Neural DSP unveils Mantra, its first-ever vocal processing plugin

Neural DSP has long been a main player in digital amp modelling for guitar and bass, but with Mantra, the Finnish brand looks to expand its reach into the world of vocal processing.

The company’s first-ever vocal plugin, Mantra is designed to “reimagine the entire vocal chain”, by unifying all the essential tools for recording, mixing and editing vocals into a single, intuitive interface, and eliminating the need for complex plugin stacks which, let’s face it, we producers could all do without.

If you’ve ever dabbled in vocal processing, you’ll know that you’ll generally add a separate compressor, EQ, pitch corrector, and de-esser to your vocal channel, along with any other effects you choose to add.

Neural DSP says this laborious process “disrupts creative momentum”, so with Mantra, all the tools you need for vocal processing are housed intuitively within a single plugin.

“Our mission with Mantra was simple,” says Francisco Cresp, CPO and Co-Founder of Neural DSP Technologies.

“We wanted to put a world-class vocal studio into one plugin so artists can focus on feeling, expression, and performance instead of wrestling with technical hurdles.

“Mantra marks an exciting expansion into the broader world of audio production, giving vocalists, producers, and creators a powerful, streamlined way to achieve incredible results with no compromises.”

“We believe technology should serve the art, not get in its way,” adds Neural DSP Plugin Product Manager Francois Barrillon.

“Mantra removes barriers and gives creators the freedom to experiment, push boundaries, and trust their instincts – knowing their vocal sound will stay consistent, inspiring, and professional from the very first take.”

Chiefly, Mantra offers two distinct modes: Tracking Mode for low latency and light CPU usage for confident real-time monitoring; and Mixing Mode for enhanced quality and detail when working on a final vocal polish.

Mantra also features a Correction Section, combining pitch correction, gating, de-essing and a powerful Sculpt module, which intelligently analyses your voice and mic in real time, and applies a refined tonal curve. “Think of it as 80% of your EQ work done in seconds, with no setup required,” says Neural DSP.

When in Mixing Mode, Sculpt adds dynamic spectral shaping for taming harshness and balancing tone – like a smart multiband compressor without needing to set it up.

Additionally, Mantra features a Multimode Compressor with three classic flavours – Tube, Stress and Multi – for musical, aggressive or modern compression. A Multimode Saturation module offers Tape, Tube and Digital modes for warmth, drive or gritty textures.

In terms of effects, Mantra features four unique delay types, a selection of reverbs, studio-grade Chorus, Flanger and Phaser effects – plus a proprietary Doubler for width and thickness, and the ability to stack up to eight pitch-shifted voices with natural variation in pitch and timing.

“Most vocal tools are either too basic or too complex,” says Francisco Cresp. “Our goal with Mantra is to strike a balance, offering an intuitive solution that benefits both beginners and experienced producers alike. That vision has come to life, and we look forward to growing alongside our community as they redefine what’s possible in vocal production.”

Mantra is available now, priced at €199.

For more information, head to Neural DSP.

Sam is the Associate News Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Thoroughly immersed in music culture for the majority of his life, Sam has played guitar for 20 years, studied music technology and production at university, and also written for the likes of MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer.