If you’re a music producer looking to elevate your sound, you’re in the right place. In this list of best VST plugins for FL studio, we’ll explore essential synthesizers, virtual instruments, and effects plugins that can take your FL Studio productions to the next level. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, this list showcases the most popular plugins that are not just worth buying but essential for elevating your FL Studio experience.
Best VST Plugins For Fl Studio
Essential Plugins
If you ever wondered how music producers get amazing sounds for their music, its because they use Synth and Virtual instrument plugins.
Synths generate a vast array of sounds, allowing producers to craft unique melodies, textures, and atmospheres.
Virtual instruments emulate traditional instruments with unprecedented realism, offering a diverse palette without the need for physical counterparts.
Synths
When it comes to shaping your sonic landscape in FL Studio, having the right synthesizers is paramount. We’ll list the most popular synths which have become staples in the arsenal of producers worldwide, each offering unique capabilities to craft everything from lush pads to blistering leads.
1. Hybrid 3
Hybrid 3.0 is an advanced virtual synthesizer offering a fusion of analog warmth and futuristic digital capabilities. This high-definition plugin boasts over 1,200 presets, including 200 newly crafted patches by acclaimed AIR sound designers. Users can explore a diverse range of sounds, from wobbles and synth pads to basses and sequences.
View on plugin boutique: Hybrid 3
2. Vacuum Pro
Vacuum Pro is a polyphonic analog synthesizer renowned for its authentic emulation of vacuum tube circuitry, delivering the rich, crunchy warmth reminiscent of the 70s and 80s analog era. Featuring four analog oscillators, dual vacuum tube filters, and versatile envelopes, it excels in subtractive synthesis. Its powerful dual-synth architecture enables stacking, splitting, and layering, producing expansive analog sounds.
View on plugin boutique: Vacuum Pro
3. SubLab
SubLab is a cutting-edge synthesizer tailored for hip-hop, future bass, and trap genres. This plugin offers a unique approach to sub-bass creation, allowing users to craft powerful 808-style bass that resonates on any speaker. The plugin includes 6 Bass Packs and 250 meticulously recorded kick samples, along with the ability to easily incorporate custom samples. SubLab ensures a streamlined workflow for creating signature sub-bass sounds.
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4. Carbon Electra
Carbon Electra is a producer-centric synthesizer, boasting a robust four-oscillator subtractive design with modern features. Crafted as both an advanced learning tool and a user-friendly synth, it embraces vintage analogue routing and offers flexible modulation options, including an editable stepper and note performer. Developed with input from producers, it provides a powerful and intuitive platform for sound design. Notably, it includes artist presets curated by renowned DJ Carl Cox, enhancing its sonic capabilities.
View on plugin boutique: Carbon Electra
5. The Riser
The Riser is a powerful synth-based instrument designed for creating epic musical transitions effortlessly. Its intuitive interface provides all the necessary tools to compose heart-stopping rises, falls, swells, fades, and more, utilizing advanced sound synthesis technology. With 300 editable pro-grade presets, users can quickly generate inspiration and seamlessly implement customized transitions into their tracks.
View on plugin boutique: The Riser
6. Massive
Massive is the iconic synthesizer that has become the standard for bass and electro music production. With a user-friendly interface, Massive produces earth-shuddering basses and razor-sharp leads that cut through mixes with grit. The plugin comes loaded with over 1300 expertly crafted sounds from top artists, accessible through an efficient search and intuitive filter system for a musical and user-friendly experience.
View on plugin boutique: Massive
Virtual Instruments
Here we dive into a list of powerful virtual instruments that seamlessly integrate with FL Studio. From the expressive tones of Xpand!2 to the cinematic sounds of Kontakt, these plugins are your passport to crafting rich melodies and harmonies.
7. Xpand!2 (best for any instrument)
Xpand!2 is a powerful multitimbral workstation for FL Studio, featuring four active sound slots per patch. Its true strength lies in combining these parts to create extraordinary patches. Developed by Air Music Tech, it offers versatile sound options, including wavetables, FM synthesis, and sample playback. With over 2500 presets and parts, categorized into 29 groups, users can easily explore soft pads, arpeggios, leads, pianos, drums, and more. Whether using pre-made patches or crafting custom sounds, Xpand!2 is a comprehensive plugin with a wide range of musical possibilities for FL Studio producers.
