Blog

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 I

Plugin Boutique Turns 14

This year marks our 14th birthday, and we want to say a huge THANK YOU to our global community of producers, artists, engineers, and creators. Whether you've downloaded your first VST plugin, explored new music production tools, joined one of our community events, or shared feedback that helped us grow — you’ve helped shape Plugin Boutique into what it is today. As we celebrate 14 years of Plugin Boutique, we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. Wherever y

The Plugin Boutique Awards 2025 – Winners, Highly Commended and Lifetime Achievement

Each year, music producers are given more ways to shape sound, experiment, and push boundaries. The Plugin Boutique Awards celebrate those tools that not only deliver great sound, but inspire creativity and innovation across the studio. In this article, we shine a spotlight on the plugins that captured attention in 2025, helping define the music of the past year. In this fourth edition, we again asked you to vote for the winners – the standout releases, instruments, and production tools that

Plugin Boutique & TmrO Network Present TmrO “Sessions” Limited Livestream Series

Plugin Boutique, TmrO Network and Loopcloud are teaming up on a special edition of the TmrO Sessions – a five-part livestream and video series that takes fans and producers deep into the creative process with some of the most exciting names in music today. Hosted by Grammy-winning producer Don Cannon, each episode will spotlight exclusive studio sessions with guest producers, streamed live on TmrO and Plugin Boutique’s YouTube channels. From the first spark of inspiration to the final bounce,

Estiva Explains How Plugins and Instinct Shaped His New Album Embrace

We sat down with Estiva to break down the making of his new album Embrace and the studio decisions that gave it its character. In the interview, he opened up about the synth patches that sparked entire tracks, the processing chains that helped his layers lock together, and the subtle modulation that kept ideas moving without tipping into chaos. Embrace, out now on Colorize, is his most personal release to date. Built from years of road-testing ideas and long nights in the studio, the record b

Staying Inspired and The Tools to Keep Creating, with Beatsurfing and Native Instruments

For the third night of the Plugin Boutique and Friends event series, creators gathered in Los Angeles for an evening focused on one of the most essential, and often challenging, parts of the music-making journey: staying inspired. Bringing together Beatsurfing and Native Instruments for an interactive discussion, they explored how the right tools, workflows, and mindset can help artists break through creative blocks and keep the music flowing. Nick Garcia, Operations and Label Manager at Inso

A Bargain for a Good Cause – Excite Audio & LNADJ Unite for Giving Tuesday

Opportunities in the creative industries are scarce, and this holds even more true for young dreamers coming from challenging backgrounds. Keeping this in mind, we’re delighted to present a noble charity fundraising deal by Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (LNADJ) in collaboration with Excite Audio. Starting on Giving Tuesday (2nd December 2025), and for a total of 48 hours, we’re aiming to round up as much money as possible for LNADJ and make music production more accessible for everyone. Throu

The Best VST Plugins To Buy in 2025

Where would music be without plugins? Probably in a much worse and less creative place. Producers everywhere have discovered the inspiring and educational uses they get from running third-party VSTs in their DAW of choice, and both they and their fans have never looked back. In this article, we’ll list the best VST plugins available to buy in the world right now, in our considered, expert opinion. Each of these entries is a paid-for plugin – if you’ve got a smaller budget, swivel over to ou

The Craft of Modern Sound Design with Minimal Audio + Lunacy

On November 6th, Plugin Boutique brought together some of today’s most forward-thinking sound designers and creative technologists for “Shaping Your Signature Sound – The Craft of Modern Sound Design with Minimal Audio & Lunacy.” Held in Los Angeles, the event featured an inspiring in-person conversation with Jake Penn (CEO & Co-Founder, Minimal Audio), Casey Kolb (CEO & Co-Founder, Lunacy), and Max Davidoff-Grey (Co-Founder, Lunacy), moderated by Matt Parad (Co-Founder, Jungle Audio

Choose one FREE gift with your purchase

Introducing our improved free gift offering at Plugin Boutique - a new way for you to get more value when you spend more. Depending on the value of your order, you'll unlock access to different gift tiers and be able to choose from a selection of free products available at your spending level. Our gift lineup is updated regularly, so be sure to check back often for the latest additions. Make any paid purchase and choose the following: StereoSavage 2 Elements by Plugin Boutique Gorill

John Maciel of Plugin Alley: My Top Five Plugins for Modern Rock and Metal Productions

Plugin Alley, aka John Maciel, has built a career at the intersection of musicianship and production, combining a deep understanding of rock and metal performance with hands-on experience in modern studio techniques. From John's early days as a guitarist focused on crafting polished demos to collaborating with established producers and artists, he has developed an insider’s perspective on the tools and methods that define contemporary heavy music. Today, he brings that expertise to a wider audie

Da Fingaz Shares his Top Five Plugins for Cinematic and Trailer Music

Marcus Manderson, known professionally as DaFingaz, is a composer and educator whose work spans film, TV, trailers, live experiences, and global brand projects. He has scored feature films, created music for Disney, National Geographic, and Monster Energy, and in 2025 achieved his first Netflix trailer placement. Based in Northern Virginia, he combines cinematic sound design with storytelling to craft emotionally powerful music while sharing his expertise at events worldwide. “I’m Marcus (@da

S1gns of L1fe Shares his Top Five Plugins for Ambient Music

Chris Bryant, known professionally as S1gns Of L1fe, is an ambient music producer, sound designer, and co-founder of Synphaera Records, a label devoted to forward-thinking electronic and space ambient music. With over 12 years of experience crafting immersive soundscapes, his work, including acclaimed projects like Ascendant and Starterra, blends cinematic atmospheres with deep emotional resonance. Beyond his own productions, Chris shares his expertise through his YouTube channel and Patreon, of

2025's Black Friday Guide: VST, Plugin & Music Software Deals

As Black Friday 2025 arrives, the rush for seasonal savings, big bundles and limited-edition discounts takes on a different rhythm in the world of music production. While the high streets fill with queues and chaos, producers are quietly loading up their carts with exclusive digital deals. But how can you discover and compare the best deals on offer, and choose which ones are right for you? This year, Loopmasters and Plugin Boutique are offering unbeatable discounts from a huge number of deve

Caleb I. Tilley: The Best Plugins for Leveling up your Drums

“Hey, I’m Caleb! I’m a session musician, producer, and creator behind the YouTube channel Caleb I. Tilley, where I help producers discover the tools they need to create dynamic tracks that value feel over perfection. My background as a drummer heavily shapes how I approach music production; I’ve always believed that the feel and tone of the drums can completely define a song’s emotional impact and identity. Whether it’s heavy rock drums, pocket soul grooves, or tight pop tracks, drums play a hug

Discover the One Plugin Greg Kocis Can’t Live Without

In the fast-paced world of music production, even seasoned creators are always on the lookout for tools that make their workflow smoother and their mixes more polished. Greg Kocis has spent years experimenting with plugins, searching for ways to bring clarity, balance, and professional quality to his tracks. Among all the tools he’s tried, one stands out: Trackspacer. With its ability to instantly carve space in a mix and create cleaner, more balanced sounds, it has become an indispensable part