Wax Figures

Software	Description
FL Studio	▸ Not my first digital audio workstation-- that title belongs to Little Sound DJ-- but my favorite to use nevertheless. FL has a certain reputation due to its prevalence among amateurs (it's insanely easy to pirate, so lots of young people who lack in experience put out poorly made music with it :P), but has such an intuitive design that it's wonderfully accessible if you're just starting out. ▸ The music I make is linear in form and generally sequenced by hand, so for genres that benefit from this kind of workflow like hip-hop, trap, rock, etc, this is a great DAW to stick with. If you're wanting to veer more into generative or experimental music, check out the following two.
Ableton Live	▸ A must-have for anyone in live music. Ableton is hands-down the single best DAW for sound design, automation, and nonlinear music out there. I haven't the words to express its modular capabilities in full. Anyone you see on stage is using Ableton in their set at some step in the process. ▸ If you're on Windows/macOs and into experimental, generative, loop-based, or nonlinear music, Ableton or Bitwig really ought to be your first picks. Their built-in plugins and tools are among the strongest out there.
Bitwig Studio	▸ This is the newest addition to my regular usecase, and I'm still learning the software, which I picked up initially to work on projects with my girlfriend. Bitwig was developed by ex-Ableton employees with modularity in mind, and heavily rewards those looking to incorporate modular/generative/experimental principles into their projects. ▸ With native Linux support, this is a fantastic DAW to use if you enjoy utilizing modulation or automation, and feels just as sleek and intuitive as Ableton. I've found I'm more willing to veer beyond comfort zone habits when using Bitwig & Ableton, so if you're looking to branch off a little as well, consider using it too!
Pro Tools	▸ An industry standard in recording studios worldwide, this digital audio workstation has existed since the 1990s, and it certainly shows. Current versions of the software are still built upon the same engine it was released with about thirty years ago, and as a result it lacks intuitive design and was developed first and foremost with studio technicians in mind. ▸ This thing honestly sucks to use, and I only ever touch it for work. Nevertheless, its capability in raw audio editing remains unmatched, and it feels amazing to comp with. With how much hassle can be involved when setting it up, though, I think I'd still rather record in Ableton anyway.

Software

Description

▸ Not my first digital audio workstation-- that title belongs to Little Sound DJ-- but my favorite to use nevertheless. FL has a certain reputation due to its prevalence among amateurs (it's insanely easy to pirate, so lots of young people who lack in experience put out poorly made music with it :P), but has such an intuitive design that it's wonderfully accessible if you're just starting out.

▸ The music I make is linear in form and generally sequenced by hand, so for genres that benefit from this kind of workflow like hip-hop, trap, rock, etc, this is a great DAW to stick with. If you're wanting to veer more into generative or experimental music, check out the following two.

Ableton
Live

▸ A must-have for anyone in live music. Ableton is hands-down the single best DAW for sound design, automation, and nonlinear music out there. I haven't the words to express its modular capabilities in full. Anyone you see on stage is using Ableton in their set at some step in the process.

▸ If you're on Windows/macOs and into experimental, generative, loop-based, or nonlinear music, Ableton or Bitwig really ought to be your first picks. Their built-in plugins and tools are among the strongest out there.

Bitwig Studio

▸ This is the newest addition to my regular usecase, and I'm still learning the software, which I picked up initially to work on projects with my girlfriend. Bitwig was developed by ex-Ableton employees with modularity in mind, and heavily rewards those looking to incorporate modular/generative/experimental principles into their projects.

▸ With native Linux support, this is a fantastic DAW to use if you enjoy utilizing modulation or automation, and feels just as sleek and intuitive as Ableton. I've found I'm more willing to veer beyond comfort zone habits when using Bitwig & Ableton, so if you're looking to branch off a little as well, consider using it too!

Pro Tools

▸ An industry standard in recording studios worldwide, this digital audio workstation has existed since the 1990s, and it certainly shows. Current versions of the software are still built upon the same engine it was released with about thirty years ago, and as a result it lacks intuitive design and was developed first and foremost with studio technicians in mind.

▸ This thing honestly sucks to use, and I only ever touch it for work. Nevertheless, its capability in raw audio editing remains unmatched, and it feels amazing to comp with. With how much hassle can be involved when setting it up, though, I think I'd still rather record in Ableton anyway.

