Best EDM Plugins

Last updated on August 11th, 2022

Want to jump straight to the answer? Our choice for the Best EDM Plugin is Movement from Output!

If you are just getting started in EDM, you may not know where to turn after you have inserted the sounds and samples you want. You know that there is more that can be done to improve the mix but are not quite sure what it is that can be added. A helping hand in plugin selection is the perfect way to improve your results. With these EDM plugins, you can take each track you have and improve its relation in the overall mix. The best EDM plugins are used not only by amateurs and part-timers but by professionals in the industry. Find out just why these EDM plugins are so great. 

Best EDM Plugins

Quicklook and Detailed Review: Best EDM Plugins

1. Movement – Output
2. Nectar 3 – iZotope
3. Decimort 2 – D16 Group
4. Sample – Serato
5. Portal – Output
6. Weiss EQ MP – Softube
7. Center – Waves

What To Look For When Choosing an EDM Plugin

All of these plugins are here to give you ideas when it comes to what you should have in your arsenal of plugins. Each of these is a popular plugin in its own field whether that be as an EQ, bitcrusher, reverb, or anything else. Beyond the purpose of each plugin, here are some tips on what to think about when you are shopping. 

Pricing

Plugins will range in price from under $100 to $200+. This all depends on the name of the company behind the plugin as well as how detailed and well-designed the plugin is. But when in doubt, you can find most of these plugins on Splice with an affordable payment plan.

Compatibility – System Requirements

Make sure your computer has the processing power needed to push these plugins in your session. When in doubt, you can always render them to save processing power. 

DAW Compatibility

These plugins have all been researched and are compatible with pretty much every popular DAW out there. From Cubase to Cakewalk, you should be able to use these plugins with no issues. 

Frequency of Use

Any plugin in this list can be used over and over again in sessions. I have even used the same plugin from this list multiple times in the same session. There is so much that each of these plugins can do that only improve as you learn more about them. 

Skill Level

Working with any of these plugins, you should find creative tutorials and reviews that help you find all of the tools you’ll need within the plugin. That coupled with experimentation will help you grow your skill level to fluently use your plugins as well as produce better mixes. 

Jump to:

• Movement – Output
• Nectar 3 – iZotope
• Decimort 2 – D16 Group
• Sample – Serato
• Portal – Output
• Weiss EQ MP – Softube
• Center – Waves

7 Best EDM Plugins

We didn’t want to focus on one specific type of plugin but instead included a wide selection of plugin types that are perfect for EDM, but also plugins that are outstanding within their style. 

1. Movement – Output

When it comes to electronic music in any form, Movement is a no-brainer. It is a rhythm-based effects plugin that does it all. You can add distortion, reverbs, delays and so much more. Not only can the effects be added but you have the ability to add modulation and rhythm to the effects themselves. 

Read through our review of Movement from Output!

If you are slightly intimidated by this plugin, don’t worry because I was too at first. There are over 300 presets that can help you learn what all this plugin can do to bring new life to your tracks. 

Best for: Dynamic Effects

Price:

• Available on Splice – $7.49/month for 20 months (pause or cancel at any time)
• Available on Plugin Boutique –  $149.00

DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, works well with Reason

System Requirements: macOS and Windows

	Mac	Windows
Memory	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended
Operating System	10.9 or higher	Windows 7 or higher

2. Nectar 3 – iZotope

Every engineer, no matter the genre, should have some sort of plan when it comes to vocals. Nectar 3 is the perfect one stop shop for everything you could need on vocals. It has built in EQ, pitch correction, saturation, compression, and much more.

Read through our more detailed review of Nectar 3!

If you are not familiar with the vocals side of editing, don’t worry. There is a built in assistant that can help you achieve the perfect vocal sound in seconds. All you need to do is make a few choices for what you want the vocal to sound like and it does the rest! And you can tweak any effects or attributes afterwards. 

Best for: Vocal Processing

Price: 

• Available on Splice – $9.99/month for 25 months (pause or cancel at any time)
• Available on Plugin Boutique –  $249.00

DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, works well with Pro Tools

System Requirements: macOS and Windows

	Mac	Windows
Memory	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended
Operating System	10.9.5 – 10.15.6	Windows 7 – 10

3. Decimort 2 – D16 Group

Bitcrushers are one of the best tools for any EDM production. You can create an amazing bite in your tracks in just a couple of seconds. Load this up and choose from one of the many amazing presets and you’ll be good to go!

