Is Neural DSP Mantra just another channel strip plugin? Not exactly€199 including taxes, neuraldsp.com
If you’re a guitar player, you should be familiar with Neural DSP. Founded in 2017, the Finnish manufacturer specialises in amp modelling, with some of the best solutions on the market. Neural DSP already has a range of guitar and bass plugins, but Mantra, a vocal-focused effect — is an interesting move for the company. Let’s find out if it’ll pay off.

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With a similar look and interface to the other Neural DSP plugins, Mantra provides a comprehensive low-latency effects processing solution for vocal performers, songwriters, and producers. Mantra is a real-time instrument you can use live and while tracking, or a powerful vocal production platform for achieving a more polished sound.
With a vocal chain that includes dynamics and tonal processing, tuning, harmoniser, and multi-effects, the processing is divided into three sections: Correction, Harmonies, and Post FX. This lets you move quickly between the various effects modules, while the global I/O gain controls, metering, and limiter provide quick access to adjust your gain structure.
As you might expect, there are two input monitoring modes: a low-latency mode for tracking, and a high-quality mode for mixing, which also unlocks dynamic EQ processing within the Sculpt module. You also have a global tuning section where you can set the root note and scale to access the Chord Voicing library, and even tune the Reference Pitch to 432 Hz if you like.

How do you use Neural DSP Mantra?
There’s a lot to take in when you first see the range of processing modules inside Mantra, but using the plugin is actually remarkably easy.
Upon opening the plugin, you are immediately prompted by the Sculpt module’s analysis feature. This will automatically optimise the EQ curve according to the signal profile from your voice and microphone, with a selection of nine different target curves that provide the foundation for the tone creation process.
From the Correction tab, you can access seven modules that cover almost every angle of corrective vocal processing, including tuning, noise gate, sculpt, de-esser, EQ, compressor, and saturation. At first, the modules look like one-knob interfaces, but as you select each one, they expand, providing the full extent of the available controls. This neat interface design allows easy access to the most important parameter for each module, but then you can dive deeper when you need to, with a central visual interface for key features.
The preset browser interface is a letdown, with a dropdown menu system that is especially clunky on smaller displays. However, the presets themselves are well designed by some of the industry’s top musicians, producers, engineers, and sound designers. A quick flick-through showcases Mantra’s capabilities, with outstanding content from the likes of Mick Gordon, known for his work on the Doom video game franchise, plus cleverly designed presets for both condenser and dynamic mics from producer Forrester Savell.
When exploring presets, I’m impressed to find settings that allow the three main levels of vocal dynamics to translate in interesting ways. The epiphany happens when I load up Mick Gordon’s Loud Rocker preset, and move from a close-mic, soft dynamic to a medium-distance (around six inches) verse dynamic, and finally to an even further distance (12 inches plus) at a louder level that excites the room. In each case, saturation, compression, and gating shape the vocal in different ways, exposing a contrasting range of nuances.
In this way, Mantra goes well beyond the scope of being a corrective processor and becomes a powerful creative tool for songwriting. It helps you come up with ideas and sounds that keep you fully immersed in the music production process.
Correction. Image: Press
Going deeper with Neural DSP Mantra
Equipped with an old AKG C414 condenser mic and an EVO 4 interface, I found the results pretty astonishing and immediately viable in the context of commercial music production.
In tracking mode, the latency is low enough to rehearse and record takes, which I then quickly duplicate, running additional instances of Mantra (now in mix mode) to create vocal stacks in seconds. Although I don’t go full T-Pain on the tuning, I find it responsive and natural-sounding enough for use in pre- and post-production.
In mixing mode, the Sculpt module’s dynamic EQ feature certainly makes your vocals sound less ‘bedroom’, but it won’t replace heavy hitters like Pro-Q, Soothe2, and Gullfoss. Meanwhile, the Harmonies tab is particularly intriguing, with four layers of harmonies that can be spread over the stereo field in linked stereo or dual-mono configurations per layer. To create harmonies, you just set the global root key and scale, which then allows you to access the Voicing Library with preset chords, or adjust the interval of each individual harmony.
Alternatively, you can trigger harmonies with MIDI notes, which opens up the possibility to use Mantra as a compositional and performance tool. While the formant shifter can only be used in Mixing mode, the scope of settings to achieve natural-sounding variation is impressive. With the high-cut and low-cut filters, you can set the frequency range of the harmonies, and there are controls to add randomisation to the pitch and timing. What’s more, you can adjust the balance with global controls for the width, as well as the levels of the harmonies and the original signal.
The Post FX section comprises three parts, with four delay types, three reverb types, and three modulation effects with an additional Doubler module. There isn’t an expansive set of controls for each effects module but there are mix controls for both the main vocals and harmonies on each of the three modules, plus ducking on the reverb and delay. This provides enough effects to create subtle textures or pulsating soundscapes without losing the intelligibility or edge of your original vocal.
Sculpt. Image: Press
Mantra truly resonates
If you’re a professional mix engineer, you probably already own a slew of specialised vocal post-production plugins and Antares Harmony Engine, which offers deeper harmonisation features. However, Mantra’s true prowess lies in its creative versatility for musicians, songwriters, and producers looking for a go-to vocal tool when inspiration strikes.
In regard to the competition, at €199, Mantra offers a far deeper feature set than Pulsar Audio’s Vocal Studio ($199) or even Universal Audio’s Topline Vocal Suite ($349). Although it’s entering big league prices for a plugin, Mantra is a tool that significantly enhances the creative process for vocal artists and songwriters, and it can also be used on synths, drums, and even a mix bus.
Mantra is a few leagues ahead in the steeplechase for this particular market niche, and Neural DSP could easily take this technology a step further by developing a dedicated pedal for live vocalists using the same platform as its impressive Cortex series.
Post-FX. Image: Press
Key features

Vocal processing plugin
AU / VST / AAX / CLAP plugin for Windows (10 or above) and macOS (13 or higher)
Tracking and Mixing modes
Automatic EQ sculpting module
Impressive range of processing controls
4-layer harmoniser
Artist presets
14-day trial available

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