Sonnox VoxDoubler — Free Download

Purpose and Approach

VoxDoubler from Sonnox addresses a common mixing challenge: creating believable doubled vocals without booking extra studio time or manually editing multiple takes. It presents two distinct plugin versions, each focused on a different doubling workflow. The core idea is to give you the authenticity of multi-tracked performances with the convenience of real-time processing.

The plugins generate new voices from your existing lead vocal, saving you the effort of recording additional takes, copying tracks into an external editor, and manipulating pitch and timing manually. This streamlines the process, letting you stay in your creative flow. VoxDoubler aims to avoid the unnatural artifacts often associated with stereo imagers, choruses, or harmonizers, providing a more lifelike result.

Widen and Thicken Modes

The Widen plugin creates two new mono voices and pans them left and right of the original. This is ideal for widening a mono vocal, from subtle enhancement to a dramatic hard-panned stack. You can also process the new doubled voices separately, then mix them back in parallel with the original for greater control.

The Thicken plugin generates a new stereo doubled voice that overlaps the original, emulating the effect of singing the same part twice. This works well for thickening a mono performance, and you can also apply it to a stereo group of voices, doubling each one. Both modes offer a Humanise section to adjust the timing and pitch of the doubles relative to the original, making the result sound more organic.

Key Features and Controls

VoxDoubler includes a Humanise section that lets you fine-tune the timing and pitch of the duplicated voices, making them sound more like a real double-tracked performance. A Depth control pushes the doubled voices deeper into the mix, while a Tone control helps manage sibilance, preventing excessive hiss or brightening dull-sounding doubles.

For flexible routing, the plugins offer Track and Aux modes. Track mode applies the effect in place, while Aux mode allows for parallel mixing on an auxiliary return, giving you advanced control over the blend. These features are designed to be quick and intuitive, making VoxDoubler a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to complex manual processes. Although engineered for vocals, the plugins can also be tried on instruments.

Workflow and Applications

In a typical session, you would insert VoxDoubler on a vocal track. Choose Widen to create a wider stereo image or Thicken to add weight and density. Then, use the Humanise controls to adjust timing and pitch differences, so the doubles feel more natural and less like a simple effect. The Depth control helps place the doubled voices in the mix, and Tone is useful for tailoring the high frequencies.

For a more advanced setup, you can use Aux mode to send the vocal to a return track with VoxDoubler, allowing you to blend the processed signal in parallel with the original. This is particularly useful for adding a subtle thickening to a chorus or a key lyric without affecting the whole performance.

Key features

• Two plugins: Widen and Thicken
• Generates double and triple vocal tracks
• Humanise section for timing and pitch adjustment
• Depth control for placement in the mix
• Tone control for sibilance management
• Track mode for in-place processing or Aux mode for parallel mixing

Best for

Best for producers and engineers seeking fast, natural-sounding vocal doubling without extra recording sessions. It’s ideal for widening mono vocals, thickening a performance, or adding support to specific sections like choruses. The dual modes and humanising controls make it a practical tool for both mixing and creative sound design.