Vst Plugin Vocal Harmony

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In this article, we've listed eight of the best free VST plugins for vocal mixing. These include reverbs for vocal space creation, compressors for mixing glue, vocal doublers, and autotune – ensuring all those sweet notes hit the spot.

One of the most interesting and long-standing vocal effects is that of the vocoder. Though they have been around since the 1930s, they only became popular in the music realm during the 1970s. Funk musicians were using these pieces of hardware to synthesize the human voice. It’s one of the most instantly recognizable sounds around, helping to give the human voice an alien or robot-like quality.

Saoftware Vocoders are great for adding a bit of width and edge to performances that are a bit dull otherwise. Whether you want to add some vowel sounds to your instruments, get experimental with tuned percussion, or pull some otherworldly tones out of your leads, here are the best vocoder VST plugins on the market to help you do so.

Top 9 Vocoder Plugins

  • Search results showing audio plugins for all operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS and Android), tagged as Harmonizer. The results are sorted by date added (newest first).
  • I recently wrote a guide on the best free vocal effects VST plugin, which is good if you are not planning to spend much on music production plugins, however, as soon as you want more customization or intuitive interface, you’ll find yourself contemplating on which good and affordable vocal effect plugin to buy, and that is why I created this guide.
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1. Soundtoys Little AlterBoy

The Little AlterBoy plugin from Soundtoys gives you a lot of room to explore creatively with your sounds. Little AlterBoy gives you the ability to hard tune, add a robotic tone to vocals, pitch shift, and manipulate your vocal formants. There’s a Formant knob that you can use to change the vocal’s “gender.” There’s also a Pitch knob for you to adjust the pitch of the vocals throughout your mix.

If you want to achieve hard-tuned, robotic tones, pick a single pitch in the vocal and tune it like crazy. The MIDI section is where to go for classic vocoder effects. Yes, the plugin is very digital, but you can still add some grit and warmth with the same classic tube saturation model that’s included with the Decapitator.

Little AlterBoy gives you all the tools you need to perfectly replicate the sounds of the classic vocoder hardware. It’s definitely worth having in your collection.

Pros

  • Wide selection of effects in a user-friendly interface
  • Doesn’t take up much CPU
  • Impressive formant shifting

Cons

  • Only works monophonically

2. SONiVOX Vocalizer Pro

The SONiVOX Vocalizer Pro is an exciting vocoder plugin that can be used to make some super special sounds. It’s set up in the same way as the VocalSynth 2 with a four module system. You can move the modules around in any order you like to develop some truly unique, complex tones. You are only limited by your own creativity.

On each module you’ll find a number of parameters to mess with, including pitch shift, filter, and modulate—all with the use of high-quality LFOs. The SONiVOX has been optimized for live use, so it can be used both inside and outside the studio. At the bottom of the GUI, you’ll find eight MIDI map pads in two rows. You’ll be able to save various presets and parameters on the top row. This makes them easy to access in the middle of a live performance. The bottom row gives you the tools you need to map out chords and put sequences together.

You’ll also find an Effects tab with several options like Chorus, Reverb, EQ, and Delay. This plugin also features a high-quality browser system that allows you to search presets based on genre, color, and other qualities. There’s definitely a bit of a learning curve with this one, but the sounds you get from the Vocalizer Pro are worth the effort.

Pros

  • Customized routing capabilities
  • Built-in effects tab
  • Numerous presets to work with

Cons

  • Some might find the interface a little overwhelming

3. iZotope VocalSynth 2

The VocalSynth 2 is among the most popular and powerful vocoder plugins you can get your hands on today. It has an awesome selection of features to help you create some interesting vocal effects. There’s four panels found on the interface: the Polyvox panel, Vocoder panel, Compuvox, and Talkbox panel.

