Between the thousands of third-party plug-ins on the market, have you ever wondered which will take your recorded guitar sound to the next level? With as much weight as guitars carry in so many genres, you certainly wouldn’t be alone in seeking out the most sought-after effects to help them find their perfect place in the mix. The great news is that many of the best plug-ins for mixing guitar are simply great all-around tools to have in your effects library. Over the course of this article, we’ll divulge some of our favorite plug-ins, as well as answer some commonly asked questions about mixing guitars in the box.

Table of Contents

What Should I Look for in Guitar Mixing Plug-ins?
Comparing the Best Plug-ins for Mixing Guitar
The Best Plug-ins for Mixing Guitar
   Arturia FX Collection 5 Plug-in Suite
   Eventide Anthology XII
   FabFilter Pro-Q4 Software Plug-in
   FabFilter Mixing Bundle
   Soundtoys 5.4 Bundle
   Soundtoys Decapitator 5
   Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
   IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
   Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro
The Perfect Guitar Mix is Only a Plug-in Away
People Also Ask …

What Should I Look for in Guitar Mixing Plug-ins?

The answer to this question ultimately boils down to what your intentions are with your guitar signal for the given song. Are you trying to build a saturated, liquid lead guitar tone from the ground up? You might want to reach for an amp simulator, delay and reverb. Are you looking to tame a bit of upper-midrange harshness? You’ll want to grab an equalizer, multiband compressor or even a de-esser. If it’s depth and movement you’re hoping to introduce to an otherwise lackluster sound, maybe modulation is the missing puzzle piece. Perhaps the squeeze of a quality compressor is all the recording needs to settle into place … You see where we’re going.  

Every song, arrangement and mix are different, but if you’re equipped with a versatile variety of plug-ins—including indispensable utility effects as well as more creative ones—you’ll be well on your way to better, more “flavorful” guitar sounds.

Comparing the Best Plug-ins for Mixing Guitar

Software	Type of Plug-in	Sound Shaping Tools	Popular Use Cases
Arturia FX Collection 5	Various studio mixing effects	EQ, compression, reverb, delay, modulation, saturation	Frequency sculpting, controlling dynamic range, adding depth, dimension and interest to dry guitars
Eventide Anthology XII	Various studio mixing effects	EQ, compression, reverb, delay, modulation, saturation, pitch shifting	Enhancing, morphing, shaping and defining guitar tones through multiple effects
FabFilter Pro-Q 4	Equalization	Virtually unlimited EQ bands, sketchable EQ curves, spectral dynamics processing	Tailoring the guitar’s overall frequency response
FabFilter Mixing Bundle	Various studio mixing effects	EQ, compression, reverb, delay, gating/expanding, saturation	Frequency sculpting, controlling dynamic range, adding depth, dimension and interest to dry guitars
Soundtoys 5.4 Bundle	Various studio mixing effects	EQ, compression, reverb, delay, modulation, saturation, pitch shifting	Enhancing, morphing, shaping and defining guitar tones through multiple effects
Soundtoys Decapitator 5	Saturation/Distortion	Drive, Low Cut, High Cut, Tone, five saturation styles, Punish button	Creating distortion from a dry direct tone, enhancing an existing sound with analog-style richness and body
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection	Compression	Input (threshold), Output, Attack, Release, Ratio	Pushing guitars forward with a colorful, in-your-face sound
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5	Amp and effects sim	Pedals, amps, cabinets, speakers, microphones, rooms and studio rack effect models	Piecing together a complete virtual guitar/bass rig from the ground up
Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro	Amp and effects sim	Pedals, amps, cabinets, speakers, microphones and studio rack effect models	Piecing together a complete virtual guitar/bass rig from the ground up

The Best Plug-ins for Mixing Guitar

Arturia FX Collection 5 Plug-in Suite

Why It’s Cool: Arturia’s renowned FX Collection 5 plug-in suite offers precision mixing tools and transformative processors, for guitars and everything else.