Plugin	Type	Description
SQ8L	Free!	▸ This SQ80-emulating x32 VST has been a staple of mine for nearly a decade now. Used by many a synth producer-- you can hear its stock patches on early Perturbator releases, for instance--
Arminator 2	Free!	▸ A fantastic x32 CS80 emulation plugin which has flown under the radar for years now. Another favorite of mine, I think it's really underrated! I never see any discussion about it anywhere online, but I think its sound is better than that of Arturia's CS80 emulation synths.
Deputy	Free!
Dexed	Free!
Diva	Paid ($)	▸ I've had Diva on my hard drive for years now, but only started actually using it very recently, and I'm in love! This softsynth is one you see thrown around often in synth producer spaces along with OB-Xd, SQ8L, and the Arturia collection, and it's very easy to see why. Excellent for lead and stab sounds, anything with more energy or rhythm to them! I think I still prefer OB-Xd for my pads and brass, though...
Gladiator	Paid ($)	▸ From what I've noticed, Tone2's products are a lot lesser known considering how robust they are. Nevertheless, this is yet another phenomenal VST present in Perturbator's work up until New Model. The sheer scope of what's possible with this tool, reflected by its incredible default patches, is wholly unique to the plugin. I've made great use out of its more atmospheric sounds.
OB-Xd	Free!	▸ Subtractive synthesis at its finest. This free Ob-X emulator is a staple in my regular workflow, and can be heard in nearly everything I make. This is my absolute favorite plugin to make enormous, sweeping, cinematic strings & brass sounds with. Considering how approachable its UI is, this VST is a no-brainer to invest in. Highly recommended.
Omnisphere	Paid ($)	▸ Omnisphere needs little introduction in producer spaces; this is one of the most widely used and well known VSTs I've ever come across, and for good reason. Omnisphere is absolutely nuts when it comes to what it's capable of. I can guarantee that you've heard an Omnisphere patch on more than one pop record before. I don't need to convince you, just search up some YouTube videos of people messing around with it. This plugin isn't necessarily a must-have given the price, but understand that the utility of this tool cannot be understated.
Saurus	Paid ($)	▸ This is a newer addition to my arsenal, despite having used Gladiator for years beforehand. Saurus claims to be an emulation of various different famous analogue synthesizers, and as a result I've noticed that it's lacking in identity or concrete specialization. Fortunately, that doesn't matter much when the sound quality you're capable of getting out of this thing is entirely unmatched. Good god, the richness in tone Saurus is capable of is in a league of its own, and its UI is a whole lot more friendly to beginners than Gladiator's is. I don't know how its low end sounds so consistently good on everything this VST pushes out, but it has swiftly become a favorite of mine for layering bass patches. Beautiful stock patches.
Synth1	Free!	Another very well known free softsynth. This thing is something of an open secret: pretty much everyone knows about or has used it at some point, but you don't ever see a whole lot of discussion around it. Synth1 is extremely versatile and carries with it a proud heritage of community-made patches readily available online, covering pretty much every sound and genre you can imagine. If you were to select only a single softsynth from this entire list of great plugins, it really ought to be Synth1, and especially so if you're strapped for cash.
Tal U-NO LX	Paid ($)	Just an all-around great Juno 60 emulation. If OB-Xd scratched that itch for a great Oberheim emulator, then this is your Juno equivalent. Intuitive design, decent out of the box patches, and its got a free alternative on the developer website (the non-LX edition, although it's a bit more limited in scope).
Serum	Paid ($)	▸ The lord's finest in wavetable solutions. This is yet another plugin which needs no introduction among producer spaces-- pretty much everyone and their mother knows about Serum if they don't already own and regularly use it. If you can imagine a sound, any sound at all, you can recreate it using Serum. This VST is responsible for teaching a great deal of people the principles of sound design, starting with the humble sine wave. ▸ Personally, I use it all the time when sculpting instruments by hand, or when I don't feel like going fishing in another plugin for some fitting patch. If Serum sounds like a dream but you don't have the scratch (or if you're not willing to acquire it through alternative means), then Vital is a phenomenal free alternative to wavetable synthesis.
Addictive Drums 2	Paid ($)	▸ I generally select and sequence all of the rhythmic elements in my music by hand, and I do personally fancy the artificial character of noble drum machines. Nevertheless, sometimes I look to emulate a more organic, natural, or analogue sound with my drumset parts, and that's where Addictive Drums 2 comes in. ▸ This plugin is, effectively, a catalogue of various well-known percussive instruments as popularized by industry-standard manufacturers, and I genuinely don't think that there's enough space for me here to go over absolutely everything it's capable of. If I can't record a drumset part-- which I generally don't have access to-- then this is my first choice in sound selection. Please check it out if you have the chance, if only on YouTube. It's extensive, expensive, and very good.