The 7 VST Plugins Every Electronic Music Producer Must Own

Whether you’re producing EDM, techno, house, trance, or experimental electronic music, the plugins you choose play a huge role in your sound quality and workflow. With thousands of VSTs available today, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

To simplify things, here are seven essential VST plugins that cover sound design, sampling, mixing, and creative effects—the core needs of any serious electronic music producer.

1. Serum – The Industry-Standard Wavetable Synth

Serum has become the go-to synth for modern electronic music. Its clean sound engine, visual workflow, and powerful modulation make it incredibly versatile.

Why it matters:

• Perfect for basses, leads, plucks, and FX

• Visual wavetable editing speeds up sound design

• Massive preset ecosystem for every genre

If you make electronic music, Serum is almost impossible to replace.

2. Massive X – Bold, Aggressive Sound Design

Massive X is built for producers who want raw, aggressive, and complex sounds. It’s especially popular in techno, bass music, and modern EDM.

Why it matters:

• Deep modulation and routing options

• Ideal for dark basses and powerful leads

• Designed for advanced sound designers

It takes time to master, but the results are worth it.

3. Omnisphere – Unlimited Creative Inspiration

Omnisphere is more than a synth—it’s a creative powerhouse combining synthesis with high-quality samples.

Why it matters:

• Huge library of pads, textures, and hybrid sounds

• Ideal for atmospheric and cinematic elements

• Great for intros, breakdowns, and ambient layers

When inspiration runs dry, Omnisphere brings it back.

4. Kontakt – The Foundation of Sampling

Kontakt is the industry standard sampler used by countless professional libraries.

Why it matters:

• Access to thousands of third-party instruments

• Ideal for drums, vocals, and experimental sounds

• Essential for modern electronic production

Many premium sample libraries simply won’t work without it.

5. FabFilter Pro-Q 3 – Precision EQ for Clean Mixes

A clean mix starts with a great EQ, and Pro-Q 3 sets the standard.

Why it matters:

• Ultra-transparent sound

• Dynamic EQ for controlling problem frequencies

• Mid/side processing for wide, clear mixes

It’s one of the most important tools in any producer’s mixing chain.

6. Valhalla VintageVerb – Musical, Characterful Reverb

Electronic music relies heavily on space and atmosphere, and VintageVerb delivers both with style.

Why it matters:

• Lush reverbs for leads, pads, and vocals

• Multiple vintage and modern algorithms

• Affordable and CPU-friendly

It adds depth without washing out your mix.

7. OTT – Instant Energy and Loudness

OTT is famous for its aggressive multiband compression and instant impact.

Why it matters:

• Makes synths and basses sound bigger instantly

• Widely used in EDM, dubstep, and future bass

• Perfect for parallel processing

Used subtly, it can dramatically enhance energy and presence.

Final Thoughts

With these seven VST plugins, you’ll have everything you need to:

• Design professional electronic sounds

• Build powerful, modern mixes

• Compete with industry-level productions

A Simple Starter Setup

• Sound design: Serum, Omnisphere

• Sampling: Kontakt

• Mixing: Pro-Q 3, OTT

• Space & atmosphere: VintageVerb