Among the tools available for processing your projects’ audio, surround sound plugins elevate your listening experience, add effects, and add clarity and depth. These plugins make every sound come to life around you, from whispers to powerful explosions.
While mixing in 5.1 or 7.1 format may initially seem challenging, having more channels available gives you more freedom and space to manage tracks than a stereo mix. Whether you are a sound engineer creating cinematic works or, like me, a musician who likes to explore new sounds, if you learn to use these types of tools, it can expand your possibilities and your understanding of how audio behaves.
In this article, I will review some of the best plugins for surround sound options made specifically for multichannel, considering those that offer the most complete features. Let’s start!
Important: To use these plugins, your Daw must have surround support, which allows you to work with 5.1 sound. While some new versions of Daw have this feature built-in, others will need to support Dolby Atmos or some external host, which is something to consider.
5 Best Surround Sound Plugins & Software
1. Waves 360° Surround Tools
The 360º Surround Tools is a bundle of plugins created by Waves that integrates all the functions needed to process surround sound in a single powerful tool.
It is a tool that I consider essential when working on my surround sound projects, and can give you a lot of independence. With it, you can expand, manipulate, add effects, filters, compression, and even convert from stereo to surround without external tools. It is not a cheap bundle, but it can be an excellent investment if you need to use its functions regularly.
Key Features:
- 12 Plugins Bundle:
The 360º Surround Tools includes C360 Surround Compressor, Dorrough Stereo, Dorrough Surround, IDR360 Bit Re-Quantizer, L360 Surround Limiter, LFE360 Low-Pass Filter, LoAir, M360 Surround Manager & Mixdown, MV360, R360 Surround Reverb, S360 Surround Imager & Panner and UM225/UM226. It’s a complete arsenal to work with.
- Surround Managers:
The M360 Surround Manager & Mixdown is where you will start efficiently managing and mixing audio in surround sound formats. It allows you to control and manage the different audio channels, ensuring that each channel is correctly assigned. Here, you will adjust the balance, pan, and other parameters of each channel within the surround field for perfect monitoring of the subwoofer and satellites.
The S360 Surround Imager & Panner will be the second step in optimizing. With it, you will set surround mix rotation and width, allowing you to control the spatial position of each element about the listener. The S360 includes room models to create different distance panning and a Shuffling option that allows you to control low-frequency width.
Dorrough Stereo and Dorrough Surround meters will provide you with precise general monitoring that you can place in the most convenient area of the interface. The Dorrough Stereo will show you the general tracking, allowing you to choose between three modes: Left/Right, Sum/Difference, and Phase. On the other hand, with the Dorrough Surround, you can perform more specific monitoring since it includes Left/Right, Left surround/Right surround, and Center/Low-Frequency Effects meters. DTS, ITU/SMPTE, and Film/Dolby are some of the digital modes included.
- Reverb, Compressor, and Limiter:
R360 Surround Reverb is the main effect included in this Waves bundle. Unlike a conventional reverb, this tool lets you individually control the sectors where you want to apply the effect. Includes twenty-five room emulation presets. Waves Tools also include a soft-knee compressor consists of three sidechains (C360 Surround Compressor) and a second compressor that can be used in 5.1 and 5.0, with two threshold parameters for each channel (MV360). The L360 Surround is an effective limiter with which you can attenuate peaks in three different sectors: Center, Front, and Rear.
- LoAir, Low-Pass & Re-Quantizer:
The LoAir is a subharmonic generator integrated into this bundle, with which you can generate those lows that are full of presence and optimized for surround sound. The LFE360 is a low-pass that allows you to cut frequencies from 20 to 250 Hz and prevent clipping. Finally, the IDR360 Bit can Re-Quantize to 24, 22, 20, 18, or 16-bit depths to avoid losing quality when quantizing the audio. It also includes an option to add Dither and Shaping Noise.
Compatibility:
Waves 360º Surround Tools is compatible with Windows X64 compatible with Intel or AMD CPU. Memory Minimum: 8 GB RAM (16 G.B. recommended). 16 G.B. free disk space on the system drive. Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11. MacOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14. Supported Plug-In Formats AAX (Native), AU, VST, VST3.
2. The Cargo Cult Spanner 4
The Spanner 4 is the latest version of this surround tool created by The Cargo Cult. It offers several options to shape the panning of your audio simply.
I am amazed at the flexibility this plugin offers. It allows you to work in all possible formats and has functions that, even if you are not familiar with them, you can use intuitively. Unlike the previous ones, this new version can be used on both iOS and Windows. This plugin costs around $200 but also offers a 30-day trial.
Key Features:
- Flexibility:
The Spanner includes functions with which you can make tracks larger or smaller, adapting them to all standard formats, from MONO to 9.1.6, with all the variants that exist in between. Each of its main parameters (Left, Center, Right, L Side, R Side, LFE, L Top, R Top) has six different values that you can modify to control even the smallest detail. This means you can take a sound from a simple point to an immersive 7.0 experience or vice versa.
