The Main VST Plugins I Am Using in My Music Production June 2026

I have a vast array of VST plugins to choose from, and for my setup I wanted to go over the ones I am mainly using at this moment in time. This gives you an insight into what is involved in my current productions and projects, as well as the tools that help shape my sound.

Some of these VST plugins are my go-to choices on almost every project, while others may change over time if I discover a better use case or workflow. Every plugin has its own strengths and weaknesses, but the ones I continue to return to consistently provide more value than the endless noise of new plugins being released every week.

One thing I have learned over the years is that you do not need a massive library of VSTs to create professional music. In fact, I would argue that mastering a small collection of tools is far more valuable than owning hundreds of plugins that you barely understand. The only real reasons to buy a new VST are because you enjoy collecting them or because it offers something genuinely useful that your current setup cannot achieve.

While I experiment with various electronic music styles, my main focus is UK Hardcore, Hardcore, Hard Dance, and Hardstyle. These genres demand powerful leads, punchy drums, energetic basslines, and strong mixing decisions, so the tools I use need to help me achieve those results efficiently.

The plugins listed below have become key parts of my workflow because they consistently help me create the sounds I am aiming for. Some are used on almost every project, while others are brought in for specific tasks where they excel.

Serum 2

Serum 2 is one of those plugins that hardly needs an introduction. It is an incredibly powerful synthesizer capable of producing almost anything you can imagine, from percussion and sound effects to huge leads, basses, atmospheres, and complex sound design.

The possibilities are practically endless. Xfer has created a synth that has become a favourite among producers across many genres, and after spending countless hours using it, I can completely understand why. It is flexible, intuitive, and capable of producing professional results with remarkable precision.

For my own productions, Serum 2 is heavily used for lead creation. Whether I am designing euphoric melodies, layered supersaws, or more aggressive sounds, it gives me complete control over how I want the final result to sound.

I also use Serum 2 extensively for percussion design. Hats, claps, cymbals, impacts, and various effects can all be built from scratch and tailored exactly to fit a track. Beyond that, I regularly use it for bass tops, chord layers, fills, risers, and various transitional sounds. If there is one synth that consistently finds its way into almost every project, it is Serum 2.

Diva

Diva remains one of my favourite synthesizers when I want warmth and character.

While Serum excels at precision and modern sound design, Diva brings an analogue feel that can be difficult to replicate elsewhere. The oscillators, filters, and overall sound quality help create leads and basses that feel fuller and more alive.

I often use Diva as an additional layer alongside Serum. By blending the clean, modern sound of Serum with the rich analogue tone of Diva, I can create leads that feel bigger and more emotional. The same applies to basses, where Diva can add subtle warmth and depth without becoming overpowering.

For UK Hardcore, Hard Dance, and euphoric Hardstyle, that extra analogue flavour can make a significant difference in how a track feels.

DUNE 3

DUNE 3 is another synthesizer that I find myself returning to regularly.

It has always been known for producing fantastic trance-style leads, but after spending more time experimenting with it, I have discovered that it can also create powerful UK Hardcore, Hard Dance, and Hardstyle sounds with plenty of grit and energy.

The unison implementation is excellent, allowing for huge layered sounds while still maintaining clarity. This makes it particularly useful when building lead stacks that need to sound wide and powerful without becoming muddy.

When I feel that a lead needs something extra, DUNE 3 is often the synth I reach for. Sometimes it is only providing one additional layer, but that single layer can add the power and presence needed to complete a sound.

Phase Plant

Phase Plant has become one of my favourite tools for advanced sound design.

Whenever I need to create something unusual, experimental, or highly customised, this is often where I start. The modular workflow allows me to build sounds from the ground up using exactly the components I need.

It excels at creating complex basses, aggressive textures, effects, and unique sounds that would be difficult or time-consuming to create elsewhere. The flexibility is one of its biggest strengths because there are very few limitations to what can be achieved.

I may not use Phase Plant on every project, but when I need deep sound design capabilities, it is one of the first plugins I open.

Kick 3

Kick 3 has become one of the most important plugins in my production workflow, particularly when creating UK Hardcore, Hardcore, Hard Dance, and Hardstyle where the kick often plays a huge role in defining the overall sound of a track.

What I enjoy most about Kick 3 is the ability to design kicks from the ground up with complete control over every stage of the sound. From the initial punch and transient through to the body and tail, it allows me to create kicks that fit the exact character I am looking for.

For harder styles, I do not always rely on a single plugin. Depending on the style of kick I am aiming for, I will often use a combination of Kick 3 and Serum 2. Kick 3 provides an excellent foundation for creating punchy and controlled kick drums, while Serum 2 allows me to design additional layers, distortions, tails, textures, and supporting elements that help give the kick its own unique identity.

This combination gives me the flexibility to create everything from cleaner and more melodic kicks through to harder and more aggressive styles. Being able to move between both plugins allows me to experiment and build sounds that would be difficult to achieve using only one tool.

