Free Spatial Audio Plugins That Actually Work for Metal
Nail The Mix Staff
Look, everyone's buzzing about spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, and mixing in 3D. It’s cool tech, for sure. But for a lot of us working on crushing metal tracks in our DAWs, the real-world goal is simpler: creating an absolutely massive, wide, and deep stereo mix that feels huge on headphones and speakers. How do you get guitars to sound like they’re wrapping around the listener’s head? How do you tuck synths and effects into their own pockets without muddying up the kick, snare, and bass?
That’s where spatial plugins come in. And no, you don’t need to drop hundreds of dollars. The truth about plugins is that your skills will always matter more than your collection. You don’t need 20 different stereo wideners; you need one or two good ones that you know how to use. A specialized tool can make a specific job easier, but it’s the decisions you make with it that count.
So, let's cut the crap and look at some of the best free spatial audio plugin options that can genuinely help you create depth and width in your metal productions.
iZotope Ozone Imager 2
If you only grab one plugin from this list, make it this one. The Ozone Imager has been a staple in mixing circles for years, and iZotope was generous enough to make this module a standalone freebie. It’s incredibly simple to use and provides fantastic visual feedback.
