← Music Production · Sounds · about 25 min
Plugins, instruments, and effects
What the tools are, and the four effects that matter most.
Two kinds of plugins
A plugin is a small tool that adds to your DAW. There are two main types.
Instruments make sound (a piano, a synth, a drum kit). They go on MIDI tracks.
Effects change a sound that already exists (reverb, EQ, compression). They go on tracks, and the sound passes through them in order, like a chain.
The built-in tools
| Job | Ableton Live | Logic Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Drum kit | Drum Rack | Drum Kit Designer, Drum Machine Designer, Drummer |
| Synth | Wavetable, Operator | Alchemy, Retro Synth |
| EQ | EQ Eight | Channel EQ |
| Compressor | Compressor, Glue Compressor | Compressor |
| Reverb | Reverb | ChromaVerb, Space Designer |
| Delay (echo) | Delay, Echo | Echo, Delay Designer |
The big four effects
EQ (equalizer)
Turns frequencies up or down: more bass, less harshness. Use it to clear space so sounds don't fight each other.
Compressor
Makes loud parts quieter and quiet parts louder, so the sound is more even and controlled.
Reverb
Adds the sound of a space, like a room or a hall. A little makes things feel real. A lot makes things sound far away.
Delay
Adds echoes. Timed to the tempo, it makes a part feel bigger without getting messy.
Rules of thumb
Less is more
Use as little as you need. Many beginners overdo effects.
A/B it
Turn the effect on and off. Is it actually better? If not, remove it.
Use your ears
Look at the knobs less and listen more.