Known for transforming the guitar and bass production world with cutting-edge amp modeling and effects, Neural DSP has officially entered the vocal space with Mantra – its first-ever vocal plugin.
With Mantra, Neural DSP is reimagining how vocals are tracked, tuned, mixed, and polished. Designed to eliminate the need for clunky plugin stacks and scattered workflows, Mantra gives creators a streamlined solution that’s equal parts precision tool and creative playground.
“Our mission with Mantra was simple,” said Francisco Cresp, CPO and Co-Founder of Neural DSP. “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.”
At the heart of Mantra is a suite of deeply integrated tools: pitch correction, EQ, compression, gating, de-essing, harmonies, modulation, delay, reverb—and then some. Every piece is designed to work seamlessly and sound musical, all while preserving creative momentum. In real-world terms, that means you can go from a raw vocal take to a polished mix without ever leaving the plugin.
Built on Neural DSP’s legendary analog modeling engine, Mantra delivers the warmth and vibe of vintage gear with the surgical control of modern digital workflows. It’s tailored not just for singers and rappers, but also for voiceover artists, podcasters, and streamers — and it doesn’t stop at vocals. Mantra’s flexible architecture makes it a powerful sound-shaping tool for synths, drums, and guitars as well.
Mantra includes two dedicated operation modes: Tracking Mode minimizes CPU load and latency for confident real-time monitoring, while Mixing Mode brings maximum detail and processing quality for final polishing.
Standout features include the Correction Section, where pitch tuning, gating, de-essing, and the innovative Sculpt module live. Sculpt analyzes your vocal and mic input in real time and applies a tonal curve that immediately enhances presence and clarity. In Mixing Mode, it acts like a smart multiband compressor, tackling harshness and frequency buildup—no tweaking needed.
Then there’s Multimode Compressor, which features three distinct flavors: Tube, Stress, and Multi, covering vintage smoothness, aggressive modern punch, and everything in between. Add in the Multimode Saturation module (Tape, Tube, and Digital), and you’ve got everything you need to inject character, warmth, or grit into your vocals.
For harmonic layering and spatial enhancement, Mantra truly shines. Stack up to eight intelligent harmonies with built-in variation, or dive into lush delays (Analog, Tape, Stereo, Dual) with onboard ducking. Reverb options like Hall, Plate, and Ambiance ensure your vocals sit in a mix with depth and clarity, while modulation effects (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser) and a proprietary Doubler let you dial in dimension without needing a second take.
“Most vocal tools are either too basic or too complex,” added Cresp. “With Mantra, we’re striking a balance — a powerful but intuitive solution for beginners and pros alike.”
