What are the essential tools or software you recommend, and how should they be used to their full potential?

Start simple—don’t overwhelm yourself with too many tools at the beginning! Focus on mastering one DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) before expanding your setup. I began with Cubase 5 and have since upgraded to Cubase 12 Pro as my skills and needs evolved. Some excellent DAWs to consider are Cubase, FL Studio, Ableton, Pro Tools, and Logic Pro. Choose one and learn it inside out.

Here are some tools and plugins I highly recommend:

• Valhalla (Reverb Plugin): A fantastic free plugin for adding reverb. Experiment with it and trust your ears to create depth in your mix.
   
• iZotope Nectar: Ideal for vocal processing, offering tools like compression, limiting, saturation, and EQ to enhance vocal clarity and presence.
   
• iZotope Ozone: A powerful tool for mastering, including AI-assisted mastering options for a polished final track.

Your DAW likely includes many stock plugins that are more than capable, so don’t feel pressured to buy third-party plugins right away. Focus on learning the tools you have thoroughly.

The key to success is simplicity and depth. I don’t rely on a long list of tools, but I know the ones I use like the back of my hand. Master the basics, trust your ears, and you’ll be well-equipped for music production.

After many years, I’ve learned the hard way that it doesn’t matter how much money you’re spending on plug-ins and gear. If you do not invest in good monitoring and a good room, it’s going to be very challenging to achieve the best results. It took me a while to understand this, because it’s not very “fun” or “glamorous” to spend money on acoustic treatment and measuring speaker distances and so on, but it’s really what I find essential.

One of the most important things in sound and something irreplaceable in digital is the analog warmth. For a couple of years I invested in some analog equipment from SSL which gives me a vintage warmth and a harmonic saturation that I have not been able to achieve with virtual plug-ins. Something that I will always recommend is to try to go little by little and perhaps start with an equalizer and an analog compressor bus... so passing the mixes through there at the end you will have a better result... and then you compare the results... today I have several tools that I think that until today virtuality has not been able to reach that similarity.

Exactly, keep your setup simple! Ableton Live is a beast on its own, so you don’t need to drown yourself in gear. A solid MIDI controller, a few go-to plugins like Serum or FabFilter, and you’re good to go. Focus on mastering the tools you have rather than overcomplicating things. Less gear, more creativity!

Speed is key when working with your DAW, whether it's Logic, Ableton, or others. It’s crucial to know your way around and work efficiently.
Presets and templates are game-changers, helping you avoid repetitive tasks. For instance, if you consistently use a specific plugin, have it pre-loaded in your session. This approach saves time and streamlines your workflow.
Additionally, set up your go-to tools—like a preferred bass plugin or a bus for parallel compression—so they're ready to go when needed.

The most useful tool that you can have is the one that you know how to use! Dont be that person who has all the gear and no idea... Full potential comes from watching the tutorials that come with your gear and actually learning how to use it, even if its super tempting just to throw a bunch of presets and see which one sounds nicest.

DAW - Logic/Cubase/FL/Ableton - personally I think Logic is king but thats just me. Its super intuitive and comes a great range of sounds/ai/plugins to get you started.
Compressor Set - You'll want to invest in a nice compressor set to take your system a bit further. UAD is king for me here, but you can get them from many many sites include free ones!
Reverb Set - Look no further than the Valhalla set. You can also check out the UAD stuff but theyre a bit pricier.
Mastering Set - if youre just doing this for fun - Ozone or LandR. If youre doing to proper, speak to a mastering engineer on Fiverr.

Plugs I cant live without: Soundtoys5 (black friday deals), UAD 1176, Ozone Dynamic EQ, Bx Masterdesk2, Soothe2.

When it comes to choosing between DAWs like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, or any other major software, the decision often comes down to personal preference rather than a clear-cut winner. 

What really matters is finding the DAW that feels most comfortable to you. It’s about how intuitive the interface is, how well it fits into your workflow, and how you feel when using it. Some producers might prefer the clip-based, performance-oriented workflow of Ableton Live, while others might like Logic Pro’s interface better.

Ultimately, the best DAW is the one that best translates your ideas into music.

The important tools I recommend for music production include Cubase and WaveLab, both of which I use extensively in my work. Cubase is a powerful DAW that offers a comprehensive range of features for composing, recording, and mixing. WaveLab, on the other hand, is used for mastering. It allows me to fine tune tracks, ensuring they meet professional standards for clarity and loudness.