Waves Vocal Rider vocal processing plug-in: features and spec-based rating

Waves’ vocal processing plug-in Vocal Rider automatically raises and lowers the level of a vocal to match a target level you set. It keeps the level steady without squashing the sound hard with a compressor, and the result can be written as automation.

A vocal processing plug-in puts the processing a vocal mix needs (EQ, compression, reverb and so on) into one plug-in. Some products also have an AI build the groundwork for you.

In this article we compare Vocal Rider with 10 vocal processing 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 10 vocal processing plug-ins, Vocal Rider is rank C. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and C is the lowest. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 1.6.

Things to keep in mind

• AI groundwork (2 points): its AI groundwork is limited.
• Cleaning up the recording (1 points): there is little for dealing with noise and room sound.
• Fine adjustment (2 points): there are few features for working in detail.
• Pitch correction and harmony (1 points): it has no pitch correction or harmony features.

Who it suits: people who want to even out the level of a vocal without squashing it hard with a compressor.

Main features of Vocal Rider

Automatically raise and lower the level of a vocal

Vocal Rider is a plug-in that, once you set a target level, automatically raises and lowers the level of a vocal to even it out. The manufacturer explains that it keeps the level steady unobtrusively, like fast and accurate fader moves.

No need to squash the sound with a compressor

The manufacturer explains that it can be used instead of strong compression, which changes the tone of a voice when used to even out the level. It runs in real time without adding delay, and the result can be written to an automation track, so you can fix it by hand afterwards.

Where it is useful

• Automatically evening out the level difference between a chorus and a verse
• Saving the effort of drawing automation by hand

Rating by criterion

AI groundwork: 2 / 5

We look at whether the AI builds the vocal processing for you.

It automatically adjusts the level of a vocal to match the target level. It has no feature that proposes the whole chain of processing.

If “ai groundwork” matters most to you, Nectar 4 Advanced (5 points) is a better fit.

Cleaning up the recording: 1 / 5

We look at how it deals with home-recording noise and the room’s ring.

Dealing with noise and room ring is not described.

If “cleaning up the recording” matters most to you, prime:vocal (5 points) is a better fit.

Fine adjustment: 2 / 5

We look at whether you can work on the AI’s result yourself.

It is a simple design in which you set the target level and a few other values.

If “fine adjustment” matters most to you, Nectar 4 Advanced (5 points) is a better fit.

Pitch correction and harmony: 1 / 5

We look at features for correcting pitch and making harmonies.

It has no pitch correction or harmony features.

If “pitch correction and harmony” matters most to you, Nectar 4 Advanced and Nectar 4 Standard (5 points) are a better fit.

How we score (Vocal processing plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
AI groundwork	Whether the AI builds the vocal processing for you	An AI assistant, plus reduction of overlap with the backing track and automatic level adjustment	An AI assistant, plus reduction of overlap with the backing track	An AI assistant only	—	—
Cleaning up the recording	Dealing with home-recording noise and the room's ring	Noise and room reflections can be removed with AI	—	Has a gate and processing that tames harsh resonance	—	No mention of dealing with noise or room sound
Fine adjustment	Whether you can work on the AI's result yourself	Each processor can be operated directly and also used as a separate plug-in	Compressor, EQ, de-esser, reverb and more can be operated directly	—	You only adjust with a few knobs	—
Pitch correction and harmony	Correcting pitch and making harmonies	Comes with pitch-correction software (Melodyne essential) and can add harmonies	—	Can add harmonies or voice layers	—	No pitch correction or harmony features

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: quickly getting a cover-song vocal into a state ready to mix. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "AI groundwork" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. 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.

Vocal Rider system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 or later / Mac (macOS 12 to 15)
Plug-in formats	Windows: VST, AAX / Mac: VST, AU, AAX
OBS (streaming)	Works with conditions (via Waves’ StudioRack)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 17, 2026.

Compared with other vocal processing plug-ins

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

Read next

• CLA Vocals: features and rating (rank C)
• Evoke: features and rating (rank C)
• prime:vocal: features and rating (rank B)
• smart:chain: features and rating (rank B)