Recently, Diego Ortega released Vocal Rider, a free plugin made to help you achieve consistent vocal levels via automation while avoiding coloration caused by compression. 

The plugin is available in both 64-bit and 32-bit versions for macOS and Windows, in VST3 and standalone formats.  

Ortega has made Vocal Rider available via a ‘name a fair price’ model on his Gumroad page. 

To nab the plugin, enter a price on the Gumroad form (which can be $0) and hit ‘Buy this’. 

You’ll then be prompted to provide an email address. After completing that form, you’ll be forwarded to a page where you can download the macOS and Windows zips in a single click.

I’m always glad to see a plugin listed on Gumroad, as the site makes downloading freebies a breeze. 

Ortega has produced a brief intro video for Vocal Rider, which shows the plugin in action as it responds to a performance. 

Nailing the gain staging for vocal production can be a bit of a headache, and producers usually get stuck into manually fader riding or using compression to deal with it. 

These both have their downsides, namely being fiddly and requiring an active performance to do, or potentially compromising the audio quality, respectively. 

Vocal Rider is here to help you get the job done quickly with an algorithm that monitors the vocal signal and applies dynamic gain adjustments to keep the level in the sweet spot. 

At the top of the plugin is the Target control, which sets the level of maintaining the vocals.

Below that, you have the Vocal and Music sensitivity dials. The former differentiates the vocals from other sounds and identifies the beginning and ending of words, while the latter determines how the Rider adapts to changes in instrumental levels, in a range of -6 to +6 dB. 

There are the Range, Rider, and Output controls on the lowest panel. 

The range sets the limits to how far the Rider can move during its automatic gain adjustments. 

The Rider provides a visual representation of the gain boost or reduction that the plugin is applying, and will move up and down in real time as it responds to the input. 

Lastly, the Output allows you to adjust the output gain. 

I must say that this is definitely a handy freebie to have, as getting vocal gain staging right is fundamental to achieving the best results. If you’re looking for an automated solution for this, then this will do the trick.

Download: Vocal Rider (FREE / Name-your-price)

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