Soundtoys Effect Rack multi-effect plug-in: features and spec-based rating

Soundtoys’ Effect Rack is a multi-effect that lines up 14 Soundtoys effects in one plug-in, and lets you build the order of connection freely. Hundreds of presets (ready-made settings) are included.

A creative effect plug-in moves a sound in time with the rhythm, or turns it into a completely different sound.

In this article we compare Effect Rack with 9 creative effect plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Summary

Among the 9 creative effect plug-ins, Effect Rack is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for the three criteria (out of 5) gives 2.7.

Strengths

• Number of effects (5 points): many kinds of effects are included.

Things to keep in mind

• Ways to create movement (2 points): there are few ways to create movement.
• Reacting to sound (1 points): it has no feature for moving to match another sound.

Who it suits: people who want to combine delay, distortion, filters and more to make distinctive effects on vocals and instruments.

Main features of Effect Rack

A rack that puts 14 effects in one

Effect Rack is a standalone plug-in that contains 14 effects: Crystallizer, Decapitator, Devil-Loc Deluxe, EchoBoy, EchoBoy Jr., FilterFreak, FilterFreak 2, MicroShift, PanMan, PhaseMistress, PrimalTap, Radiator, Sie-Q and Tremolator. You can line up effects with different roles, such as delay, distortion and filters, like a chain inside your DAW.

Rearrange the order by drag and drop

You can try combinations while rearranging and swapping the effects. A chain you build can be saved and used on other tracks. For example, you could put Decapitator after EchoBoy to make a distorted delay.

Overall mix and Recycle

You can set the input and output amounts of the whole rack and the mix with the dry (original) sound. Recycle is a function that sends the output of the rack back to its input, and the manufacturer explains that it can create swaying reverbs, flashy delays and distinctive spatial effects.

The difference from the standalone products

The effects in the rack can be used only inside this plug-in. The manufacturer explains that if you want to use each one as a standalone plug-in, Soundtoys 5, which contains all the effects, is a better fit.

Video: “Effect Rack – Drag and Drop Custom Preset Creation” (official soundtoys YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube

Where it is useful

• Combining delay and distortion on a cover vocal to make a distinctive effect
• Adding movement to a guitar track with a filter and modulation
• Changing the mood of drums all at once with a rack preset

Rating by criterion

Number of effects: 5 / 5

We look at the number of kinds of effects included.

It contains 14 Soundtoys effects, such as EchoBoy, Decapitator, FilterFreak and Tremolator (SuperPlate and SpaceBlender cannot be adjusted without a separately sold license).

Ways to create movement: 2 / 5

We look at how many ways there are to move a sound over time (movement you draw yourself, randomization and so on).

It contains modulation and filter effects that move in time with the rhythm.

If “ways to create movement” matters most to you, Effectrix 2 (4 points) is a better fit.

Reacting to sound: 1 / 5

We look at whether the effect can be moved by the incoming sound or the sound of another track.

It has no feature that moves the effect to match another sound.

If “reacting to sound” matters most to you, ShaperBox 3 (5 points) is a better fit.

How we score (Creative effect plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Number of effects	Number of kinds of effects included	12 or more	8 or more	5 or more	2 or more	1
Ways to create movement	Which of drawable LFOs, a step sequencer, randomization and MIDI triggering it has	All four	Three	Two	One, or the kinds are not stated	None
Reacting to sound	Whether the effect can be moved by the incoming sound or another track (sidechain and so on)	Both an external sidechain and retriggering on the attack of the sound	Many parameters can be moved by the incoming sound	One feature that reacts to sound, such as an envelope follower	—	Not mentioned

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: adding movement and change to loops, synths and vocals. Scores follow the conditions in the table above. "Reacting to sound" is a criterion that answers the common search for "sidechain". The basis is the manufacturer's product description on the Plugin Boutique product page. Sound quality has not been compared by ear, so it is not scored. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

Effect Rack system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 or later (Windows on ARM is not supported) / Mac (macOS 10.15 or later, Apple silicon supported)
Plug-in formats	VST2, VST3, AU, AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite
Trial	Trial available (the official page says “Free Trial”)
OBS (streaming)	Works as it is (VST2 is listed)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 17, 2026. How to use plug-ins in the OBS streaming software is explained in How to use VST3 plug-ins in OBS.

Compared with other creative effect plug-ins

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• Movement: features and rating (rank B)
• Stutter Edit 2: features and rating (rank B)
• Portal: features and rating (rank C)
• ShaperBox 3: features and rating (rank A)