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Going Beyond Stock Plugins – with Like It Or Not
Once producers venture forth beyond their DAW’s native plugin selection, that’s where creative avenues open up, and they start to really develop a sense of their own original sound. Plugin Boutique have teamed up with Like It Or Not, with a video diving into those exact creative avenues that start to pop up once musicians make that initial step outside the ‘stock-plugin’ phase and start experimenting with third-party alternatives.
With a sharp, idea-driven approach to music production, Like It Or Not highlights how far the right tools, and right mindset, can take your music, and keep you inspired, without having to spend a penny.
The video features our Best of Free VST Plugins Bundle, which nets you 18 of the top freeware plugins and collections available right now.
What is Like It Or Not?
Like It Or Not are a creator-owned agency group, focused on delivering tip-top sounds and educational resources to the global community of music producers. With a YouTube channel prioritising principles of clarity and efficiency, they’ve amassed an audience of 76.6K subscribers, establishing themselves as a fruit-bearing leader, focusing on truly helping those in need of insight and direction.
The channel is packed with short, to-the-point videos, typically under three minutes, covering a wide range of music production topics. With content arranged into two core playlists, GROOVE Tutorials and SAMPLING Tutorials, the videos tackle focused ideas like “what vocals actually NEED”, “why your sounds feel thin”, “the texture tricks your sounds NEED”. By breaking down what really matters in a mix and focusing on practical solutions, Like It Or Not encourages producers to look beyond stock tools and explore new sounds and techniques, setting the stage for a deeper dive into high-quality, free plugins.
What is the Best of Free VST Plugins Bundle?
The Best of Free VST Plugins Bundle is a curated collection of top-tier, completely free tools, bringing together creative instruments and effects from respected developers across the industry. Whether you’re producing, mixing, or just experimenting, this bundle offers a wealth of options, from detailed acoustic emulations to characterful synths and versatile effects. It includes standout instruments like Ample Guitar M Lite II, capturing the warmth of a Martin D-41 acoustic guitar, the vintage charm of Cherry Audio’s Surrealistic MG-1 Plus synth, and the lush analog tones of TAL-U-NO-62, alongside innovative options like Newfangled Audio’s Pendulate and MSoundFactoryPlayer for modular sound design. Cinematic textures are also represented with Heavyocity’s FOUNDATIONS Piano and Emotive Choir, adding depth and expression to any production.
The Bundle also delivers a full suite of effects and tools to enhance your mix, from the rich reverb of Smartelectronix Ambience and analog saturation of Wave Arts Tube Saturator Vintage, to creative modulation and chorus from Blue Cat Audio’s Freeware Pack II, Kilohearts Essentials, Baby Audio Magic Switch, and Lunacy Haze. Producers can refine their sound with professional mixing and mastering tools like iZotope Ozone EQ and the interactive ear-training plugin EQ Academy, while Tracktion’s free DAW Waveform Free lets you create, arrange, and release music with zero limitations. Completing the package is AudioThing Filterjam for experimental filtering and Minimal Audio Formant for playful vocal transformations. Every plugin in the bundle is free to download and use, making it a versatile toolkit that proves great music production doesn’t always have to cost you.
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