The Vocoder panel is what you would expect; you can utilize it to apply classic robot-like effects. You can also choose from a wide selection of vocoder modes to create different tones from vintage to futuristic. The Polyvox panel is perfect for when you want to build rich vocal harmonies with the help of a polyphonic pitch shifting device. It can also be used to add numerous effects from organic BGVs to artificial sounds.

The Compuvox panel gives you crazy computerized effects like speech synthesis and glitchy vocals. Finally, the Talkbox panel allows you to apply talkbox sounds, which are pretty similar to a vocoder but with their own distinct tone. Additionally, you’ll have access to distortion modules, filters, pitch correction, and delay modules. The VocalSynth 2 is not cheap by any means, but the versatility and functionality it offers make it well worth the cost.

Pros

  • You can reorder effects
  • Advanced processing engine
  • A good selection of modules to work with

Cons

  • Shred algorithm generates bad pops and clicks

4. XILS Lab XILS Vocoder 5000

The XILS Lab XILS Vocoder 5000 is a replication of the famous EMS 5000 module with some added digital features. You’ll get that iconic EMC 5000 sound along with a number of other features like a Freeze button, detailed PWM and FM mods, some Slew rate mods, a top-notch output detection module, a great selection of oscillator waveforms, and Emphasis and Emphasis ponderation with the filters.

With this plugin, you can achieve all the complexity of the EMS 5000 with an easy-to-use design and an intuitive interface. No matter what your level of experience is, you won’t have a problem using this plugin. The interface is comprised of a single panel with all the controls you need right at your fingertips. If you need some help getting started, there are plenty of presets to get you going.

If you prefer to take a deeper dive, you’ll be able to explore all the additional parameters when you open the “center door” behind the logo. This secret stash of more elaborate options is perfect for sound designers and others who like developing different routing and filtering options.

Pros

  • Super versatile design
  • An impressive collection of creative parameters to work with
  • Awesome built-in synthesizer

Cons

  • Can overwhelm your CPU

5. Image Line Vocodex

The Vocodex from Image Line is a super straightforward software vocoder, but it produces sounds that are better than just about any of its competitors. It simply contours any sound with the use of various modulators.

The plugin has a modulator noise reduction feature, which works great for eliminating ambient noise. This means that your results won’t be skewed by the plugin picking up notes or harmonics in the background. The Vocodex can handle all your standard vocoder needs and can also double voice and add reverb to get a fatter result.

One unique feature is the Soundgoodizer, which will help give you a warm, limited output so that your vocoded vocals mix well with your leads. The sidechain carrier gives you more freedom, and there are 100 bands that can be launched at any point in the frequency spectrum. Overall, a solid vocoder plugin to consider adding to your toolbox.

Pros

  • Warm and limited output
  • Technology that decreases ambient noise
  • Top-notch vocoder sounds

Cons

Vst Plugin Vocal Harmony Guitar

  • Might have problems if used with other DAWs besides FL Studio

6. MeldaProduction MVocoder

The MVocoder from MeldaProduction has a ton of exciting features that will meet all of your vocoder needs. It comes with a hefty 102-page manual, so you know this thing is loaded with functionality. Actually, you could probably modulate or manipulate just about any parameter that you could imagine. There are a total of four distinct modulation sections, which come with a great selection of morphable shapes, envelopes, followers, and so much more. You’ll find some impressive options in the Band Matrix and Band Graph sections, and you can also take advantage of the onboard upsampling and M/S capability.

The GUI is completely stunning with an impressive collection of controls to work with. You can pick from 11 distinct interface styles with varying colors and layouts. As you might have guessed from the novel of a manual, it takes a lot of time and effort to wrap your mind around everything this plugin offers to maximize your experience.

If you want to dive deep into all the layers of the vocoder realm, this is the absolute best plugin out there. It’s super detailed and gives you every tool imaginable to control your sound and achieve optimal results.

