reason. Its visual interface is unmatched for hunting down and eliminating problem frequencies. Need to notch out a nasty room resonance around 400Hz or tame some harshness at 3kHz? Pro-Q 3 makes it easy. Its dynamic EQ feature, covered in our FabFilter Pro-Q 3 guide, is also a game-changer, letting you duck frequencies only when they become a problem.

• The Tone Shaper: An SSL-Style Channel Strip (e.g., Waves SSL E-Channel)
  Where Pro-Q 3 is a scalpel, an SSL-style EQ is more like a paintbrush. The curves are broader and more "musical." Boosting the high-mids on an SSL strip just seems to add presence and aggression without getting overly harsh. It's great for adding general brightness or body without getting lost in the weeds.

Remember, the most important part of EQ is learning what to cut and what to boost. If you want to see how the pros carve out space for vocals against crushing guitars, check out our deep dives on EQing metal guitars for max impact.

Compressors: Taming the Beast

Compression is non-negotiable for modern metal vocals. Learning how to properly compress vocals will ensure every word is heard, from a whisper to a full-throated scream.

• The Aggressor: A FET-Style Compressor (e.g., Waves CLA-76)
  The legendary 1176 compressor is the sound of rock and metal vocals. It’s fast, punchy, and aggressive. It can grab a vocal and pin it in place. Using a fast attack and fast release setting will bring up the intensity and energy of a performance. You can also slam it in parallel (using the famous "all buttons in" mode) to add grit and excitement without squashing the main vocal.

• The Smoother: An Opto-Style Compressor (e.g., Waves CLA-2A)
  An LA-2A is the 1176's kinder, gentler cousin. It has a slower, smoother compression character that's perfect for leveling out a performance without killing the vibe. A great trick is to use an LA-2A first to do the heavy lifting (gently reducing 3-5dB of gain), then follow it with a faster 1176 to catch the peaks.

Mastering how and when to apply these tools is key. Our metal compression secrets hub page goes way beyond just making things loud.

Pitch Correction: Nailing the Performance

This is a category where the specific tool really matters. For modern metal, especially in genres like metalcore or post-hardcore, a perfectly tuned vocal is expected.

• The Industry Standard: Antares Auto-Tune Pro
  The concept of using Auto-Tune in metal is more than just pitch-correction; it’s an effect. You can use it transparently to gently guide a note into place, or you can crank the retune speed for that hyper-polished, almost robotic sound that defines many modern subgenres. Its real-time processing makes it a go-to for many producers.

• The Surgical Alternative: Celemony Melodyne
  If Auto-Tune is a real-time assistant, Melodyne is a post-production powerhouse. It allows you to get inside the audio and graphically edit the pitch, timing, vibrato, and even the formants of every single note. When you need absolutely transparent, undetectable pitch correction, Melodyne is the undisputed champion. There's a reason you'll find it in the toolkits of nearly all A-list producers.

Taming Harshness: De-Essers and Reso Killers

Screamed and distorted vocals are loaded with high-frequency energy and harshness. A standard de-esser can help, but modern tools have taken this to a new level.

• The Classic De-Esser: Your DAW's Stock Plugin or Waves DeEsser
  A standard de-esser is just a frequency-specific compressor. You tell it to listen for harsh "s" and "t" sounds (usually somewhere between 5-10kHz) and duck the volume when they pop up. It’s simple and effective for basic sibilance control.

• The Modern Solution: oeksound Soothe2
  Soothe2 is not a de-esser; it's a dynamic resonance suppressor, and it's a "secret weapon" for a reason. Instead of ducking a fixed frequency band, it intelligently identifies and turns down harsh resonances across the spectrum in real time. Is there a fizzy character from the distortion? A piercing ring in the upper-mids? A weird room tone? Soothe2 finds it and tames it, cleaning up the vocal in a way that’s almost impossible with a traditional EQ. It's a lifesaver.

Adding Character and Space

Once the vocal is clean, controlled, and in tune, it's time to give it a vibe and make it sit in the mix.

• Saturation for Presence: Soundtoys Decapitator
  Sometimes a vocal needs more grit and harmonics to cut through a dense wall of guitars. Decapitator is the king of this. It gives you five different analog-modeled saturation styles, from subtle warmth to full-on fuzzy destruction. The right touch of audio saturation can help it poke through the mix without you needing to crank the fader.

• Delay for Depth: Soundtoys EchoBoy
  A vocal needs space. EchoBoy is a swiss-army knife of delays that can do everything from a simple, tight rockabilly slapback to wide, washed-out rhythmic echoes. You can learn how to use delay on vocals to give it depth and dimension.

• Reverb for Vibe: ValhallaVintageVerb
  You don't need a dozen different reverb plugins. You just need one great one. ValhallaVintageVerb is legendary for its sound quality and low price. A short plate or room reverb will give the vocal a sense of place without washing it out, helping it feel connected to the rest of the band.

The Real "Best Vocal Plugin" is Your Brain

Having a library of great plugins is awesome. Soothe2 can be a lifesaver, and Melodyne can rescue a great take with a few pitchy notes. But no plugin will ever replace the skills of the person using it. Your ability to listen and make a decision is what separates a good mix from a great one.

The absolute fastest way to level up your skills is to watch how the pros do it. Why do guys like Jens Bogren, Will Putney, or Billy Decker reach for a certain compressor? How do they set their delays to work with the song's tempo? When do they decide a vocal is "done"?

At Nail The Mix, you get to be a fly on the wall for exactly that. In our massive catalog of mixing sessions, you can watch the world's best metal producers mix hit songs from scratch, explaining every plugin choice and every move they make. You even get the multitracks to practice with yourself. Stop chasing the next shiny plugin and start investing in the skills that really matter.