10 Easy-to-Use Plugins for Beginner Producers

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of plugins available to you as a beginner producer, here’s a quick list to help get you started 

 

Starting out in the world of music production can be daunting. You’re venturing into the unknown for the first time, perhaps with no prior knowledge whatsoever, with a bombardment of new information for your brain to soak up. It can be challenging and, if not approached in a fun and engaging way, it can be easy to lose the motivation to keep learning.

One of the major hurdles beginners are tasked with overcoming is gaining an understanding of all of the different types of instrument and effect plugins available to them. In this article, we’ve collated a list of ten beginner-friendly plugins – each of a different type – to help introduce you to plugins in an easy-going manner. So grab yourself a coffee (or tea), and sit back to explore this list.

 

 

Music Theory: Chord Prism 2 (Mozaic Beats)

Making music theory and composition easy for all

Chord Prism 2 is an instrument plugin that allows you to create basslines, melodies and arpeggios from any chord progression. The reason why it’s a top choice for beginners is because it does all the music theory work for you. You can auto-generate chord progressions, set your scale and build from there. It makes writing MIDI patterns easy.

Another cool (and unique) feature of Chord Prism 2 is its smart scale/pattern generator, which allows you to shift scales with each chord progression and generate customisable arpeggios and melodies of the current chord–again, making your job as a producer much easier. There are other features as well that you can check out from the plugin’s store page.

Where to Buy Chord Prism 2

You can get Chord Prism 2 from its page at Plugin Boutique.

 

 

Compressor: Teletronix LA-3A Audio Leveler (Universal Audio)

An straightforward legendary compressor powerhouse

Every producer, of any level, needs a reliable compressor in their FX processing library. Compressors are one of the most commonly used and important types of FX plugins we have at our disposal as audio engineers/producers, and the UAD Teletronix LA-3A Audio Leveler is an all-round, easy-to-use compressor, making it a great option for beginners. Plus, it’s built off of a legendary piece of audio engineering hardware.

With only two primary control knobs (Gain and Peak Reduction), the compressor is very simplistic in its design, allowing new learners to come to grips with compression before throwing in more complex controls you might find on other compression units (like Attack, Release and Ratio controls). You also have a toggleable switch to alternate the unit from Limiter and Compressor mode.

Where to Buy Teletronix LA-3A Audio Leveler

The Teletronix LA-3A Audio Leveler is available on the Plugin Boutique Store.

 

 

EQ: Curves Equator (Waves)

A quick-fix resonance suppressor, suitable for many sound sources

Curves Equator is a concise, intuitively-designed plugin that promises to clean up an imperfect sound source in seconds. It targets problematic frequencies, fixing resonances and balancing inconsistencies. If you’re a beginner and have no idea what that means, basically, it suppresses any harshness within your sound source and balances out the overall frequency spectrum.

The GUI is simple, and the plugin pretty much works its magic autonomously with little need for human input. Of course, there are some advanced controls to play around with once you know what you’re doing, but you can still benefit from the processing without. There’s also sidechain unmasking functionality, assisting to blend two competing sound sources together. This plugin is one of our top recommendations on this list for its ease-of-use and effectiveness.

Where to Buy Curves Equator

You can buy Curves Equator now from its Plugin Boutique store page.

 

 

Delay: Spectron by Curbi (W. A. Production)

An out-of-this-world delay plugin with a beginner-friendly interface

Delays are another common FX processing that every audio engineer will need to familiarise themself with at some point. For that reason, it’s crucial you get to grips with a comfortable delay plugin as a beginner, and what better option than Spectron by Curbi? The interface looks like something straight out of an alien spacecraft, but don’t let that fool you… its easy-to-navigate controls will make you feel right at home.

This delay boasts ethereal and shimmering sound possibilities with a unique spectral diffusion feedback processor. This makes Spectron a unique delay, providing more texture and depth than other alternatives. For a full breakdown on its controls and how it works, you can visit its description on the Plugin Boutique store page. Overall, it offers advanced sound design potential, with a minimalistic, beginner-friendly design.

Where to Buy Spectron

Get your hands on Spectron now at the Plugin Boutique store.

 

 

Vocal FX: Bloom Vocal Aether (Excite Audio)

A dreamy vocal-sampling instrument straight from the aether

Moving onto our second instrument plugin in today’s list, Bloom Vocal Aether by Excite Audio packs a diverse range of sounds into a minimalistic interface. It’s friendly to producers of all skill levels with plentiful presets and easy-to-use controls for those with little experience, and more advanced controls going on under the hood for those hungry for more customizability. 

