Voice Pitch Plugins

Hey Adam!  Your question is actually asking two separate questions about vocal processing.

1. Vocal Pitch Correction
2. Vocal Effects

Vocal Pitch Correction is basic auto tune plugins.  You can to use Pitcher (FL Studio Autotune), but I’ve always found it tricky to use.  There’s also a free one called Gsnap I’ve seen many times over the years..  And of course there’s Antares Autotune, but costs money and the licensing is very strict from what I’ve seen of other companies.

Vocal effects are much different, usually added once you’ve balanced the vocal’s pitch (and now it’s workable for normal standards).

The sky is the limit for vocal effects, but again Antares niche is vocal processing effects.. you can also look at iZotope Nektar..

Understand each company you go with has their own pricing & licensing models..

I usually like companies that give you a basic license that you use to unlock the VST, and not a portal software.. but things are changing these days.. lots of portal software, which I think is bloatware, but I also understand their piracy concerns, too.

I’ve never seen an audio VST use the software called “CodeMeter Runtime”.  This is essentially a background task constantly monitoring the license.

I have no proof or analytics on this, but I’m going to guess that the #1 most pirated audio VST plugin in the world is autotune.  Antares Autotune implementation has been the world’s best for years.

Since vocals is often what makes the money in the audio industry (songs on the radio), autotune has been essential, so I’m guessing they’ve really doubled-down on piracy prevention.. so that’s what I mean.

So far, I’ve seen these types of audio VST license activations:

• Basic text/number string
• A keyfile which you drag onto a vst
• Email / password activation
• iLok / eLicenser USB Dongle
• Portal Software

Personally I favor the basic text/number string, or keyfile.  It’s super easy to activate, we simply install the VST with a .exe file, and unlock it with our license..  FabFilter, Serum, Sylenth1, and IK Multimedia operate this way.. I truly enjoy it.

iLok / eLicenser is very invasive.. it takes up a valuable USB port, and if you lose the USB dongle, you lose your software $$$$$.  (Or you have to go through many emails to get up and running, which means potential days of downtime).  I now try to 100% avoid these plugin companies solely due to iLok & eLicenser.  There is no reason to restrict such usage if the industry’s best plugin company (FabFilter) still offers my respected basic serial/number string.

Portal software is becoming much more popular.. Native Instruments was one of the first to introduce this, which I never liked at the beginning, which made me avoid Kontakt, and their hardware products.  This portal software is convenient to “update your plugin”, but many times you cannot use the plugin without the portal software… which means not only do you have to install the VST.. but the portal software..  This portal software is no more than bloatware.. it’s simply the company’s online shop forced on you, which you must keep updated, which is your license & access to their VST plugins, which often requires internet access..  I also try to avoid these companies where I can.. (some companies I used in the past have switched to this)..

So in short, licensing is super important to think about for us as end users.

I would say look at GVST GSnap first, it’s been around a long time and free 🙂