Things to Consider:

• Compatible with all major DAWs on Windows and Mac
• Resizable GUI for visual customization
• Every plug-in has its own built-in tutorial

Shop Now: Arturia FX Collection 5 Plug-in Suite Bus Peak Feature

The Arturia FX Collection 5 plug-in suite contains an arsenal of 34 go-to effects for classic studio mixing, creative sound design and more. It contains multiple emulations of iconic hardware, such as the Delay TAPE-201 (Roland Space Echo), Pre 1973 (Neve 1073 preamp), Delay BRIGADE (Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man), Rotary CLS-222 (Dynacord CLS 222) and the Chorus DIMENSION-D (Roland Dimension D). In addition, there are many more reverbs, delays, filters, modulators, distortions and bus processors. For mixing guitars, there are handfuls of plug-ins for gentle enhancement or ground-up tone shaping, and your overall effects library will be better with Arturia in it.

Eventide Anthology XII

Why It’s Cool: Anthology XII comes with 32 plug-ins built on Eventide’s 50+ years of experience developing tools for audio production.

Things to Consider:

• 4,500+ presets across all plug-ins
• Includes emulations of Eventide Harmonizer effects
• Comes with seven uniquely powerful reverbs

Shop Now: Eventide Anthology XII Plug-in Bundle

Eventide’s Anthonology XII plug-in suite offers everything you need to take guitar tones (and more) over the top. Equalization, reverb, delay, flanging, phasing, tremolo, Leslie-style rotary modulation, chorus, saturation, pitch shifting and compression are among the 32 included tools. One standout plug-in is the Tverb, inspired by legendary producer Tony Visconti’s work with David Bowie, which lets you mix three virtual channels of room reverberation modeled after the famed Meistersaal at Berlin’s Hansa Studios. Also included is the groundbreaking SplitEQ, separating signals into transient and tonal segments to be individually processed with unparalleled precision.

Other notable plug-ins featured in the Anthology are the otherworldly, ambient Blackhole reverb, a bucket brigade tri-chorus called TriceraChorus, and Crystals, containing pitch-shifting effects alongside reverb and delay.

FabFilter Pro-Q4 Software Plug-in

Why It’s Cool: Now in its fourth version, FabFilter Pro-Q 4 remains one of the most favorable equalization plug-ins available.

Things to Consider:

• Intuitive, easy-to-use interface
• Control every plug-in instance from a single window
• Sketchable EQ curves for fast-flowing tonal processing

Shop Now: FabFilter Pro-Q4 Software Download

FabFilter Pro-Q 4 is among the most powerful EQ plug-ins for mixing. In 2019, the previous version, Pro-Q 3, won an Engineering Emmy Award. It’s not uncommon for engineers to run an instance of Pro-Q on virtually every channel in a mix—including guitars, drums, bass, vocals, piano, strings, brass, synthesizers and anything that could benefit from a little frequency shaping (which is oftentimes everything). Featuring spectral dynamics processing, Pro-Q 4 has the ability precisely and dynamically treat problem frequencies while preserving the natural timbre of an instrument. FabFilter Pro-Q 4 should be in every engineer’s toolbox.

FabFilter Mixing Bundle

Why It’s Cool: The FabFilter Mixing Bundle provides access to seven essential plug-ins from the award-winning developer’s collection.  

Things to Consider:

• Pro-grade plug-ins for mixing and mastering engineers
• Resizable interfaces with customizable scaling
• Interactive helpful hints teach you the ins and outs of each effect

Shop Now: FabFilter Mixing Software Bundle

The Mixing Bundle from FabFilter includes the Pro-Q 4 equalizer, Pro-R 2 reverb, Pro-C 2 compressor, Pro-DS de-esser, Pro-G gate/expander, Saturn 2 multiband saturator and Timeless 3 delay. These are the essentials, applicable to a wide range of mixing and tone-shaping processes for guitar and practically every other instrument. Between Pro-R 2 and Timeless 3, you can create lush ambient washes and vibrant spaces for your guitars to “live.” With Saturn 2, you can dial in an ultraprecise style of distortion and subsequently control its dynamic range with the Pro-C 2 compressor. There’s nearly an unlimited amount of mileage you can get from these seven FabFilter plug-ins.

