As someone who’s spent over a decade as a music producer, I’m always keeping my ears open for the next big thing in production tools. I love plugins that change the way we make music. Whether it's something that saves time, makes life a little easier, or is just fun to use, I’m always excited to see how technology is pushing the envelope.

Over the years, we've seen plenty of innovative plugins reshape the production process. Multi-band compressors, dynamic EQs, and multi-FX plugins, for example, have all played their part in improving the way we work. In many ways, we think of these tools as staples of the modern studio.

Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing a new wave of EQ technology - the auto EQ plugin (or as many people like to refer to them - ‘intelligent’ EQ plugins). These tools analyze tracks in real-time, making adjustments based on what they ‘hear.’ While they’re still far from perfect, they can be a huge time-saver and can get you closer to a balanced mix with less effort.

After putting in the research and testing a variety of options, I've put together a list of the best auto EQ plugins out there to help you take your mixes to the next level. Let’s dive in!

What are Auto EQ Plugins?

It seems like everything has a “smart” label these days - smartphones, smart homes, even smart refrigerators that can tell you when you’re low on milk (and probably order it for you too). We’re living in a world where technology is getting more intuitive by the day, and it only makes sense that our music production tools would follow suit.

Enter auto EQ plugins. While I’m not sure if I’d go as far as calling them “smart” in the AI sense, these plugins are definitely a major leap forward in terms of convenience and efficiency.

These plugins work by using dynamic algorithms to apply hundreds of responsive peak filters across the frequency spectrum. Rather than just adjusting one frequency range, they’re constantly monitoring and adapting to changes in the audio. When you make tweaks or add new elements to your mix, the plugin re-adjusts on the fly to ensure everything stays in harmony.

Best of all, you don’t have to dive in and tweak everything yourself if you don’t want to. Most auto equalizer plugins come with preset settings or automatic suggestions, letting you either trust their judgment or use them as a starting point. And for more specific situations, you can always customize the settings to fit your needs.

1. Oeksound Soothe 2

If there’s one plugin that really put the concept of intelligent EQ on the map, it’s Oeksound’s Soothe 2 . When first launched, it quickly gained a cult following, both among bedroom producers and big-name engineers.

The reason why is that this plugin solves a real problem, reducing harshness and resonance without much work. Even though the first version of Soothe was a hit, it did have a few quirks that needed ironing out. But the developers at Oeksound didn’t rest on their laurels, and Soothe 2 takes things to the next level.

Soothe 2 is widely used by top producers and engineers like Skrillex , Andrew Huang, and Charlie Puth , who rave about its ability to smooth out sharp, unpleasant resonances without destroying the musicality of a track. However, the original version did have some limitations, like less control over attack and release times, and the lack of full mid-side processing. Soothe 2, however, addresses these shortcomings and then some.

One of the key features added in the second version is the ' Soft' processing mode , which gives you a more subtle, gentle effect. It's great for when you want to tame resonances without making the track sound overly processed.

The addition of Attack and Release parameters also means you can now fine-tune how quickly Soothe reacts to problem frequencies, giving you more control over the plugin’s responsiveness. Another notable upgrade is the mid-side processing , which lets you treat the stereo channels differently.

Soothe 2’s workflow and user interface are top-notch, and you can tell that many other developers have drawn inspiration from its simple, intuitive, and highly efficient feel. The interactive depth curve is one of my favorite things about Soothe 2. It works in an inverted EQ style, where you can easily shape the amount of processing applied across the spectrum by adjusting the curve’s depth. This allows you to see and hear exactly how much processing is being applied, so you can make precise adjustments with minimal effort.

The plugin also has a ‘Sharpness’ knob , which allows you to fine-tune the intensity of the plugin’s processing on more piercing or harsh frequencies. It’s perfect for dialing in just the right amount of taming for sibilant vocals, harsh guitars, or annoying high-mid frequencies in a busy mix.

Overall, Soothe 2 is one of the best out there. You get smooth, transparent results with all of the musicality you could ask for.

