hi tom, we do try to use the base plugins for the DAW when creating our tutorials. However, there are some plugins that will be required at a very basic level.
One of them would be a synthesiser such as ANA / Sylenth etc. The reason for this is because Ableton doesn't actually have a synthesiser built into its basic package. So we essentially try to pick one or two plugins that we can use across all of the DAWs.
Where a plugin like that is used, we do try to bounce down the stems for those with no synthesiser at all so they can at least hear the sounds played back as an audio track.
When it comes to our Artist content we take the shackles off them a little bit and allow them to use really whatever plugins they normally use. Again, the reason for this is that we are trying to showcase how the Artist creates their signature sound, and usually, that relies on particular plugins to help them achieve that. Where possible we ask them to explain how you would do that with an alternative plugin.