- Immersive Modes:
The Spanner offers different panning options, and here I would say that this plugin gets interesting. With Spin mode, you will perceive the sound as if you were spinning in circles. With Rotate mode, which allows sounds to follow the movements of a camera, you can take your mixes to a whole new level of creativity. Balls-To-The-Wall mode offers discreet and super-defined 3D flights, minimizing channel interference.
- External Configuration:
The Spanner comes with a dedicated remote control app for iOS. This application allows you to access all Spanner functions from an iPad, making the workflow much more comfortable and intuitive for editing, premixing, or final mixing. You can, for example, automate an entire track to move from left to right and then collapse in the center, all in real-time.
Compatibility:
The Cargo Cult Spanner 4.0 is compatible with Mac OS 10.12, Windows 10, Pro Tools 12 or greater, and AAX Native/DSP/Audiosuite.
3. Nugen Audio Halo Downmix
Halo Downmix is a tool for balancing and monitoring your tracks in both surround and stereo, and I highlight its simplicity.
Its interface is well laid out and includes some interesting functions, such as the possibility of exporting to different surround formats easily. However, its price is far from cheap (around $300).
Key Features:
- Intuitive UI:
The Halo Downmix offers a general panel where you will see everything that happens. From there, you can easily balance and monitor the mix, adjust the surround mix to stereo, or regulate low-frequency content to maintain dialogue clarity and control excess ambient sound. On the left, you will find the channel monitoring section, towards the center, the spectrogram, and on the right, the outputs section. It also offers the option of an Advanced or Basic interface.
- F.X. Cleaning:
In addition to its visual controls for relative levels, synchronization, and direct/ambient balance, the Downmix has a delay cleaning option that is applied to the rear channels, compensating for the delay time so that the effect cannot be noticed. This is very useful, especially when we go from surround to stereo and need more space and clarity.
In the output section, you will also find practical controls such as an HPF (High Pass Filter) and a Monofilter, with which you can select frequencies to keep in the middle of the mix when converting them to stereo.
- 3D Extension:
The Halo Downmix also includes an immersive extension allowing you to process sound in formats such as 7.1.2 and 7.1.4, expanding the possibilities even further. It also includes the Halo Receive plugin, with which you can do A/B checks between the surround mix and the stereo downmix.
Compatibility:
Nugen Audio Halo Downmix supports AAX (64-bit only), VST, VST3, A.U., and AudioSuite in both 64-bit and 32-bit versions. Halo Downmix requires a surround-compatible plug-in host (5.1/7.1) such as Pro Tools H.D. Mac OSX 10.7.x / 512 MB RAM. Windows (64-bit) Vista or above / 512 MB RAM.
4. Sound Particles SkyDust 3D
SkyDust is a synthesizer plugin designed by Sound Particles and can create all types of sounds and 3D textures in any immersive format.
It includes sequencers, oscillators, arpeggiators, modulations, and everything you need to create synths in surround and binaural formats. The price is around $290, but I recommend using the 30-day trial version, which includes all its functions.
Key Features:
- Main Section:
In the main section of the SkyDust, you will see the preset window, from which you can choose from more than five hundred pad options. What I find most interesting here is that right next to the preset window, you will find the 3D viewer, which will show you in which directions the oscillators move when they come into action, each identified with a different color. Below the viewfinder, you will find Arp, Pitch, and Spatial options to activate or deactivate.
- Oscillators Section:
The next tab will take you to the second section, where you will find eight oscillators for which you can modify parameters such as Octave, Transposition, and Detune, among others. Each can be activated or deactivated to use individually or in combination. The oscillators will also be affected by the following three sections: Filter, Pitch, and FM. From there, you can make all the modifications that generate the synthesized sound.
- Arpeggiator/Sequencer Section:
The Sequencer feature allows you to create melodies; each sequence step has its own keyboard. Being a Polyphonic sequencer, you can add layers of depth and adjustments over time for dynamic sequences. It can also synchronize the scale to follow the notes within the correct harmony, saving you time when composing sequences.
Spatial & FX sections:
In this section, you can manually configure how you want the sounds to move within the space; you can apply it to each oscillator and each step of the sequencer. You can set the amount of movement and towards which sector you want that movement to occur. You can order all of this from the 3D viewer that each option includes. The SkyDust can output audio in 5.1, 9.1.6, and binaural, among others, so any changes you make here will be reflected in the three-dimensional sound field.
In the FX section, you have up to four slots in which you can add and combine effects such as reverbs, delays, chorus, EQs, bit-crushers, flangers, and compressors. If you are new to using this type of surround plugin, I recommend that you try to understand how this synth generates sounds in space before moving on to the effects section. This will make this tool more effective since its possibilities are very spacious.