Soundtoys 5.4 Bundle

Why It’s Cool: Soundtoys 5.4 includes all 22 plug-ins from the developer, trusted by professional engineers, musicians and sound designers all over the world.

Things to Consider:

• Includes the recently launched SuperPlate reverb
• Effect Rack lets you easily customize and save signal chains
• Many plug-ins feature a Tweak panel for advanced parameters

Shop Now: Soundtoys 5.4 Software Bundle

The Soundtoys 5.4 bundle contains reverb, saturation, delay, pitch shifting, chorus, tremolo, phase and more. Many Soundtoys plug-ins have reached iconic status for their quality and usability, including Decapitator, Little Plate, EchoBoy and PhaseMistress, which are all great on guitar, too. Using the Effect Rack, you can chain up to 14 plug-ins and edit them from a single interface. Plus, once you’ve crafted the ideal signal path, you can store the preset to recall your signature guitar tone in every session. The Soundtoys 5.4 bundle is a must-have for guitarists and engineers.

Soundtoys Decapitator 5

Why It’s Cool: Soundtoys Decapitator is an analog-modeled saturator, the secret weapon of top mixers and the winner of a KVR Audio Readers’ Choice Award in 2024.

Things to Consider:

• Subtle saturation to extreme distortion
• Five distinct tonal styles based on analog gear
• Mix knob for easy parallel processing

Shop Now: Soundtoys Decapitator 5 Software Download

Soundtoys Decapitator is one of the best-sounding, most intuitive saturation plug-ins available, with an extremely musical and pleasing range of distortion for guitars, bass, drums, vocals, mix buses and more. More than just an approximation of the analog sound, Decapitator responds to recorded tracks dynamically, subtly shifting in color like real old-school outboard gear would. Decapitator is an amazing sonic enhancer, yet it’s powerful and flexible enough to be the foundation of an entire guitar tone.

Its T and P styles, for instance, are both modeled on the Culture Vulture by Thermionic Culture—the first dedicated studio distortion device. The “T” in this case designates the sound of an overdriven triode tube typically found in the preamp section of guitar amplifiers, while the “P” stands for pentode—commonly found in the output stage of guitar amps.

The standalone Decapitator is a great choice if you don’t need the entire Soundtoys bundle.

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

Why It’s Cool: The Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection includes painstaking emulations of pro audio’s most legendary compressor, straight from the company who invented it.

Things to Consider:

• Models of three 1176 revisions spanning 40+ years
• Colorful compression sounds great on everything
• Presets from Andrew Scheps, Joe Chiccarelli and more

Shop Now: Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

For nearly 60 years, the 1176 FET compressor has been a studio staple and first-choice processor for vocals, guitars, drums, bass and virtually any instrument benefitting from colorful dynamic control. The Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection models three distinct iterations of the outboard processor—the famous Revs A and E, as well as the rare 40th Anniversary Edition with its lower 2:1 ratio option.

For guitar, 1176’s lightning-fast attack times can snatch and subdue the sharpest peaks, while still preserving the instrument’s transients in a natural way. Compared to something like the slower-reacting (and equally beloved) LA-2A, the 1176 makes easy work of mixing aggressive, in-your-face guitars.

Want to hit them hard? Try the infamous “all buttons in” trick for the gritty, unmistakable character of an 1176. Like the original hardware, the plug-ins are remarkably easy to use, with expanded modern controls (Headroom, Mix and Sidechain Filter) thanks to the flexibility of software.

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

Why It’s Cool: AmpliTube 5 by IK Multimedia lets you build an entire signal chain from scratch, for a complete virtual rig in your DAW.