It works by manipulating samples or ‘phrases’ using various parameter settings across different panels to convert any sample into a fully-fledged instrument. If you’re a beginner, simply load the plugin onto a new track, choose one of the presets and start playing on your MIDI controller or computer keyboard. If you’re brave enough to tamper with the advanced controls, feel free to read in depth about them on the Bloom Vocal Aether Plugin Boutique store page.

Where to Buy Bloom Vocal Aether

Check out Bloom Vocal Aether today on its dedicated Plugin Boutique store page.

 

 

Drum Machine: OneShot (Klevgrand)

A perfect drum machine plugin for beginners to learn

Today’s list wouldn’t be complete without some form of drum sampler. However, OneShot by Klevgrand is more than a typical Drum Sampler. Oneshot has been designed with meticulous care and consideration, providing deep customisation settings for each one-shot sample loaded onboard. Admittedly, the controls might be quite complex for a beginner to fully grasp straight away but you don’t need to jump in the deep end to still use this drum machine powerhouse effectively.

Because the fundamental design is easygoing, with the option for advanced controls too, Oneshot is an ideal starter drum machine plugin for any beginner to get their hands on. Get experimental, have fun, and slowly work your way to the more advanced sample manipulation controls later down the line. You can get a full overview of the plugin and its intricacies on its Plugin Boutique store page.

Where to Buy OneShot

OneShot by Klevgrand is available now at the Plugin Boutique store.

 

 

Pitch Shifter: Little AlterBoy (Soundtoys)

Professional vocal pitch shifting to make you sound like a robot (or chipmunk)

Next up, we have one of the most fun entries in today’s list: Little AlterBoy by SoundToys. This plugin is all about altering the pitch and formant of an incoming sound source (predominantly used for vocals). That means you can use it to shift your vocal recordings down in pitch or up in pitch in order to pull off some modern vocal tuning effects.. 

There are also three different mode options and Drive and Mix knobs to further alter the sound. This powerful plugin is concisely packed into a neat little GUI with full creative freedom in your hands. There’s no way you can really go wrong, just get experimental and you’ll familiarise yourself with how it works in no time.

Where to Buy Little AlterBoy

You can buy Little AlterBoy from the Plugin Boutique store today and start pitch shifting immediately.

 

 

Reverb: Neoverb (iZotope)

iZotope’s reverb powerhouse with AI-assisted technology

Another non-negotiable plugin type you’ll need to become accustomed to as a producer is reverb, and iZotope’s Neoverb is a friendly starting point. Reverbs add space and depth to a sound source mimicking a natural room environment. For example, imagine clapping your hands in a church hall, versus a small wardrobe. The echo produced will change the character of the sound quite a bit. Thanks to reverb plugins like Neoverb, we can digitally apply these echos in our DAWs.

Neoverb makes for an optimum beginner reverb because its interface is intuitive, it's developed by the trusted and industry-leading iZotope, plus, it has AI-powered functionality to automatically apply a suitable reverb in an instant. Of course, it has plenty of advanced customisable settings that you can sink your teeth into at a later stage too.

Where to Buy Neoverb

Neoverb is available from the Plugin Boutique store now.

 

 

Analogue Mojo: Lifeline Console (Excite Audio)

A simplistic channel strip, ideal for beginner producers

Excite Audio have another entry in our list here, this time introducing a channel strip plugin: Lifeline Console. A channel strip plugin basically provides a one-stop spot for all of your most-needed FX types. Usually, you’ll find a pre-amp, EQ, compressor and more, all housed under one roof within a single channel strip plugin. Lifeline Console is no exception, with a Modulation and Wear module added also.

Lifeline Console is a great option for beginner producers because it’ll help to familiarise the basic FX types in a concise FX chain, as well  as introduce you to channel strips in general. You can opt to only load a few modules at once if preferred. The choice is yours, but technically, you’re getting five effects all within a single plugin. What’s not to like?

Where to Buy Lifeline Console

You can purchase Lifeline Console now from its Plugin Boutique store page.

 

 

Synths: Analog Lab Pro (Arturia)

A complete collection of classic Analog-emulated synths and FX within one affordable plugin

Arturia have really smashed expectations out of the park with their Analog Lab Pro plugin. This plugin houses an expansive set of top-of-the-range synthesiser instruments into one plugin, with over 2000 presets. If there’s one consideration you should prioritise as a beginner, it’s upgrading your sound and instrument selection, and copping an all-in-one bundle, such as Analog Lab Pro is a no brainer.

Overall, you’re gaining access to a plethora of legendary analog synthesisers, all meticulously emulated by tech giant, Arturia themselves. Plus, as a beginner, the gui is straightforward and easy to navigate. You really can’t go wrong. Feel free to check out the full details from the dedicated Plugin Boutique Analog Lab Pro store page.

Where to Buy Analog Lab Pro

You can buy Arturia Analog Lab Pro from the Plugin Boutique store.