Vocal Plugins
When it comes to crafting professional vocals, EQ, de-essers, and compression are the foundation — they shape tone, control sibilance, and keep dynamics in check. But to really push creativity and add character, specialized processors like AudioThing Things: Voice, Full FX Media Setekh, and Bertom Audio Vocal Compressor take things further.
From subtle enhancement to experimental textures, these plugins give producers the tools to transform vocals, adding movement, grit, and sonic personality beyond the basics.
Things Voice
Things: Voice is a modular vocal processor that blends granular manipulation with distortion, filtering, delay, and modulation in a single, streamlined chain. Its layout is clear and logical, making even complex processing easy to follow, while the overall experience remains controlled rather than chaotic.
The granular section is the creative centrepiece, capable of everything from subtle motion and texture to aggressive glitches and abstract vocal fragments. This flexibility makes it as useful for contemporary electronic vocals as it is for sound design and experimental work.
Tone-shaping comes from characterful distortion and filters that add weight and edge without sounding sterile. Paired with tempo-aware delays and modulation, the plug-in creates depth and movement without the need for additional effects.
Performance is solid, with efficient CPU usage, smooth automation, and a well-curated preset library that encourages exploration without overload.
Things: Voice isn’t about correction or polish — it’s about transformation. For producers looking to push vocals beyond the conventional, it’s a fast, inspiring tool that rewards experimentation and creative risk.
https://www.audiothing.net/effects/things-voice/
Bertom Audio Vocal Compressor
The Bertom Audio Vocal Compressor is a purpose-built dynamics tool designed specifically for vocal processing. Rather than offering endless modes or character options, it focuses on delivering consistent, intelligible vocal control through a streamlined and practical interface.
The compressor’s behaviour is tuned for speech and singing, applying gain reduction in a way that maintains natural phrasing while keeping levels steady and forward in the mix. It responds smoothly to transients and sustained passages alike, avoiding the pumping or dulling that can occur with more general-purpose compressors.
Tonally, the processing is clean and neutral, making it easy to shape vocals without imposing a heavy sonic fingerprint. This makes it especially effective as a first-stage compressor or a corrective tool before more colourful processing further down the chain.
From a workflow perspective, the plug-in is fast and efficient. CPU usage is low, automation is artefact-free, and the controls encourage quick decisions rather than endless tweaking. Presets provide useful starting points without locking the user into rigid templates.
The Bertom Audio Vocal Compressor isn’t about vintage colour or dramatic effect. It excels as a reliable, transparent workhorse that keeps vocals controlled, intelligible, and confidently placed — a practical choice for producers who value clarity and efficiency over character.
https://bertomaudio.com/vocal-compressor.html
Setekh by Full FX Media
Setekh by Full FX Media is a multi-effect processor built around distortion, modulation, and spectral shaping, aimed at sound design and creative processing rather than subtle enhancement. At its core is a flexible distortion https://www.fullfxmedia.com/plugins/setekh/engine that ranges from mild saturation to aggressive, fractured textures. What sets it apart is how distortion interacts with modulation and filtering, producing evolving tones instead of static effects.
The modulation section adds controlled movement, while spectral shaping allows for dynamic timbral shifts. This combination works well on synths, drums, ambient textures — and vocals, too. Setekh can transform vocals into robotic, glitchy, or ethereal layers, making it ideal for experimental, electronic, or atmospheric tracks. For more conventional vocals, using it in parallel with the dry signal preserves clarity while still adding character.
Despite its experimental focus, Setekh maintains clear signal flow and responsive controls. CPU usage is reasonable, automation is smooth, and presets provide creative starting points without overwhelming the user.
Setekh isn’t for transparent processing or mix-bus duties. It shines when pushed, rewarding exploration and risk-taking. For producers and sound designers looking to add grit, motion, and unconventional textures — including on vocals — Setekh is a versatile and inspiring tool.
https://www.fullfxmedia.com/plugins/setekh/
Songbird
Songbird is a creative formant filter plugin that adds vowel-like character and movement to vocals, synths, guitars, and other sounds. It features two formant filter banks, five selectable vowel profiles, and flexible blending options, letting you go from subtle timbral shifts to dramatic “talking filter” effects.
Modulation comes via an LFO and envelope follower, animating the formants in sync with your performance or tempo. An Air control adds brightness and presence, giving sounds extra life.
Lightweight and cross-platform, Songbird runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux as a VST3 or AU, making it especially useful for Linux producers. Its intuitive interface and responsive controls make it a playful, versatile tool for both subtle vocal enhancement and bold sound design.