Pros

  • Option to use your own synthesizers
  • Crazy powerful
  • Modulation potential is top-notch

Cons

  • Very CPU-hungry
  • Takes a lot of effort to learn the software

7. TAL TAL-Vocoder

Togu Audio Line (TAL) has a great reputation partially based on some incredible free VSTs that they have in their lineup. The TAL Vocoder VST is so good that you’ll feel like you’re ripping someone off by not paying for it. It’s designed to replicate the classic vocoder sounds from the ‘80s. It features an 11-band filter and a built-in carrier synth. It’s super simple to dial-in various waveforms, including noise, synch, saw, osc, portamento, sub, pulse, and others.

This plugin also allows you to use external sounds as carriers. TAL doesn’t use direct convolution with the carrier and modulation signals like many of their competition do. Instead TAL utilizes an envelope follower on each band. One exciting feature is the Panic Button, which uses the synth clip LED to freeze sustained notes. This prevents your input signal from clipping. We think that’s pretty awesome.

Overall we can say that this is an incredible VST with way more functionality than you would expect from a free synthesizer.

Pros

  • Infinite routing options
  • Super user-friendly
  • Faithfully reproduces the classic sound

Cons

  • Can’t complain about something that’s free

8. XILS Lab XILS V+

The XILS V+ is a ten band vocoder VST that utilizes string and human voice synthesis. The V+ is essentially a replication of the Roland VP-330 Vocoder unit but with greater in-depth routing capabilities. XILS has been a respected player in the digital realm for quite a while, and they definitely don’t disappoint with the V+.

Similar to the XILS Lab Vocoder, it takes plenty of time and effort to learn all the ins and outs of this plugin. This means it’s geared more towards those who are really invested in the vocoder effect, not those who just use it every now and then. It also adds in complex synthesis if you’re someone who appreciates that kind of thing. It’s about the most versatile vocoder plugin you’ll find on the market.

If you want to explore the advanced settings, you’ll find a top-notch effects pane, modulation controls, and freeze and water controls. If you really want to go to a different level, check out the arpeggio panel. You’ll be able to manipulate pitch, customize the shape of the added strings, or mix the human voice with various oscillators.

The V+ plugin may have a classic vintage design, but its synthesis is more advanced than anything else you’ll find in this arena.

Pros

  • Very authentic synth sounds
  • Both paraphonic and polyphonic
  • Impressive VP-330 clone

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Difficult to learn

9. Zynaptiq ORANGE VOCODER

If you’re looking for a vocoder plugin with contemporary vocal effects, Zynaptiq has you covered with their Orange Vocoder. With this plugin you’ll get impressive sound quality and sonic versatility. This latest version features many upgrades to give you the best possible processing experience.

At the center of the Orange Vocoder is a 32-voice synthesizer. This is supported by more than a dozen distinct vocoder algorithms that each bring their own style into the mix. The algorithms give you an incredible range from cross-synthesis modes to analog circuits. Whether you want pure digital transparency or analog warmth, this plugin has your back. Vst free synths. And you can choose to work with either samples or waveforms.

You’ll find two modulators that you can set to either LFO or dedicated pitch modulation. Its other features include a freeze button, rich reverb, ring modulation, and a helpful mixer section. The GUI is visually stunning, and it is designed to help you work more efficiently. You’ll also appreciate the awesome selection of sub-presets and the smart section randomization feature.

Pros

  • User-friendly
  • Flexible sounds and parameters
  • Tones are immediately satisfying

Cons

  • Nothing to mention

Value the Vocoder

At the end of the day, which vocoder plugin is right for you will depend on how and how often you plan on using it. It’s ok to take the cheaper route if you only occasionally use the effect to shake things up. But if the vocoder is more of a feature than an enhancement in your mixes, you’ll definitely want to check out the higher-quality options we’ve talked about in this article.

Due to their undeniable complexity, a seasoned engineer can easily spend hours mastering a single vocal track…

Afterall, compressing and paying special attention to levels on the most dynamic instrument only makes sense.

Luckily, there are several free vocal mastering VST plugins to assist in the process without breaking the bank.

In this article, we’ll dive into a couple of compressors, exciters, equalizers, and noise gate VSTs that mimic many of the tools used by the pros to give mixes the extra polish they need.

Vocals

Free Plugins For Mastering Vocals

Compressor VSTs

With vocal audio constantly wavering between high and low levels, a good compressor is nothing short of essential to the final mastering process. Check out some of these options to achieve a cohesive, condensed vocal sound.

Related: Proper Compression Settings for Vocals, Best Paid Vocal Compressors

OTT by Xfer Records

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With a simple yet sleek user interface, this plugin is approachable to engineers at all ends of the spectrum. The VST consists of 3 bands and is geared towards trap/electronic genres. OTT has the standard controls of any compressor: In/Out Gain, depth, and time without the clutter from any unnecessary bells and whistles. Each band is equipped with a modest visualizer, allowing you to see how your sound is being altered at different frequency ranges.

Although some producers may find the lack of options control-wise limiting, OTT is quick to get you to the sound you desire without wasting unnecessary time. Overall, the price is more than right, and OTT does an excellent job at evening out levels.

DC1A by Klanghelm

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If you’re looking for a simple compressor to give your vocals a bit more of an analog/classic feel, the Klanghelm DC1A is an excellent free plugin to start with. Its most notable feature is the 4 built-in presets with deep, relaxed, negative, and dual mono compression modes.

To add to its retro vibe, the VST has an embedded meter that looks like those on vintage rack mounts and is just as useful. The meter itself is easily understood and has a delineated red threshold so you can tell whether or not you’re clipping even with just a quick glance. The main focus of the plugin is the input and output, nothing else really besides the compression modes, making it a great option for beginners.

Moreover, Klanghelm produces a bulkier compressor VST entitled DC8C, so DC1A acts as a great trial run before investing in a paid plugin. For a seasoned engineer, this VST may be oversimplified, but those looking for efficiency or that classic mono sound, this is an excellent choice.

Equalizers (EQ) VSTs

When mastering a vocal, especially in pop/more current styles of music, producers commonly boost/cut out frequencies to help it stand out a bit more in the master mix. Here are a couple of free EQs that can fulfill all of your vocal mastering needs.

Related post: Best Paid EQ plugins for Vocals

ReaEQ by Reaper

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In general, this EQ plugin is great for the entire production process, but it also has a couple of key features that lend themselves particularly towards vocal mastering. For example, the VST has a dial-in frequency feature that allows the user to enter precisely what frequency he/she would like to be emphasized or lowered. You are able to add an unlimited amount of bands to give absolute clarity to the vocal and add polish to its final master. The bandwidth can be widened or narrowed with a few mouse clicks, streamlining the process.

Moreover, each band has a separate bypass toggle, meaning that you can easily switch one on/off to compare a sound before/after processing. ReaEQ comes equipped with high and low pass filters, bands, much more. The central visualizer makes it easy to locate all of your bands. Although the plugin is not the most aesthetically pleasing, it certainly works well and has a lot of features that normally come with paid plugins.

It is a great plugin to download as a beginner, but able to translate into more mature mastering practices with its potentially highly specified input/output values. ReaEQ is a superb tool and comes as a part of the Rea PLugs bundle with many other useful VSTs.

Luftikus By Lkjb

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This EQ is super useful in achieving a retro sound, as it is a digitized version of an analog-style Equalizer. Luftikus is set up like a traditional rack mount and has 5 fixed-frequency EQ bands with corresponding knobs. This feature could be seen as limiting during the mastering process as you cannot type in specific frequencies in the same way that you can with previously mentioned ReaEQ.