2. Sonible smart:EQ 4

Sonible’s smart:EQ 4 is one of those tools that feels like it was designed by someone who really understood what audio engineers need - a powerful, intelligent EQ that makes quick work of problem frequencies while leaving your mix intact. After refining their technology across four versions, Sonible has perfected their smart equalizer into a plugin that’s both practical and highly effective.

The interface is gorgeous and incredibly intuitive, making it easy to dive in and start making adjustments right away.

One of the best things about smart:EQ 4 is that the process is pretty straightforward. You start by selecting a target profile (drums, vocals, ambience, guitars, etc.). Once you’ve selected your profile, you capture a few seconds of the input signal, and that’s when the magic happens. The machine learning algorithm analyzes your track and generates an optimal response curve based on the audio it hears.

From there, the fun begins. You can fine-tune the curve by adjusting the ‘weighting’ , which allows you to intensify or lessen the amount of processing being applied. This gives you control over how much impact the plugin has on your mix. You can even invert the curve for more creative sound shaping. If you're looking for more control, smart:EQ 4 lets you dive deeper with regular multimode filter nodes.

What I love about smart:EQ 4 is how it makes achieving a well-balanced mix easy - assuming you know how to use it, of course. While it doesn’t replace the need for critical listening and mixing skills, it sure takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation.

3. Soundtheory Gullfoss

Gullfoss is unique to other intelligent EQ plugins, as it's based on the human auditory system. It uses automatic frequency correcting to understand how we perceive an audio signal so it can make adjustments that are not only sonically effective but also perceptually meaningful.

To my ears, Gullfoss uses a much lighter touch. I really like to use it on my instrument and vocal busses, and even sometimes on full mixes. Though I can't explain it a lot of the time, I often seem to get a sound qualitatively ‘better’ when A/B'd with other pro mixes.

One of the things to note is that you will need to practice and experiment with Gullfoss’ controls to get used to them, and the workflow is a bit quirky right off the bat.

On the user interface, you'll find two main parameters - Recover and Tame.

These work by counteracting and suppressing masking between elements in the incoming signal. Depending on how you use the Bias control, the outcoming signal will slant one way or another. You can also use the Boost and Brighten controls to emphasize or deemphasize high and low/mid-frequencies almost like you would with a dynamic EQ.

One of the things that makes Gullfoss so user-friendly is its comprehensive metering . Fortunately, you’re not just left to trust your ears. There’s plenty of visual feedback to show you exactly what’s happening to your audio. At a glance, you can see how much taming, recovery, and brightening is taking place across the frequency spectrum.

4. McDSP SA-3

McDSP’s SA-3 brings a fresh take on automatic EQ by building on the powerful algorithms behind their acclaimed SA-2 Dialog Processor. While the SA-2 was designed with a primary focus on dialog processing, helping to smooth out and balance voice recordings, the SA-3 takes those same intelligent algorithms and expands them into a more general-purpose system.

One of the main upgrades in the SA-3 is the expansion of its frequency range. While the SA-2 featured a five-band equalizer with center frequencies geared more towards dialog processing, the SA-3 takes things to a whole new level by upping that number to over 1,000 bands. This increased frequency resolution allows the SA-3 to cover the entire frequency spectrum with much more precision, making it ideal for a much wider range of sound sources.

Beyond its frequency range, SA-3 targets “spikes” and “persistent overtones" to get rid of unwanted buildup that's often the culprit for harshness and imbalance. The algorithm was designed to identify and address these issues in real-time for a smoother, more cohesive sound.

To guide the plugin’s focus and adjust how it tackles these problem areas, McDSP has included a Focus control . This lets you dial in exactly how much emphasis you want on the suppression. Essentially, the Focus control gives you the ability to decide whether you want to target more immediate, harsh peaks in the audio, or smooth out longer, more persistent resonances.

