Q&A
Should I invest in expensive plugins like Serum as a beginner, or should I master stock plugins first?
Dec 8, 2025
Master your DAW's stock plugins first before investing in expensive third-party options, because the fundamentals of sound design, EQ, and compression remain the same regardless of the tool you're using. Your creativity and understanding of synthesis matters far more than your plugin collection, and many professional producers create incredible tracks using mostly stock sounds and effects. That said, once you understand the basics, a versatile wavetable synth like Serum or the free alternative Vital can significantly expand your sound design capabilities and is worth the investment when you're ready to level up.
Futureproof Music School teaches you to maximize your creative potential with whatever tools you have, offering courses that focus on both stock DAW instruments and industry-standard plugins like Serum. Through daily online workshops and our growing course library, you'll learn practical sound design techniques that work across any synth, and Futureproof's Mentors can show you exactly how to recreate the sounds you hear in professional tracks using the gear you already own, saving you money while accelerating your learning.
How long should I spend learning a stock synth like Ableton's Wavetable before moving to Serum?
Aim for 2-3 months of focused practice where you can design at least 10-15 usable sounds from scratch without tutorials. Once you understand oscillators, filters, envelopes, and modulation routing in your DAW's native synth, you'll actually get more value from Serum because you'll know what you're doing.
Can I get professional-sounding leads and basses with free plugins like Vital or Surge XT?
Absolutely. Vital rivals Serum in sound quality and features, while Surge XT offers incredible modulation depth that many paid synths can't match. Your sound design skills matter way more than the plugin name on your track.
What's the one paid plugin actually worth buying as a beginner if I had to choose?
A quality mixing plugin like FabFilter Pro-Q3 or a comprehensive sample library will serve you better than another synth. These tools directly improve your finished tracks and fill gaps that stock plugins genuinely struggle with, unlike synthesis where free options are incredibly powerful.