iZotope Nectar 3 – Vocal Production Channel Strip Software (Upgrade from Nectar 1 or 2, Download)

You’ll also note the unmask feature, which carves out of the way any competing instruments, letting the vocal shine through the mix. A dynamic EQ has been added that can follow unwelcome resonances as they move up and down the frequency range, intelligently curtailing nasty blooms of sound so you don’t have to automate them yourself, or split them onto different tracks.

The new Dimension module provides chorus, flanging, and more, while Reverb and Delay modules have been redesigned to give you new and exciting kinds of delay. The Harmony section has been updated. Automatic Level Mode, on the input fader, quickly adjusts the levels of your vocals in a transparent manner, mitigating the need for corrective dynamics processing. A limiter, at the end of the chain, can ensure you don’t go over your desired level and can also impart a meaty feeling upon the sound.

Included with Nectar 3 are several other plug-ins that are quite helpful. Melodyne is world-renowned pitch-correction software, and Nectar 3 comes with Melodyne 4 Essential. RX 7 Breath Control is on hand for taking out unwanted breaths. Relay ensures inter-plug-in communication: put Relay on a guitar track that competes with the vocal’s midrange, and the Vocal Assistant can now target that guitar, changing its EQ to keep it out of the vocal’s way.

This software is compatible with Mac and Windows platforms. It is included in AU, AAX, VST, and RTAS formats.