If you want to get even more hands-on, you can route in a sidechain key to steer the suppression based on an external signal. This means you can use another track or signal to control how the plugin processes the audio, which can be great for getting a bass out of the way of a kick or midrange instruments out of the way of vocals.

As you’d expect from McDSP, the SA-3 is truly exceptional at what it sets out to do. Building on the success of the SA-2 , this newer version brings even more versatility and precision to the table.

5. Baby Audio Smooth Operator

If you’re on the hunt for a highly effective yet budget-friendly auto EQ, Baby Audio's Smooth Operator is one of the most affordable options on this list, and it certainly doesn’t skimp on performance. Despite its low price tag, it uses a high-quality FFT-based spectral compression , which actively adjusts your audio to match a user-defined response curve. It smooths out your signal in a way that feels both natural and controlled.

One of the reasons Smooth Operator is so great for fixing problematic frequencies is its simplicity. To get started, all you have to do is drag the center node in the main display to set the primary threshold for spectral compression. From there, you can use the additional four EQ nodes to adjust that threshold across different frequency ranges, tailoring the compression to your needs. The Focus slider lets you tune the width of the filters, so you can shape the compression’s impact across the spectrum easily.

For added flexibility, Baby Audio included a sidechain input for cross-channel ducking . This makes it easy to carve out space in your mix or add some dynamic interplay between different elements. The combination of a spectrum display and a gain reduction meter gives you real-time, highly informative feedback on how the plugin is processing.

6. Waves Silk Vocal

Waves recently released Silk Vocal , a powerful yet simple EQ plugin for getting clear, polished vocals.

It comes in two versions: the regular one for studio use and the "Live" version, optimized for low-latency adjustments during performances. The interface features three big knobs to adjust lows , mids , and highs , along with a Rvox compressor and gate for extra control. There are also plenty of useful presets for different vocal types, making it easy to get started.

You will need to be gentle with this plugin, as if you push it too far, it's easy to get vocals that sound super unnatural. It's also worth mentioning that there's no spectral analyzer either, which is a bit of a letdown, but it’s still great for getting well-balanced vocals.

Overall, Silk Vocal is a solid choice for clear, controlled vocals as long as you don’t overcook it!

7. Waves Curves Equator

Waves' Curves Equator is one of their newest plugins, and it’s already proving to be a huge help for tackling annoying frequency issues. It’s incredibly easy to use, and it excels at two main tasks: resonance suppression and frequency unmasking - in other words, it makes sure your tracks are clean and balanced.

Whether you're mastering a full track or fixing up individual elements like acoustic guitars or vocals, Curves Equator shines. It even has a smart “Learn” feature that listens to your input signal, automatically identifying and removing problematic frequencies or balancing any inconsistencies.

Another cool feature is the sidechain input, which helps tackle frequency masking , so the elements in your mix don't overlap too much and lose clarity. If you haven’t tried it yet, I really recommend giving it a go. It's a simple tool with big results!

8. Wavegrove Vastaus (Free)

If you're dealing with harsh, sharp high frequencies, Wavegrove Vastaus might just be your new best friend. It’s a resonance reducer designed specifically to tame prickly, biting frequencies that can make high-end instruments like cymbals , snares , or electric guitars feel a little too bitey.

While it’s not a super versatile plugin, as it’s really only focused on high frequencies, it smooths out the top end of a mix really well.

What makes Vastaus really stand out is its oversampling feature, giving the plugin more clarity while reducing aliasing. This is especially important when you want to keep things transparent and avoid any weird artifacts in the top end.

While it's not as selective as some of the other tools out there, if you need a quick, effective way to clean up your high frequencies, Vastaus is great.

Make The Mixing Process Smart

If you’re open to relinquishing a little bit of control to some of these "smart" plugins, you might find yourself reaping some pretty sweet rewards. These tools are designed to take the guesswork out of regular EQ, resonance reduction, and overall frequency balancing on entire mixes, so you can focus on the bigger picture. Of course, they’re not magic wands, and it's still important to trust your ears and tweak as needed. With that said, they sure make your job easier.