Things to Consider:

• Includes 170+ gear models
• Drag-and-drop signal chain builder supports 57 simultaneous models
• Developed with top brands, including Fender, MESA/Boogie and Orange

Shop Now: IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 Software Download

IK Multimedia’s AmpliTube 5 software is a powerhouse digital tone generator for guitar and bass. With the advent of musicians recording their dry, direct signal through an interface, AmpliTube allows you to piece together an entire virtual rig in the box, including pedals, amps, cabinets, speakers, microphones, rooms and studio rack effects. It runs as a standalone application with its own eight-track recorder, or it seamlessly integrates with your favorite DAW for all your tonal needs throughout the entire recording and mixing process.

Upping the ante is AmpliTube 5 MAX V2, featuring over 400 gear models for nearly endless experimentation. The ever-growing AmpliTube library offers numerous expansions, such as the Jimi Hendrix and Slash collections.

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro

Why It’s Cool: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro features a boutique selection of 26 modeled guitar and bass amps, in addition to 115 effects.  

Things to Consider:

• Wide variety of stompbox and studio outboard effect models
• Lo-fi effects category includes Tape Wobble and Noise Machine
• Onboard tuner and metronome as part of the rack tools suite

Shop Now: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro Software Download

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro offers intuitive amp and effects simulation, boasting more than enough variety for any sound you can imagine, without feeling tediously, needlessly expansive. Four of the latest amp models include the Super Fast 100 (Soldano SLO), Reverb Delight (Fender Deluxe Reverb), AC Box XV (VOX AC30) and the Bass Rage (Ampeg SVT-CL)—plus 22 other emulations. The amplifiers mentioned also make use of Native Instruments’ Intelligent Circuit Modeling (ICM) technology, which drives realistic emulation powered by machine learning. Guitar Rig 7 Pro further includes matched cabinets for each amp, an IR loader, and a Control Room feature with presets modeling classic speaker setups and eight simultaneous microphones.

The Perfect Guitar Mix is Only a Plug-in Away

The best plug-ins for mixing guitar include amp sims, equalizers, reverbs, delays, saturation, flangers, phasers and so much more. In fact, you’re limited only by your imagination when it comes to applying any of the numerous effects covered in this guide to your guitar signal. Outside of this curated selection, feel free to browse our entire catalog of mixing and mastering software to take your productions over the top.

And when it comes to making music at home, check out our guide on the Best Gifts for Music Producers. Plus, if you’re still tracking down the ideal digital audio workstation for your needs, we have the Best DAWs for Beginners to help narrow the search. While you’re at it, our article on the Best Audio Interfaces offers a curated selection of top-tier hardware to complete your setup.

People Also Ask ...

• Q: How can I make my guitar sound better in a mix?
• A: While “better” is a subjective term in this instance, try starting simple by grabbing your favorite EQ plug-in. Filter out unnecessary lows, work on the guitar’s low-mid “body,” pay attention to the midrange (is it honky, harsh, undefined, etc.?) and check the top end for clarity. Adjust according to your taste and the song itself, and have fun with it.
• Q: How can I make a guitar stand out in a mix?
• A: Leveling and EQ are good places to start. Volume automation can work wonders in dense arrangements. You can also use compression to control the guitar’s dynamic range and bring it forward in the mix. Be careful not to overuse reverb, which tends to push mix elements back rather than forward.
• Q: Why is it so hard to mix guitars?
• A: Guitars have a wide frequency spectrum, creating “competition” among other instruments and all the elements comprising a mix. Sometimes, too, we record with our “bedroom” guitar tone, which may not be ideal in a mix. It’s important to take the time to find sounds that work in the context of the project, which includes practices like using less gain than you typically would, because it accumulates as you stack recorded guitar parts.
• Q: What should I look for in a guitar mixing plug-in?
• A: The simple answer is that it should provide the specific sound or effect you’re hoping to achieve. For example, if you love the sound of plate reverb, you probably wouldn’t want a spring reverb plug-in. If you really dig classic Marshall Plexi rock tones, you won’t get them from a Fender or a VOX amp sim, and so on.