Hi everyone! This is Jooyoung Kim, mixing engineer and music producer.
Black Friday week has finally arrived!
To help those of you still deciding what to buy, I’ve compiled a list of recommendations, sorted by category:
- Part 1 – Mixing (Compressors, Reverbs, and more by company)
- Part 2 – Virtual Instruments (Synths, sample-based libraries, orchestration tools)
- Part 3 – Other Plugins (Recommended plugins that don’t fit into the above categories)
I’ve received a lot of support from Plugin Boutique over the years, so plugins available on their platform will link to Plugin Boutique. For others, I’ll provide links to the developers’ websites or other sale platforms.
If you purchase via my links, I’ll receive a small commission, which helps support my work. Your support means the world to me! 😊
This list is quite extensive. If you want to search by company, simply use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to find what you’re looking for.
Let’s get started!
1) Universal Audio
Universal Audio (UA) is a household name in the audio world.
In the past, you needed a Satellite PCI-E card or hardware with DSP chips to use UA plugins. Now, their plugins are available in native formats, making them more accessible.
Recommended purchases:
- Compressors: LA-2A, 1176, API 2500
- Reverbs: Capitol Chambers, Ocean Way Studios
2) Waves
Waves plugins are studio staples worldwide. While some dismiss them due to their age, affordability, and widespread cracked versions, don’t underestimate the quality of their offerings.
For example, their SSL 4000 compressor emulation is one of my personal favorites.
If you’re looking for the best value:
- Avoid buying individual plugins.
- Get the Horizon Bundle and Studio Classics Collection (SSL + API). These two bundles alone are enough to mix an entire project.
For more advanced needs, you can opt for Mercury, though its high price makes it hard to recommend unless you’re fully committed.
That said, Waves’ current sale isn’t as steep as others, so if you’re shopping for mix bundles, check out IK Multimedia below!
3) IK Multimedia
IK Multimedia has gone all out with their Total Studio 4 MAX bundle sale this year. At $164.99, this is an unbeatable deal!
(Note: This price isn’t available on their official site.)
This bundle is ideal for beginners, covering virtual instruments, mixing, and mastering plugins—all for under $250!
The bundle includes the T-Racks Max 5 v2 version for mixing plugins. While it’s not the latest (T-Racks Max 6), the difference is negligible.
Check out my previous review on T-Racks Max 5:
IK Multimedia T-Racks Max v2 Unprecedented Discount (Until June 30th)
If you’re looking for a great all-in-one bundle, you won’t regret purchasing this!
4) Soundtoys
Soundtoys occasionally offers 60% off their bundle, as they are now. In previous Black Friday sales, discounts hovered around 40–50%, so now is the perfect time to grab it!
Recommended individual plugins:
- Decapitator (saturation)
- Little Alter Boy (vocal pitch shifting with octave options)
5) Eventide
Eventide is renowned for their reverbs and modulation effects.
I highly recommend their H9 Series, though it’s a bit pricey.
For individual plugins, check out:
- Blackhole (reverb)
- Shimmerverb (shimmer reverb)
6) Arturia
Arturia FX Collection 5 Overview & Sale (50% Off, Until December 10th)
Arturia’s FX Collection 5 is packed with mixing plugins, and I recently reviewed it in detail. If you want to know what’s included and which classic hardware they’ve emulated, take a look at the post.
Recommended individual plugins:
- Chorus Dimension-D (modulation effects)
- Comp DIODE-609 (Neve 33609N emulation)
- Pre 1973 (Neve 1073 emulation)
- Bus PEAK (mastering clipper and limiter)
However, individual plugins aren’t currently discounted, so I’d recommend this bundle for those with intermediate to advanced mixing knowledge.
7) Brainworx
Brainworx creates some fantastic plugins that I often use in my mixes. Originally exclusive to Plugin Alliance, they’re now also available on Plugin Boutique.
Recommended plugins:
- Maag EQ4: Great for boosting high-frequency airiness.
- Purple Audio MC77: Plugin version of Purple Audio’s 1176 hardware.
- Ampeg SVT-VR: A solid bass amp plugin.
- bx_digital V3: An excellent digital EQ for removing resonances.
8) Leapwing Audio
Leapwing Audio produces high-quality plugins, though they rarely go on sale. These are on the pricier side but are worth it.
Recommended plugins:
- CenterOne: Advanced LCR processing beyond standard MS processing.
- StageOne 2: Great for adjusting stereo width.
You can check my earlier reviews of these plugins here:
9) iZotope
iZotope was acquired by Native Instruments last year, resulting in several collaboration bundles.
Key plugin recommendations:
- RX Bundle: Industry-standard audio restoration tools.
- Ozone: Comprehensive mastering suite.
- Nectar: Powerful vocal effects.
- Tonal Balance Control: A great guide for beginner mixers.
Additionally, iZotope has developed Neoverb, a reverb plugin leveraging technology from Exponential Audio (previously acquired by iZotope). It’s worth exploring!
10) Sonnox
Sonnox is a renowned plugin developer for mixing, recently offering steep discounts amid market changes.
Recommended plugins:
- Claro: Combines EQ and stereo widening in one tool.
- SuprEsser: Initially a De-Esser, but versatile for other tasks.
- Pro-Codec: Ideal for mastering, allowing playback simulation across codecs.
Though their UI might feel dated, their plugins perform exceptionally well.
11) Goodhertz
Goodhertz is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a 37% Black Friday discount!
Recommended plugin:
- Good Dither: A reliable dithering plugin for mastering.
12) AudioThing
AudioThing produces affordable and highly useful plugins.
Recommended plugins:
- The Orb: A formant filter plugin.
- Valves: A tube saturator that’s surprisingly effective and budget-friendly.
Especially consider Valves—it’s inexpensive yet highly effective for saturation tasks.
13) FabFilter
FabFilter is known for its top-tier optimization and performance. However, their plugins can be pricey.
Recommended plugins:
- Pro-Q3: Exceptional EQ with superior latency performance compared to others. Great for those managing large sessions.
- Pro-L2: A premium limiter with few alternatives in its class.
- Pro-MB: A highly versatile multiband compressor.
If the cost is a concern, alternatives like Sonnox Claro and Arturia Bus PEAK might be worth considering.
14) NUGEN Audio
NUGEN Audio is perfect for audio engineers who enjoy a technical approach.
Recommended plugins:
- SigMod: Allows creative routing and effects processing.
- Monofilter: Ideal for managing stereo width in low frequencies.
Their plugins are tailored for professional and technical audio work, offering unique utilities.
15) Softube
Softube creates exceptional plugins with authentic analog emulation.
Recommended plugins:
- Weiss Gambit: A versatile channel strip plugin.
- Tape: A reliable tape simulation plugin.
- Softube Essentials Collection: Includes Tape, British Class A (Neve console emulation), Model 84 Polyphonic Synthesizer (Juno-106 emulation), FET Compressor Mk II (1176 emulation), and Wasted Space (reverb). This bundle is affordably priced at $128.7.
Additionally:
- Weiss DS1-MK3: A mastering limiter, although pricey, it’s a highly acclaimed plugin.
16) Cableguys
Cableguys plugins are excellent for creating groove and movement in your tracks.
Recommended plugins:
- ShaperBox 3: Adds creative modulation and rhythm to your mix.
- Kickstart 2: Simplifies creating rhythmic sidechain effects.
Their full bundle costs under $100, making it a great value for both mixing and music production.
This concludes the mixing plugin recommendations! Up next will be virtual instruments and other effects plugins. Stay tuned for Part 2!😊
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