View on plugin boutique: Xpand!2
8. Addictive Keys: Studio Grand (best for piano)
Addictive Keys: Studio Grand features the renowned Steinway Model D concert grand piano. Known for its character and exceptional sound, the plugin offers a diverse range of presets, from natural to experimental. Recorded in a quiet Swedish Broadcasting Corporation studio with controlled acoustic ambience, the grand piano was captured using rare vintage tube and ribbon microphones, providing a warm and vibrant sound. The recordings, taken from various perspectives, create a versatile plugin suitable for both studio production and live performances.
View on plugin boutique: Addictive Keys: Studio Grand
9. Mini Grand (best for piano)
Mini Grand is a user-friendly yet robust virtual piano plugin for FL Studio, featuring seven distinct acoustic piano sounds catering to diverse musical styles. With premium-quality piano samples, it offers a range of models, delivering realistic string resonance through re-pedaling technology. The plugin includes built-in room simulation and supports both equal and stretched tuning, making it a versatile and powerful tool for music producers seeking authentic piano tones in their productions.
View on plugin boutique: Mini Grand
10. SPARKLE 2 (best for guitar)
Virtual Guitarist SPARKLE 2 is a versatile session specialist tailored for chords, octaves, and single-note electric guitar riffs. This plugin seamlessly integrates into your musical ensemble, offering just the right touch of swagger and style without overpowering. Designed for efficiency, it ensures faster and easier results. SPARKLE 2 adapts effortlessly to various genres, from funky Nile Rodgers-inspired licks to distorted indie sounds reminiscent of The Killers. Its frustration-free design caters to a range of tones, spanning from clean to crunchy, twangy to fat, capturing the essence of iconic eras from the ’60s to contemporary electronic pop.
View on plugin boutique: SPARKLE 2
11. XO (best for drums)
XO is an innovative plugin for FL Studio that streamlines drum sample management. It organizes one-shot drum samples based on similarity in the XO Space, providing easy access to a vast array of sounds. With inspiring presets and over 8000 factory samples, it caters to various music styles. XO allows seamless navigation through stored sounds, encouraging exploration for hidden gems. The intuitive sequencer and tools like Accentuator and curated Groove Templates empower users to effortlessly craft beats and sculpt the perfect groove for their productions.
View on plugin boutique: XO
12. Bass Master (best for bass)
Bass Master is a dedicated bass instrument for FL Studio, delivering heavy, speaker-shaking tones effortlessly. Developed by Loopmasters with a rich sonic history, it boasts 217 curated waveforms from legendary hardware and cutting-edge synths, offering nearly 50,000 possible combinations. With over 350 mix-ready presets and a user-friendly interface, Bass Master makes it easy to craft powerful bass tones in any genre. Leveraging Loopmasters’ decades-long reputation for high-quality sounds, this plugin ensures a top-notch bass production experience.
View on plugin boutique: Bass Master
13. MELLOW 2 (best for bass)
MELLOW 2 is a versatile double bass plugin with a jazzy acoustic touch, delivering rich body, texture, and a deep bottom end. Beyond its jazz roots, MELLOW caters to RnB and Hip Hop genres, offering a soft, soulful, and authentically acoustic sound. Its smooth, realistic tones make it stand out, providing an easy and intuitive experience for musicians of all levels, including seasoned bass players who can quickly capture high-quality ideas without a steep learning curve.
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14. 808 Cooker (best for bass)
The “808 Cooker” plugin for FL Studio offers seamless exploration of 99 meticulously categorized starting points, simplifying the creation of the ideal 808 sound for any beat. With intuitive controls, users can effortlessly transition their sound from sustained and elongated to short and bouncy with just a few clicks. Specifically designed for EDM and Hip Hop genres, this plugin provides a versatile tool to shape 808s to match the unique requirements of various musical styles.
View on plugin boutique: 808 Cooker
15. Kontakt 7 (best for orchestra)
Kontakt 7 is a versatile virtual instrument plugin for FL Studio, offering a rich collection of meticulously sampled sounds for music production. Beyond being a powerful sampler, Kontakt has been integral to blockbuster film scores and chart-topping hits for over two decades. With a vast array of instruments, including Orchestral for traditional scoring, Acoustic for diverse global sounds, and Vintage for authentic retro vibes. Kontakt empowers users to unleash their creativity. It seamlessly integrates with Kontrol S-Series keyboards and Maschine hardware, providing a deeper and immersive playing experience. Your imagination is the only limit when building unique instruments.