Check out our review of Decimort 2 here!

Decimort 2 can go beyond just working with electronic distortion with its built-in emulators of analog-like filters to give a different feel to your signal chain. Make sure to try out the Jitter and Filters to see what kind of sound combinations you can get.

Best for: Bitcrushers/Distortion

Price:

• Available on Splice – $4.99/month for 10 months (pause or cancel at any time)
• Available on Plugin Boutique – $55.00

DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, works well with Ableton Live

System Requirements: macOS and Windows

	Mac	Windows
Memory	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended
Operating System	10.7 – 10.14	Windows 7, 8, or 10

4. Sample – Serato

Working with samples is great, until you realize you need to make some changes to get it to match your project. Sample has a built-in pitch detector that can figure out the key of your sample and help you shift it to match the session you are in. 

Have you ever wondered how to use your sample like a synth? With Sample it is super simple. You can enable the keyboard mode on the sample you want to use, and it will then attribute the correct note to each key on your keyboard.

Best for: Sample Editing

Price: 

• Available on Splice – $4.99/month for 20 months (pause or cancel at any time)
• Available on Plugin Boutique – $99.00

DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, works well with Studio One

System Requirements: macOS and Windows

	Mac	Windows
Memory	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended
Operating System	10.13+	Windows 10+

5. Portal – Output

Here is another effect from Output. Portal is one of the most unique and groundbreaking plugins that Output has released. As a granular effects plugin, it is able to add some grit and texture to your sounds all while adding in different FX types.

Check out our review of Portal to learn more!

The main function I love about this plugin is that you can be as detailed or hands off as you want to be. You can tweak every aspect of the plugin or just load in a preset and adjust the XY axis controls for the perfect balance. 

Best for: Granular Effects

Price: 

• Available on Splice – $9.99/month for 15 months (pause or cancel at any time)
• Available on Plugin Boutique – $149.00

DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, works well with FL Studio

System Requirements: macOS and Windows

	Mac	Windows
Memory	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended	4 GB RAM 8 GB recommended
Operating System	10.10+	Windows 8.1+

6. Weiss EQ MP – Softube

A tool every audio engineer should have is a detailed EQ. I can think of no better EQ than the Weiss EQ MP. I love the detail with which you can control frequencies as well as the real time response the analyzer has. 

Check out our detailed review of the Weiss EQ MP here!

Take a look at our Review on YouTube to see how great it sounds!

There are numerous amazing functions for comparing and listening through this EQ, as well as different functions and shortcuts to take advantage of when working within the plugin itself. 

Best for: Detailed EQ

Price: $199.00

DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, works well with Logic

System Requirements: macOS and Windows

	Mac	Windows
Memory	8 GB RAM 8 GB Hard Disk Space	8 GB RAM 8 GB Hard Disk Space
Operating System	10.2 – 10.15	Windows 7, 8, or 10

7. Center – Waves

The last tool that I think is useful for any engineer in any style, is the Center plugin from Waves. The concept is simple but it is built to control the width of your tracks and improve the stereo imaging. 

To learn more about widening plugins, check out this list!

Center is all about giving you control of the sound field. It lets you have individual control of the levels of the center and sides of your track (or tracks) to open up the center of your mix. Perfect for pads, drums, vocals, and so much more. 

Best for: Stereo Imaging

Price: $149.00

DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, works well with Cubase

System Requirements: 

	Mac	Windows
Memory	8 GB RAM 8 GB free disk space on the system drive	8 GB RAM 8 GB free disk space on the system drive
Operating System	10.12.6 – 10.15	Windows 10 (64 bit)

Creativity with no Limit

With all of these plugins combined, I know it is possible to release some amazing tracks and beats for any genre, especially EDM. From the bitcrusher adding a bite and energy to cut through the mix, to the stereo imaging making the mix feel huge. You can combine these plugins in different ways to get some of the best results in your projects. 

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