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The Vocal Rider Black Friday deal from Waves takes 84% off this vocal-leveling plugin, which brings it to $29.99 until Nov 26, 2026.
Vocal Rider rides the gain on a vocal for you. You set a target level, and the plugin moves the vocal up or down to hold it there.
The maker compares it to making fast, precise fader moves by hand, only without the manual work. It aims to keep the vocal's full fidelity while it does so.
The starting point is the target level. You pick where the vocal should sit, and Vocal Rider handles the gain changes needed to stay there.
Waves says the moves are unobtrusive. The idea is a vocal that never gets buried in the mix and doesn't need you drawing automation curves by hand.
One detail producers will notice: it writes an automation track. Once the pass is done, the generated result stays open for you to adjust the levels by hand. Since it runs in real time without delay, the same plugin covers a tracking session, a mix in the box and a live rig.
The maker also frames it as an alternative to over-compression. Instead of squashing dynamics to even out a take, the gain is ridden up and down to hit the target.
On Mac, Vocal Rider runs on macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 and Sequoia 15. Formats there are VST, AU and AAX.
On PC, it needs Windows 10 or later and comes as VST and AAX. There is no AU on Windows.
Beyond music vocals, Waves lists podcasts and video narration as use cases. A spoken-word track that drifts in level is the same kind of job as a sung line that comes and goes.
The Vocal Rider plugin sits in Waves' vocal processing range. It is a single-purpose tool: one target level, automatic gain moves, and an automation lane left behind for you to edit.
Yes. The Vocal Rider Black Friday deal takes 84% off, which brings the Waves plugin to $29.99 until Nov 26, 2026. It is the same plugin that rides vocal gain automatically to hold a target level you set.
You set a target level for the vocal. Vocal Rider then raises or lowers the gain to keep the vocal there, much like fast, precise fader moves. It runs in real time and writes an automation track you can edit.
On Mac it comes as VST, AU and AAX for macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 and Sequoia 15. On PC it is VST and AAX, and it needs Windows 10 or later.
Yes. Waves lists vocals and voice in music, podcasts and video narration as use cases. It is suitable for both studio and live mixing, and its real-time operation adds no latency.
Prices and end dates are checked at publishing time and can change, so confirm them at the store before you buy.