View on plugin boutique: Kontakt 7
16. Atma (best for sacred sounds)
Atma by MNTRA, curated by award-winning composer Brian D’Oliveira, is a unique VST plugin featuring a collection of sacred sound instruments gathered from global pilgrimages. This diverse array includes ritual healing bells, Aztec volcanic rocks, and more. MNTRA’s ultrasonic sampling process captures the intricate textures of these ancient instruments, allowing users to delve into their complex harmonics using the powerful nonlinear sound-design engine MNDALA. The instrument sample maps cover a wide range, from gongs and handbells to temple drums and pitched rocks, providing a depth and clarity previously unattainable in sound exploration.
View on plugin boutique: Atma
Mixing and Mastering Plugins
EQ
For FL Studio users seeking precision in audio equalization, top-notch EQ plugins are essential. These plugins empower FL Studio producers with precise control over frequency adjustments, ensuring a polished and professional sound.
17. FabFilter Pro-Q 3
FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is an exceptional equalizer designed for mixing and mastering in FL Studio. It provides top-tier sound quality, an extensive feature set, and an innovative interface for seamless use. Key features include high-quality linear phase operation, unique Natural Phase and zero latency modes, dynamic EQ, per-band mid/side processing, Dolby Atmos 7.1.2 surround support, an intelligent solo feature, optional Auto Gain, and a customizable spectrum analyzer. Ideal for demanding engineers, Pro-Q 3 ensures unparalleled precision and ease of use in enhancing audio quality during the mixing and mastering process.
View on plugin boutique: FabFilter Pro-Q 3
18. Claro
Claro is a versatile EQ plugin suitable for both aspiring and professional music producers. It facilitates informed musical decisions through its unique and intuitive interface. With three progressive views, it guides users from composition to final mix, ensuring clarity and balance in their tracks. Emphasizing “Vibe first, detail later,” Claro prioritizes the creative flow, allowing users to build EQ intuition seamlessly. This comprehensive plugin prevents issues like mud, clutter, or harshness, empowering producers to make optimal decisions confidently and efficiently for a clear and well-balanced mix.
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19. W495
The Pulsar W495 plugin pays homage to the legendary Neumann W495 EQs, renowned for mastering 90% of vinyl records from the 1970s to the 1990s. Still beloved by mastering engineers, the W495 offers broad equalization curves capable of reaching extreme levels while maintaining musicality. Pulsar’s W495 features an on-screen curve editor and spectrum analyzer, allowing precise EQ adjustments. Whether shaping individual tracks or enhancing entire mixes, this plugin provides both intuitive tonal control and a visual overview for a versatile and impactful audio experience. Mix by ear, by sight, or both, tailored to your preference.
View on plugin boutique: W495
20. SplitEQ
SplitEQ is a revolutionary EQ plugin designed for FL Studio, introducing a fresh approach to corrective and creative audio equalization. It stands out in enhancing, repairing, rebalancing, and widening musical sources or audio signals. Functioning as both a surgical tool for addressing challenging issues and a creative instrument for exploring new musical dimensions, SplitEQ transcends conventional EQ capabilities. This plugin goes beyond being a mere EQ, serving as an innovative and improved tool to streamline workflows, achieve superior results, and inspire the creation of unique sounds.
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21. TDR Nova GE
TDR Nova GE is a versatile parallel dynamic equalizer featuring a parametric equalizer layout with flexible dynamics processing options. With six independent dynamic EQ bands, it addresses various audio needs, from enhancing master density to adding crispiness to drum buses or resolving sibilance issues in recordings. Offering a range of dynamics processing, including compression, expansion, and gating, along with robust highpass and lowpass filters, NOVA GE proves itself as a powerful tool for a diverse array of audio tasks, providing an elegant and musical solution to refining sound in different applications.
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Compressor
These compressor plugins offer versatile dynamics processing, from transparent leveling to powerful compression, ensuring your mixes sound polished and professional. Whether you’re refining vocals or sculpting the perfect drum sound, these compressors empower you with the tools needed for outstanding sonic results in FL Studio.
