Renowned music producer, composer, and YouTuber Andrew Huang has once again shared his favorite plugins of the year, giving us a curated glimpse into the tools powering modern music production. Known for his innovative approach to sound design and a talent for breaking down complex concepts for his millions of followers, Andrew’s recommendations span a wide range of functionality, from tape emulation to cutting-edge vocal processing.
Here are Andrew Huang’s top 10 plugin picks for 2024:
- ToTape8 by Airwindows
A favorite among those seeking the warmth and character of analog tape, ToTape8 provides subtle saturation and tape-style compression that can transform sterile digital tracks into rich, textured recordings. - Lair by Aberrant DSP
Decoded from a diskette of unknown origin, Lair is a transporter through when and where, retooled as a reverberation effect. Combining three bespoke reverberator devices with an expansive collection of intricate parameters and chaotic modifiers, Lair is your door to familiar, abominable, and alien worlds. - Topline Vocal Suite by Universal Audio
Topline Vocal Suite gives you all the tools you need to easily record and mix flawless professional vocals in any genre, from hip hop to pop to R&B. Topline Vocal Suite is the only plug-in of its kind — perfectly marrying modern vocal tuning with best in class UAD analog studio effects. - Kick 3 by Sonic Academy
KICK 3 allows you to effortlessly sculpt, shape, and create the perfect kick drum tailored to your tracks, now with groundbreaking new features that push sound design to new heights. No longer limited to synthesizing the sub element yourself, KICK 3 lets you import and analyze your favorite kick samples directly in the plugin. - Combobulator by DataMind Audio
Featuring state-of-the-art neural audio synthesis, the Combobulator plugin allows you to input any audio signal and transform it into something extraordinary.Tailored for electronic musicians looking for the next big sound. - Ripple Phaser by Minimal Audio
More than just another phaser, Ripple Phaser injects liquid character and animated movement into your sound with its exclusive filter modes and extreme phase shifting. Seven distinct modes offer variations on classic phasing, unique filtering, and all-pass dispersion. Each mode can be manipulated across multiple dimensions using versatile frequency and resonance controls. - Nudistort by Nudist Audio
Nudistort is a new kind of distortion. But even calling it a distortion is a bit of a misnomer; it’s more of a sound-bender, an auditory calcifier, an ancient froth, an oxidized ear-sword. It sounds like a growling cheetah eating a jar of raw, thick clover honey. - RANDOM Metal by BEATSURFING
RANDOM Metal is a unique percussive mono synthesizer designed to inspire creativity and exploration. With 25 distinct percussive engines, expressive controls, and a focus on randomization, it’s the perfect tool for musicians and sound designers looking to create unique and evolving sounds. - Visco by Forever 89
Equal parts designated beat maker, competent sound design tool, and live performance drum machine — Visco is a plugin that can model and manipulate any sample you supply, freeing you from the usual limitations of working with recorded audio. - Kraftur by Soundtheory
Kraftur has been carefully engineered to enrich your mix, allowing you to increase power while preserving the original integrity of its dynamics. Using new, proprietary DSP methods, Kraftur relies on innovative algorithms to avoid artifacts that come with more traditional approaches to soft clipping. Kraftur can also add clarity, punch or pleasant warmth to almost any audio material.
Andrew’s list showcases the diversity and innovation driving music production in 2024. Whether you’re into crafting epic soundscapes or fine-tuning the nuances of a vocal track, these plugins provide the tools to bring your creative vision to life. Let us know if your favorite made the list—or if there’s a hidden gem Andrew missed!
