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Going Beyond Stock Plugins – with Like It Or Not
Moving past the default tools that come with a DAW, going beyond stock plugins is often where producers begin to uncover their own sound. Plugin Boutique have teamed up with Like It Or Not for a video focused on exploring what’s possible when you step outside the normally included tools and start experimenting with high-quality, free ones, that really help you to get your tracks finished. The video includes advice and ideas about setting limits for creativity, and letting your curiosity guide you when using new tools for the first time in a production context.
With a sharp, idea-driven approach to music production, and a curated bundle packed with powerful free instruments and effects, 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 is a creator-owned agency focused on supplying sounds and ideas for music producers. With a YouTube channel that’s built around clarity and efficiency, they’ve grown an audience of 76.6K subscribers by delivering practical production insight in a format that respects producers’ time.
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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