22. LA-2A Tube Compressor
The LA-2A Tube Compressor plugin for FL Studio faithfully replicates the legendary late ’60s “Silver” LA-2A, a favored vocal compressor in top studios worldwide. This emulation provides the smooth dynamics control of the iconic optical limiter, suitable for vocals, guitars, bass, synths, and more. Its user-friendly interface allows even non-professional mixers to achieve optimal sound quickly. With intuitive controls and professionally crafted presets, users can effortlessly apply the gentle tube compression that has shaped popular music for over 50 years, ensuring tracks seamlessly blend into the mix.
View on plugin boutique: LA-2A Tube Compressor
23. Mu
Pulsar Mu is an exceptional tube compressor/limiter plugin, faithfully emulating the legendary hardware with its Topology Preservation Technology. It provides transparent compression, even under extreme gain reduction, and seamlessly adds cohesion or “glue” to mixes and masters. Overcoming the challenges of expensive and hard-to-integrate hardware, Pulsar Mu ensures an objective identical sound in every production context. Its unique technology not only preserves but enhances the original unit, boasting improvements like an increased signal-to-noise ratio. Perfect for mixing and mastering, Pulsar Mu offers the sought-after qualities of a variable-bias tube compressor in a convenient software form.
View on plugin boutique: Mu
24. ShapeShifter
ShapeShifter, a unique compressor plugin for FL Studio, draws inspiration from SketchCassette’s NR Comp algorithm. Acting as a dynamic remodeler, it stands out as a character compressor, reshaping the sonic landscape. Integrating multi-band upward and downward compression, ShapeShifter becomes a versatile toolbox for infusing color, body, and grit into your sounds. From subtle vibe enhancements to explosive, chaotic transformations, it offers a spectrum of creative possibilities, making it an indispensable tool for producers seeking to redefine the character of their audio.
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25. FirePresser
FirePresser is a versatile compressor plugin, employing four renowned analogue compressor emulations in a user-friendly interface. The secret to its natural yet potent compression lies in the ability to blend these compressors seamlessly, delivering lush analogue compression to any audio material. Enhance the effect by adjusting the Turbo knob for a more compressed sound and introducing pleasant analogue saturation, making FirePresser a powerful tool for achieving dynamic and seasoned audio results with ease.
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26. FabFilter Pro-C 2
FabFilter Pro-C 2 is an exceptional compressor plugin designed for discerning engineers. Ideal for mastering, lead vocals, drum cohesion, or EDM dynamics, it delivers stylish compression with precision. The plugin features a revamped interface, offering insightful real-time metering and a large animated display illustrating the application of compression to incoming audio. Pro-C 2 enhances workflow, making it a versatile and powerful tool for achieving professional-level compression in a variety of audio applications within FL Studio.
View on plugin boutique: FabFilter Pro-C 2
Reverb
Here we list the best reverb plugins for FL Studio. Whether you seek realistic room simulations or futuristic ambient textures, these plugins excel in delivering pristine reverberation. Enhance your soundscapes, create atmospheric environments, and achieve professional-grade mixes with these essential reverb plugins for FL Studio.
27. XenoVerb
XenoVerb is a versatile reverb plugin for FL Studio, offering a clean interface and 10 distinct algorithms. With classic options like Room and Hall for various environments, Plate 1 and Plate 2 for vintage plate sounds, and Springy for a metallic touch, it caters to diverse musical styles. The Glass (FDN) algorithm provides modern, transparent reverbs, while Flow delivers lush, diffusive effects reminiscent of ’90s hardware processors. Shimmer introduces a harmonizing soundscape, Bode creates metallic resonances, and Formant features a formant filter for unique creative possibilities, making XenoVerb a powerful tool for sound design and musical expression.
View on plugin boutique: XenoVerb
28. Polaris
Polaris is a cool reverb plugin drawing inspiration from vintage digital reverbs of the late 1970s. This plugin offers a rich palette of echo, ambience, and reverb effects through a single multitap delay line. In version 1.3, the Swell feature was introduced, enhancing signal transients by automatically aligning with delay time—an ideal addition for ambient guitars and expansive pads. Version 1.5 brings further enhancements with Pre-Delay, Modulation Boost, and a 3 Band Feedback Equalizer on the new Echo editor page, providing users with extended creative control for an immersive sound experience.