However, if you’re mastering a vocal bus with multiple vocal tracks, having fixed bands can help simplify the process and give you a little boost without being excessive. In addition, the VST has an added “mastering” mode which removes superfluous features to get you in and out of mastering efficiently. Luftikus has a separate section dedicated to boosting the high-end frequencies and a couple of preset options between 2.5-40K Hz which is particularly useful during the vocal mastering process.

Outside of the presets, the high-end boost has a knob that can be altered for a more specific vocal top-end boost. The plugin has a “keep gain” button designed to make changes appear more subtle than drastic while EQing, ideal for mastering. The colorful interface makes it exciting to use and Luftikus proves to consistently create masters with a bit more of a vintage feel.

Nova-67P by Vladg/sound

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Harmony Plugin Free

The Nova-67p is a hybrid between a compressor and an equalizer making it a fine resource for mastering. The plugin is centered around the main visualizer where you can view the waveforms and respective bands. It’s nice that you’re able to see the waveforms in realtime, especially since vocals are fickle and quick to change from one level to the next. Since it also acts as a compressor, there is a small level meter as well to prevent clipping the vocal tracks.

This unique combination makes the VST a one-stop-shop for vocal mastering. Although sidechaining is traditionally done within the mixing stage, it is certainly worth mentioning that this plugin has sidechain capabilities built-in, along with high and low pass filters. It comes with attack, release, and ratio knobs and a separate toggle for mastering. If you’re looking to EQ or compress exclusively, this plugin may not be the best choice as the two components are designed to be used together in the mastering process.

For those looking to do both processes anyway, this plugin certainly accelerates mastering and will give you a more put together sound as the EQ and compressor interact with one another beautifully.

Noise Gate VSTs

A less common but underrated gating possibility is centered around the vocals. Condenser and other common microphones, often pick up unneeded frequencies that can cloud your vocal clarity during the mastering process. In order to eliminate this, try out one of these free noise gate plugins and place it on a vocal track.

Related post: Best Paid Noise Reduction Plugins

preFix by Variety of Sound

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Vst Plugin Vocal Harmony Music

Prefix acts as a couple of plugins built into one with EQ, sidechain, compression, and phasing built-in. Similarly to Nova-67P, the features are meant to be used with one another without external interference. The noise gate feature is notable as it has specified attack, release, hold, and pre-gate knobs allowing the user to hone in on which frequencies they’d like to be ducked.

Although this plugin is best used during the mixing process, it can be a great reference point during mastering since it includes so many of the tools needed to create a polished track. If someone was stuck on a vocal mix and wanted to be able to visualize a finished or mastered product, preFix could be placed on the corresponding vocal bus and quickly adjusted to give the user a vague idea of the polished product. Since there are so many controls and a lack of a frequency visualizer, this plugin can certainly be intimidating and time consuming for a beginner. However, a reference track on its own is extremely valuable, especially for something as nuanced as vocals, and when mastered, preFix is as effective as comparable costly VSTs.

GGate by GVST

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This plugin is as simple as it can get, but don’t let its minimal approach fool you- GGate is very powerful and is straightforward enough to be added to all kinds of vocals. The plugin consists of 3 knobs: The threshold, attack, and fade; Each pretty self-explanatory in their own right. GGate has a dry/wet meter so that the gated signal can be played alongside the unaltered signal. This opens the door to parallel processing for vocals, which can make a significant difference in the listener’s experience.

Moreover, the “fade” knob is suited to create subtle changes in the overall level of a vocal track. For those looking to give a more processed/clear sound to vocals, i.e those centered around commercial/pop genres, this plugin may prove to be insufficient. However, if you’re in a pinch or just need to eliminate a minute level of noise without being too obvious, you can’t beat the control offered by GGate.

Exciter VSTs

In the same way it is helpful to boost the preexisting high-end of vocals in order to bring the sound more upfront during mastering, exciters generate artificial/organic tones typically in the 3K range and above.

