Soundtoys Tutorial

Soundtoys makes some of the most musical plugins in the game, and I reach for them on literally every single mix. Whether I’m adding punch to drums, width to vocals, or creating wild delay effects, these tools are essential to my workflow. Let me walk you through exactly how I use my favorite Soundtoys plugins when mixing hip hop.

Decapitator: The Secret Weapon for Punch

If I could only keep one Soundtoys plugin, it would be Decapitator. This saturation powerhouse adds harmonic distortion that makes tracks cut through a mix without just turning them up louder.

The Five Styles Explained

Decapitator offers five different saturation algorithms, each modeled after classic hardware:

• A (Ampex): Modeled after the Ampex tape preamp – my go-to for kicks
• E (Chandler EMI-TG): Based on the Chandler/EMI TG channel – also great on kicks
• N (Neve 1057): The Neve sound – perfect for guitars, though it can be a bit fuzzy for drums
• T (Thermionic Culture Triode): Culture Vulture in triode mode – I use this one frequently
• P (Thermionic Culture Pentode): Culture Vulture in pentode mode – slightly less than T for me

How I Use It on Drums

Drums are where Decapitator really shines. On kicks and snares, I typically use the Ampex or Chandler settings. The key controls I focus on are:

• Drive: This controls how much saturation you’re adding. Turn it up and you’ll hear more and more character
• Output: Here’s the genius part – the output automatically compensates so you’re not fooled by the “louder equals better” effect. You’re hearing the actual sonic change, not just a volume increase
• Tone: Darker for more thump, brighter to help things cut through
• Mix: Blend in just the right amount of saturation while keeping the dry signal

These changes might sound subtle in solo, but when everything’s playing together, they add up in a major way. That’s what mixing is all about – lots of small improvements that create a massive difference.

Decapitator on Bass

Sub bass is essential for low-end weight, but here’s what a lot of people miss: bass needs high-end content to cut through on smaller speakers and earbuds. I use the Thermionic Culture settings on bass to add harmonics that give the bass presence without losing the bottom end. The high cut helps tame any harshness, while the darker tone setting keeps things warm.

MicroShift: Instant Stereo Width

MicroShift is modeled after the legendary Eventide H3000 pitch shifter. It’s incredibly simple but delivers instant stereo width that you can hear immediately.

I use this on:

• Rhodes and keyboards: Makes them feel bigger and more immersive
• Hip hop vocals: Even just a subtle amount widens vocals out beautifully
• Any instrument that needs space: It’s one of those “set it and forget it” plugins

Crystallizer & FilterFreak: Sound Design Tools

These are the “specialty” plugins where experimentation pays off. I don’t always know exactly what I’m looking for – I just start cycling through presets until something catches my ear, then I tweak from there.

Creating New Textures

Here’s a cool trick: I’ll send a sound to an auxiliary track with Crystallizer, then automate the send level to bring the effect in and out. Add some reverb and delay to that aux, and suddenly you’ve created an entirely new sound for your track. It’s like having a whole extra instrument to work with.

FilterFreak has tons of filtering options. The “Analog Edge” preset is fantastic on lead synths – it adds grit to the high end that really helps them cut through a dense mix. I blend it back with the mix knob to taste.

EchoBoy: The Delay Swiss Army Knife

EchoBoy is legendary for good reason. It’s incredibly versatile while staying easy to use. Here’s how I typically deploy it on vocals:

My Go-To Settings

• Eighth Note Ping Pong: Classic left-right delay with low cut maxed out and high cut engaged for clean, rhythmic repeats
• Rhythm Echo (Echoplex setting): This is my most-used delay effect. You can create stutters, swells, reverses – the possibilities are endless
• Space Echo: Based on the classic Roland RE-201, perfect for that vintage vibe

The Slap Delay Trick

One of my favorite vocal techniques is using EchoBoy with the Echoplex setting as a stereo widener. It’s not a traditional delay – it’s set fast enough to create a doubling effect that makes the vocal sound wider and bigger without being obviously delayed. This works beautifully on hip hop vocals.

The Mix Philosophy

All these techniques might seem subtle when you’re hearing them one at a time, but that’s the point. Mixing isn’t about one giant move that fixes everything – it’s about making dozens of small improvements that add up to a massive difference. Each little adjustment compounds with the others.

Soundtoys plugins are worth every penny because they sound musical, they’re easy to use, and they give you creative options you won’t find anywhere else. The company puts real effort into these tools, and it shows.

Your Turn

These are just some of the ways I use Soundtoys plugins in my mixes. The best thing you can do is experiment – load up these plugins and start turning knobs until you find sounds that inspire you. That’s when the real magic happens.

If you have any questions about using these plugins or want to talk about mixing techniques, hit me up. And if you need your songs professionally mixed and mastered, check out my services at MixandMasterMySong.com.