🎛 14 Secret Sauce Plugins You Should Own (Don’t Wait for Black Friday)
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Secret Sauce Plugins on Sale at Sweetwater (Grammy‑Tested Picks)
I just checked out Sweetwater and saw they’re running great deals on some of my all‑time favorite plugins. If you don’t already have these, I highly recommend grabbing them now.
Why? Because I’ve interviewed over 70 Grammy‑winning engineers and producers — and many of them use these exact plugins daily. Here’s the secret sauce for pro mixes, now at a low price.
⚠️ Disclaimer – Use What Serves the Music
Even though these plugins are legendary and used by top engineers, I want to encourage you to consume responsibly.
It doesn’t matter who’s using them or how many Grammys they’ve won — what matters is your workflow. I highly recommend you try the demos, watch reviews, and test them yourself before buying. Don’t grab a plugin just because someone famous uses it — get it because it actually helps you make better music.
At the end of the day, serve the music, not the plugin companies.
That said, I personally use about 80% of the plugins on this list in every single production. The other 20% are more like secret‑sauce tools I reach for when a specific sound calls for it.
Be smart, be intentional, and most importantly — be you.
Make your own sound, not someone else’s copy.
These tools are here to help, not define you.
1. Brainworx Maag EQ2 – $14.99 (was $50)
One of my favorite EQs ever. If you want that smooth, musical top‑end on your master or bright, airy vocals — this is it. The Air Band is magic. It literally invented the Air Band concept.
A go‑to for legends like Dave Pensado and many other Grammy‑winning engineers I’ve interviewed.
2. Teletronix LA-2A (UAD) – $19 (was $99)
A classic compressor, iconic in recording history — and this UAD emulation nails it. Two‑knob simplicity, smooth warmth that works on everything. Thousands of hit records have this in the chain.
3. iZotope Neutron 5 Elements – $24
One of the cleanest, most professional‑sounding mixing suites for the price. EQ, compressor, exciter — all in one. Used in TEEZIO’s vocal chain on Chris Brown’s vocals, and dozens of pro engineers swear by it.
4. Antares Auto‑Tune Access 10 – $24.50 (Perpetual License)
Legendary Auto‑Tune sound — no subscription required. Pro‑level pitch correction and classic effect for demos or full records. My first Antares purchase and still one of the smartest.
5. Black Box Analog Design HG-2 – $25 (was $100)
Closest digital emulation of analog vibe. Warm up your 808s, add grit to bass, or thicken drums in parallel — this plugin delivers pro, musical saturation instantly.
6. Purple Audio MC77 Compressor/Limiter – $25 (was $100)
Fast, punchy, versatile — engineers gatekeep it for a reason. Used on Lil Wayne, Tyga, Kanye West. Run your vocals or drums through it and you’ll feel it.
7. Universal Audio Waterfall B3 Organ – $29
For soulful producers — sounds like Drake, Don Toliver, and more. Realistic rotary, vibrato, and auto‑automation control: hidden gem for vintage sample vibes.
8. AIR SubFactory Bass Synth – $29 (was $71)
The BEST plugin for 808s & bass — far superior to one‑shots. Full control, hard hitting, clean low end for trap, drill, R&B, or club beats.
9. UAD dbx 160 Compressor/Limiter – $29 (was $200)
Irko favorite — Grammy engineer behind Kanye West, Jay-Z. Punchy, warm, simple — fast and musical compression for drums, bass, vocals.
10. Eventide Blackhole Reverb (Academic Version) – $19.50 (was $99)
Top‑10 reverb plugin — huge, cinematic, otherworldly spaces. Pro and producer favorite. Normally $99, now $19.50. Don’t miss this.
11. Brainworx SPL Transient Designer Plus – $25
Top‑3 transient shaper on the market. Punchier drums and kicks, parallel mix knob for perfect snap. Clean, powerful, easy. $25 steal.
12. Brainworx bx_masterdesk True Peak – $15 (was $149)
All‑in‑one mastering plugin — mix through it. EQ, compression, stereo imaging, bass mono, limiting — clean loudness without phase issues. Smart master chain.
13. UAD Avalon VT-737 Tube Channel Strip – $39 (was $299)
Chase that Beyoncé‑style vocal chain. Smooth, clean, tube warmth — studio staple for R&B and pop vocals. UAD emulation gets you close.
14. UAD Pultec Passive EQ Collection – $49 (was $299)
Probably the most popular coloring EQ — used by ~80% of engineers I know. Smooth, musical, adds analog tone. Classic Pultec trick on vocals, kicks, bass. Runs without hardware.
P.S. This post isn’t sponsored by Sweetwater, but if you use my affiliate links, I’ll receive a small kickback — and that helps me grow the channel and create better content for you.
I love Sweetwater because these deals match the developer sites — but you ALSO get cashback. That cashback can go toward gear purchases, even analog gear.
So if you’re already planning to buy, you might as well get some value back. Keep that in mind. 🙌
One More Thing…
Also—check out my other blog posts! I recently transcribed a ton of content, so now you can see all my plugin chains and hardware setups with clickable links.
And if you’re looking for pro-level results fast, I’ve got Grammy Award-winning templates and my brand new sample pack ready for you. Don’t miss it.