Related post: Best Paid Exciter Plugins

Thrillseeker XTC by Variety of Sound

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This exciter is based around analog-style retro sounds and combines a traditional exciter/saturator with a 3-band EQ. Each set EQ range has a separate knob and bypass button so that different frequency ranges can be enhanced independently. This is particularly useful in scenarios where one is utilizing a vocal bus and wants to master an overall sound without emphasizing unwanted tones/frequencies.

The plugin has a “Mojo” and Drive section, catered to leveling out the amplitudes of generated frequencies running parallel to the dry vocal. Moreover, the VST can be switched in between blue or black versions depending on how precise an engineer desires the finished master to be. Thrillseeker in this way lends itself to a variety of genres and applications. Although it is somewhat limited in being linked to retro or vintage type sounds, the VST is absolutely worth a try at no cost.

BuzVintageMaxi by Buzzroom

Buzzroom has created a true exciter plugin with BuzVintageMaxi. The VST is very minimal, with two main knobs: gain and ceiling for the threshold level of the audio signal. The plugin is known for adding thick, warm sounds to any track it is applied to. This can be especially useful for mastering female vocals, where sometimes the upper register can lose warmth/low-end frequencies when translated to an audio signal. It has two included processing modes, normal and deep, to cater to the depth of harmonics applied to the signal.

Although this plugin cannot be used to master an entire vocal tracks alone due to its lack of complexity, it certainly produces a warm vocal within a short amount of time. It’s definitely worth a try, even just train your ears on what a warm/fat vocal should sound like.

Modern Exciter by Antress

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Antress has a number of strong plugins free for download on their website. Modern Exciter has a user interface resembling a standard rack mount and is not overly muddled by too many controls. Harmonics can be added to low or high frequencies and adjusted with their respective knobs. This lends itself well to mastering vocals as different voices will have different areas in which they need more widening depending on the frequency of the dry audio signal. Modern Exciter includes a VU meter, which especially lends itself to mastering since it helps display the average level of the processed signal.

If you want more of a retro sound, this VST has a built-in analog preset. Moreover, the VST processes in stereo and has separate left and right channels appropriately. The plugin does not have a whole lot of controls which may seem to limit to some, but it notably separates the high and low ends to organically fill in vocal frequency gaps.

Quick Tips For Mastering Vocals

In general, the mastering process involves adding the final polish to a preexisting mix. This includes leveling, preparing for distribution, and making sure that the project as a whole is cohesive. Let’s dive into a couple of tips that illustrate what that process is like for vocals.

#1. Keep Mixing and Mastering Separate

With any aspect of a song, especially vocals, it’s important that you’re giving the mixing and mastering processes their own space. This is because the philosophy behind mixing involves deep adding/subtracting, sometimes involving an entire rework of a track.

When you master, you are looking to polish and heighten the parts of something that is already complete. By keeping the two operations independent of one another, you allow for your vocals to be better thought out in terms of context (mixing) and the overall level/vibe of the song as a whole (mastering). A good master on a bad mix still produces a poor track. Therefore, make sure you do your homework before jumping into the world of mastering plugins- The real work comes out during mixing.

#2. Know your Vocals

What type of voice is presented on your track? What kind of frequency is it lacking? Is your vocal the focus of your song or more in the background? It’s vital that you consider these questions deeply before beginning the mastering process so that you have a clear roadmap to lead you down the right mastering path with plugins that fit accordingly.

#4. Use a Reference Track

Vocals are by far the trickiest aspect of understanding audio engineering since they are so unique. It can be extremely helpful to use a reference track during the mastering process to get your vocal exactly where you desire. Moreover, so many of these free plugins include bypass features, sometimes for each separate band, which makes it easy to compare against your model track.

Mastering is the icing on top of the cake, not the cake itself, but that does not diminish its importance- especially with vocal tracks. A good master sets your music apart and is a mark of a seasoned producer. Try out one of these free vocal mastering VSTs on your next track to get you one step closer to the coveted warm, thick vocal our ears crave.