The Best Plugins for Afrobeat and Amapiano Beats
Somewhere between R&B and the modern sounds of Africa, afrobeat and amapiano have taken the charts by storm, making music lovers dance all around the world. Artists like Rema, Burna Boy and Tems are now household names, and their infectious vibes are a source of inspiration for many beatmakers out there. It’s hard not to be inspired by genres that are so fun and powerful. To really capture its essence, musicians have to get the right tools in their arsenal. Here are a few of the plugins I’d recommend if you want to experiment with the sonorities of your favorite afrobeat and amapiano tracks.
KOMPLETE 14 Standard | Native Instruments
KOMPLETE 14 isn’t an instrument, but rather a bundle of excellent tools that more than exceed the needs of the modern beatmaker. Containing many acoustic keys, synths and live drums, there are more than enough interesting sounds here, all contained inside beautiful and versatile Native Instruments plugins.
For afrobeat and amapiano, I’d recommend using the Cuba piano that has warm and colorful vibes. For drums, Battery 4 can get very close to having a session drummer at your disposal, while it can also get you so electronic percussive sounds that are pretty out there. KOMPLETE 14 also comes with many specific percussion VSTs.
Finally, electric guitars can provide that sparkling edge to your beats, and few guitar software sound as good as their Session Guitarist range.
KOMPLETE 14 Standard is definitely one of the best values on the market, but if you’re just getting started with making beats and you’re not looking to spend too much, I’d recommend checking out KOMPLETE 14 Select, the entry level bundle. You can start with Select, and if you choose to upgrade at some point, you’ll be able to do so at a discounted price.
Guitar Rig 7 Pro | Native Instruments
If the idea of playing guitar lines on a MIDI keyboard makes no sense to you, you’re probably a guitarist. In that case, I’d highly recommend Guitar Rig 7 Pro. This little program has come a long way in the past decade, and it’s now the absolute top guitar amp VST out there in my opinion. It’s not even close.
Have you ever dreamed of having a studio full of amps, cabs and effect pedals? And in your dream, did you also have a ton of sick hardware gear to make your tones sound even more fantastic. Well, I inform you that your dreams are now reality. Or maybe you were dreaming of Guitar Rig, idk…
Guitar Rig gives you a pro guitar (or electric bass) sound with the click of a mouse, and that’s why I’d definitely recommend it for making beats. I use to track all my guitars through a tube amp, but at this point Guitar Rig sounds honestly better.
Arcade | Output
If you’re making your 10th type beat of the day and inspiration is starting to run a little dry, Arcade is the instrument for you. But it’s not a regular synth, or even a regular sampler, for that matter.
Arcade is a revolutionary VST that gives you access to thousands of sounds and sequences, covering everything from lascivious vocal hooks to funky percussion grooves. It’s like having a really well curated bank of loops at your fingertips that you can play like an instrument.
Of course, all the sounds in Arcade are royalty-free, so you don’t have to worry about clearing your samples. Everything is good to go. This gem from Output is used by most to spark ideas and start beats, but I also like to use it to add a bit of dimension to a beat that is already underway.
It’s a great tool for sound design as well as composing.
MODO BASS 2 | IK Multimedia
A good beat is nothing without bass, and a lot of afrobeat tracks are articulated around the warm tones of the electric bass. One of my favorite plugins to emulate all the small nuances of the legendary instrument is MODO BASS 2 by IK Multimedia.
Smooth as silk, it lets you choose between so many models of bass guitars. You can find the sound you’re looking for by circling through great presets, or you can tweak parameters until you find the sound you need.
Pretty much everything from fingering style to mic placement can be modified. You can even choose the age of the strings you’re playing on. That’s what I call attention to details.
SubLab XL | Future Audio Workshop
If you prefer to spice up your beats with 808 bass lines that will melt your face off, I’d recommend SubLab XL. This versatile instrument from Future Audio Workshop allows you to combine sound synthesis and samples to create 808s as punchy as you want them to be.
It comes with many great presets, and they add new sounds all the time, which is why I like to use it. I think it keeps things pretty fresh and interesting.
Analog Lab Pro | Arturia
Another essential instrument with many capabilities, Analog Lab Pro is like having a “best of” compilation of the history of synths in your back pocket. It contains thousands of presets taken from dozens of classic synths. It’s a very powerful VST.
What people forget sometimes, is that it also contains many acoustic key sounds, like gorgeous pianos, rhodes and organs.
I will never not include Analog Lab Pro in a post I’m writing because I think everyone should own it! I use it everyday and it never ceases to amaze me.
Serum | Xfer Records
It’s hard to think of a more versatile synth than Serum. It’s used a lot by electronic musicians, but I feel like it’s not always a go to for smoother genres of modern music.
If you get started with Serum, I suggest you really get to know the presets and explore all its programming possibilities. From there, you can look for expansion packs (there are some great free ones out there!)
Serum is capable of a lot of fun keys and mallet sounds, which is why I think it would be great for afrobeat and amapiano. If you want to create your own log drum sound, it’s also more than qualified to give you that.
Overall, an essential synth that will serve you all through your journey as a music producer. I highly recommend it.
Let me know if I forgot your favorite plugin and I’ll include it in a future list! For more info about all the cool plugins out there, check out our many posts on the subject.
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