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29. Spaced Out
Spaced Out is a wet-FX generator crafted to elevate sounds and vocals to ethereal heights. With a crystalline reverb engine, over 50 effects, and a 16-step delay sequencer, it offers a unique creative experience without sub-menus. The automatic ‘Generate’ function sparks inspiration with one click, providing endless possibilities. Ideal for drums, instruments, and vocals, Spaced Out delivers pristine wet-FX, allowing subtle depth or adventurous exploration of outer bounds in your audio processing journey. It’s a one-stop solution for captivating and dynamic sonic landscapes.
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30. Neoverb
iZotope Neoverb, developed by the creators of Ozone and Nectar, leverages Exponential Audio technology to offer music producers an intelligent reverb plugin for Fl Studio. Featuring a real-time Reverb Assistant, Neoverb streamlines the process of designing unique spaces for vocals and instruments. By eliminating trial and error, it enables users to achieve excellent reverb sounds within seconds, enhancing efficiency and preventing mix muddiness. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced producer, Neoverb accelerates the journey to quality reverb, making it an invaluable tool for any project.
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31. Crystalline
Crystalline, an innovative plugin for FL Studio, embodies six decades of DSP refinement in pursuit of audio excellence. Rooted in the legacy of classic algorithmic reverbs, it introduces modern advancements and heightened fidelity, leveraging the capabilities of contemporary computing. Designed to evoke an otherworldly sonic experience, Crystalline transforms ordinary spaces into dreamlike realms. Its unique approach promises a departure from conventional reverbs, delivering ethereal rooms and halls that transcend the familiar, offering a positive and surreal sonic landscape for music producers.
View on plugin boutique: Crystalline
Vocal Effects
Elevate your vocal productions seamlessly with powerful tools designed for precision and creativity. From pitch correction to rich harmonies, these plugins offer a diverse range of effects to polish and transform vocals with unparalleled clarity and impact. Unleash your vocal potential and take your FL Studio projects to new heights with these vocal effects plugins.
32. Auto-Tune EFX+ 10 (best for tuning vocals)
Auto-Tune EFX+ 10.0 for FL Studio seamlessly integrates the core Auto-Tune features with a robust EFX modular multi-effects rack. Offering real-time pitch correction with low latency processing for live performances, it boasts over 100 effects, including artist-designed ones. Ideal for music creators, its compatibility with Auto-Key ensures effortless pitch perfection, making it a go-to tool for crafting professional and polished vocal tracks in FL Studio.
View on plugin boutique: Auto-Tune EFX+ 10
33. Little AlterBoy (best for vocal transformation)
Little AlterBoy by Soundtoys is a powerful voice alteration plugin for FL Studio, offering diverse vocal transformations in a user-friendly package. With real-time pitch and formant (gender) shifting, it allows users to effortlessly change a singer’s pitch, gender, or even create robotic sounds by locking onto a single pitch. The mix control facilitates the creation of instant vocal harmonies, providing the sought-after “hard tune” effect prominent in hip-hop and pop hits. This versatile tool is a must-have for producers seeking innovative and impactful vocal processing within their FL Studio projects.
View on plugin boutique: Little AlterBoy
34. Weiss Deess (best for removing ‘s’ sounds)
The Weiss Deess plugin is a highly effective tool for managing sibilance in vocals. With two independent bands, it stands out in comparison to most de-essers, offering a nuanced approach to removing the ‘s’ sounds in vocals. This plugin provides unparalleled versatility, allowing users to customize filter shapes and frequencies to precisely control and reduce unwanted sharpness in vocals, hi-hats, or during mastering, making it an essential and versatile solution for audio professionals.
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35. Pitch Monster (best for multiplying vocals)
Pitch Monster is a powerful VST plugin for FL Studio, offering a streamlined interface concealing its immense capabilities. With the ability to generate 64 voices of transformative sound, it can turn a solo vocal into a choir or a mono synth into a full orchestra. The plugin allows users to harmonize with up to 8 voices of polyphony and dial in 8 voices of unison for a massive 64-voice stack, enabling creative and expansive sound manipulation within the FL Studio environment.
View on plugin boutique: Pitch Monster
Conclusion
In conclusion, music production in FL Studio is incomplete without the right VST plugins. From powerful synthesizers to essential effects, this curated list ensures you have the tools needed to elevate your sound. Remember, experimentation is key, so don’t hesitate to push the boundaries of your creativity.