Even when I am not designing an entire kick from scratch, Kick 3 is regularly used for creating punch layers, generating starting points, or refining existing kick designs. It has become one of those plugins that I find myself opening on almost every project because of how quickly it allows me to shape the foundation of a track.

OTT

OTT is one of those plugins that appears on countless electronic music projects for a reason. While it can easily be overused, when applied correctly it can help bring sounds forward in a mix and add additional energy and presence.

I regularly use OTT on leads, basses, effects, and occasionally percussion layers when I need more aggression and clarity. In genres such as UK Hardcore and Hard Dance, where sounds often need to cut through busy arrangements, OTT can be incredibly useful for helping sounds stand out.

Like most processing tools, moderation is important, but it remains one of my most frequently used plugins.

Kilohearts Plugins

Alongside Phase Plant, I make heavy use of the wider Kilohearts ecosystem. The various snap-ins and effects provide a fast and flexible workflow that integrates perfectly with modern electronic music production.

Plugins such as Distortion, Filter, Delay, Chorus, Compressor, Frequency Shifter, and Disperser regularly find their way into my projects. They are lightweight, sound excellent, and allow me to quickly experiment with ideas without slowing down the creative process.

Whether I am designing basses, leads, kicks, transitions, or effects, Kilohearts plugins have become an important part of my sound design toolkit.

Endless Smile

Endless Smile is one of my favourite plugins for creating tension, energy, and transitions.

Building excitement before a drop is an important part of UK Hardcore, Hard Dance, and Hardstyle production, and Endless Smile makes this process incredibly simple. With a few adjustments, it can add movement, filtering, reverb, widening, and excitement that helps smoothly guide listeners into key moments of a track.

While there are many ways to create these effects manually, Endless Smile provides a fast workflow that allows me to stay focused on creativity rather than spending time setting up multiple automation lanes.

ShaperBox 3

ShaperBox 3 is one of those plugins that can completely transform a sound with very little effort.

I use it regularly for volume shaping, sidechaining, filtering, panning, distortion, and various movement effects. It allows me to add rhythm and motion to sounds without having to automate everything manually inside the DAW.

One of my favourite uses for ShaperBox 3 is creating pumping effects and adding movement to pads, leads, basses, and effects. It is a huge time saver and has become an essential part of my workflow.

The beauty of ShaperBox is that it is not necessarily a plugin that people notice directly. Instead, it helps make everything else sound more dynamic, interesting, and professional.

The God Particle

The God Particle has become a valuable tool during my mixing process.

While it is not a magic button that instantly fixes a bad mix, it can help provide additional polish, clarity, and cohesion when used correctly. It allows me to work towards a more finished sound while producing, giving a better representation of how the final track might translate.

I particularly like using it on the master channel during production because it helps me make decisions with a more complete picture of the overall mix.

Like any processing tool, it works best when the source material is already strong. However, when paired with a good mix, it can add that final layer of refinement that helps bring everything together.

Ableton Live Stock Effects and Instruments

Although I own a large collection of third-party plugins, some of my most used tools are still the stock effects and instruments included with Ableton Live.

EQ Eight, Saturator, Compressor, Glue Compressor, Hybrid Reverb, Echo, Utility, Auto Filter, Drum Buss, Roar, and various MIDI tools are used throughout almost every project. These devices are well integrated into the workflow, efficient on CPU usage, and capable of producing professional results.

Many producers spend years searching for the perfect plugin while overlooking the powerful tools already included in their DAW. Ableton's stock devices continue to prove that great results do not always require expensive third-party alternatives.

Max for Live

Max for Live deserves special mention because it extends Ableton Live far beyond its default capabilities.

I regularly use Max for Live devices to improve workflow, generate creative ideas, manipulate MIDI, create custom effects chains, and solve production challenges that would otherwise require multiple plugins.

The community surrounding Max for Live is also fantastic, with countless devices available that can add new creative possibilities to a project. It has become one of the reasons I enjoy working in Ableton Live so much, as it allows me to continually expand my production environment as my needs evolve.

Honourable Mentions

Not all VSTS and plugins get used all the time but still need a mention because I do use them but not as often as the above so here is a small list of plugins to mention.

Instruments

Reason Racks
Pigments
Korg M1
Viper
Vital

Effects / Utilities

Kickstart 2
LX480 Essentials
Oxford Inflator
SausageFattener
Wider
Span
Insight 2
Youlean Loudness Meter
VPS Scope

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, plugins are simply tools. Having access to hundreds of VSTs does not automatically make better music, just as owning every paintbrush does not make someone a great artist.

While I own a large collection of plugins, the reality is that most of my productions are built around a core set of trusted tools. Serum 2, Diva, DUNE, Phase Plant, Kick 3, Kilohearts plugins, Ableton Live stock devices, and a handful of mixing tools continue to form the backbone of my workflow.

These plugins have earned their place because they consistently help me achieve the sounds I am aiming for across UK Hardcore, Hardcore, Hard Dance, and Hardstyle productions. As my production style evolves, some of these tools may change, but right now these are the plugins that help bring my ideas to life and turn them into finished tracks.