Stuck wondering what plugins to use to begin your mix? Here’s a simple breakdown of the top 10 stock plugins you need to know like the back of your hand for better control, creativity, and sonics in your tracks.

FL Studio comes with a ton of stock plugins ideal for crafting pro-level mixes. Let's dive into the 10 best stock plugins focused purely on mixing, starting with the undisputed GOAT, Soundgoodizer.

10. Soundgoodizer

Soundgoodizer is a simple yet powerful plugin that applies subtle saturation and EQ to instantly make your sounds pop. It has four easy-to-use presets that are great for adding warmth, brightness, or punch to individual tracks like drums or vocals.

Pro Tip: Try Soundgoodizer on vocals or drums to give them a fuller, more polished sound without overcomplicating your effects chain.

9. Fruity Stereo Enhancer

Fruity Stereo Enhancer allows you to widen or narrow the stereo image of your track. This is super useful for giving elements like vocals or synths a broader, more spacious feel.

Pro Tip: Be cautious when widening bass-heavy sounds to avoid phasing issues.

8. Fruity Multiband Compressor

A step up from the regular compressor, Fruity Multiband Compressor lets you compress different frequency ranges separately. This is especially useful for mastering, where you might want to treat the bass, mids, and highs differently.

Pro Tip: Set different attack and release times for each band to control how your mix breathes.

7. Fruity Compressor

When it comes to controlling the dynamics of individual tracks, Fruity Compressor is a reliable tool. It helps tighten up drums, smooth out vocals, and glue your mix together by reducing the volume difference between the loudest and softest parts.

Pro Tip: Use Fruity Compressor to control and balance out vocals in your mix. These free presets will help you learn how to use it intentionally.

6. Fruity Delay 3

Need to add some movement and space to your track? Fruity Delay 3 is perfect for giving your sounds a rhythmic, echoing effect. With ping-pong and filtered delays, this plugin is great for adding depth to your mix.

Pro Tip: Automate the delay feedback for creative buildups and transitions in your mix.

5. Maximus

Maximus is a multiband compressor that's great for mastering and dynamic control. It lets you apply different compression settings to different frequency ranges, which is key when you need fine control over your mix’s dynamics.

Pro Tip: Use Maximus on your master channel for a polished, professional-sounding mix.

4. Fruity Limiter

A good limiter is essential for controlling the dynamics of your mix. Fruity Limiter can help tame peaks, boost volume, or even act as a basic compressor. It's particularly useful for sidechain compression when you need your kick to punch through the bass.

Pro Tip: Set up sidechain compression on the Fruity Limiter to make your kick drum pop in the mix.

3. Fruity Reverb 2

For adding space and depth to your mix, Fruity Reverb 2 is a great tool. It offers easy-to-use controls for creating everything from small room reverbs to massive, cavernous effects.

Pro Tip: Use Fruity Reverb 2 sparingly to avoid washing out your mix, especially on vocals.

2. Fruity Parametric EQ 2

Every mix needs an EQ, and Fruity Parametric EQ 2 is one of the best stock options for shaping your sounds. It’s highly visual, so you can easily see where problem frequencies lie and make adjustments on the fly.

Pro Tip: Use these free vocal presets to learn what this EQ is doing to your vocals to  make them sound clean and clear.

1. Patcher

Patcher lets you chain multiple effects together and route them in complex ways. Whether you're stacking compressors, reverbs, or EQs, Patcher gives you total control over how they interact. It’s ideal for creating custom effects chains tailored to your specific mix needs.

Pro Tip: Create a reverb and delay combo chain in Patcher for subtle vocal effects.

These plugins cover everything you need to mix your tracks inside FL Studio. Whether you’re controlling dynamics, shaping frequencies, or adding creative effects, these tools are essential for achieving a clean, professional mix.