- Additional Features:
In addition, in the lower left part, you can change the Keyboard to a Mixer or a Spatial viewer. With the Mixer, you will control the output level of each of the eight oscillators, with their assigned colors. The spatial Viewer will show you five options to see how the oscillators behave and interact within the spatial field. The extras section includes envelope generators and LFO filters to adjust even the smallest detail.
Compatibility:
SkyDust 3D is compatible with Mac OS X 10.13 or higher, Intel, and native Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 10 or higher. 2-core or higher CPU. AAX, A.U., VST.
5. DearVR PRO 2
The VR PRO 2 is a spatializer plugin that transforms your sound into surround, binaural, and ambisonic formats. With it, you can create three-dimensional effects intuitively.
I like using this plugin because it simply focuses on pans, reverbs, and their reflections, so it gets straight to the point. It costs around $190, and you can access a 14-day trial version.
Key Features:
- Position Section:
The VR PRO 2 has a comfortable and straightforward interface. In the first Position section on the left, you will have different points alternating between the X/Z, Y/Z, and X/Y buttons. With X/Z, you will get the top view, X/Y will give you the side view, and X/Y will show you the rearview. By activating Cartesian mode, you can place the sound wave freely in any direction by clicking and dragging the mouse.
You can also move throughout the panorama in Polar mode but with linear movements. With the Distance Scale parameter, you can enlarge or shrink the perspective of the viewfinder for a broader or more specific image.
- Reverb & Reflections Sections:
Once you have distributed the sound throughout the space in the desired way, you can start working in the Reflections section. Here, you will find an adjustable reflection parameter for each of the space’s dimensions (Left, Front, Right, Top, Back, and Bottom), in addition to High-Pass and Low-Pass filters and Gain control.
You can choose from many options in the Reverb section, such as Rooms and Halls, Post-Production, and Music Production reverbs. I recommend that you take the time to try the options since you will find some very successful ones. In this section, you will see Size, High-Pass, Low-Pass, and Gain parameters as well. When combined with the reflections, you can generate even deeper sounds, and if necessary, you can deactivate both the Reverb and the Reflections with their off switch.
- Output Formats:
In the final section, located to the right of the interface, you will find By-pass Bass Boost and Performance Mode options to compare different results. From Output Format, you can choose between format options for headphones (binaural), ambisonics (4, 9, or 16 channels), and surround speakers (LCR, 5.1, 7.1.2, 9.0.4, etc.), adapting to almost any situation.
Compatibility:
DearVR PRO 2 is compatible with Mac OS X: OS X 10.12+. Intel CPU (minimum 2 GHz recommended). Native Apple Silicon Support. Windows 8 through 11. Intel-compatible CPU with SSE2 instruction set (minimum 2 GHz recommended). Most VST3 / AU / AAX – compatible hosts running on a supported operating system 64-bit support only.
Bonus:
Eventide MicroPitch Immersive
Micropitch is a plugin designed for immersive audio. It can be used in conjunction with any DAW that supports Dolby Atmos.
If there is something I like about this tool, it is its versatility. You can use it not only in musical productions but also for post-production films or sound design for video games. This plugin is around $290.
Key Features:
- Detune Section:
You will see the Detune section at the top of the interface, with three main parameters: Left/Right, Front/Rear, and Top/Main. This is very useful because it allows us to generate dimensional detune effects in our chosen direction. If you wish, each parameter has a Tilt fader to achieve more asymmetrical sounds.
The Detune section works in conjunction with the Delay and Modulation sections, which are located on the right and left. From here, you can create movement and alter the signal in different ways. The Delay can be automatically synchronized to the project tempo and has Pattern options such as Rotate Left and Rotate Right, which can generate three-dimensional effects.
The Morph fader, located in the center of the interface, allows you to map the controls, set two different configurations (I and II), and then alternate them by moving the fader from position I to position II.
- EQ Section:
The MicroPitch EQ seems like a really interesting option to me since it allows you to work on the Top, Front, and Rear frequencies independently. This gives you complete control over everything that happens in a surround format space. Each one has three bands, and you can use them individually or together by pressing the All option.
- Mixer Section:
At the bottom of the interface, the Micropitch offers a Mixer section with five instances: Front, Surround Side, Surround Rear, LFE, and Top Side. You can adjust stereo parameters (Left/Right) within each of them, except in the Front, which also includes a fader for the center (Left/Center/Right). This is very practical for me because it allows me to know what is happening in each sector of the surrounding mix. The MicroPitch supports LCR, Quadraphonic, 5.0 – 5.1.4, and 7.0 – 7.1.4 channel layouts.
Compatibility:
Micropitch Immersive is compatible with Windows 8+; AAX 64-bit, VST3 64-bit. MacOS 10.14+, Intel and Apple Silicon; AAX 64-bit, AU 64-bit, VST3 64-bit. An iLok account is required, but no physical dongle is necessary.
Integraudio is a audio-focused blog that explores everything from VST plugins and studio hardware to practical guides, tips, and tutorials on Spotify, AirPods, podcasting, Discord, and beyond.