Check out Xpand!2 | https://bit.ly/3VwHDZb
When asked to pick his 10 favorite Xpand!2 presets, Constrict expected to hate every second of it. Bundled with Pro Tools back in 2008, the outdated UI made him assume it wasn’t worth using.
But then he discovered how iconic producers like Noah “40” Shebib used it to create foundational tracks for Drake – including hits like “Successful,” “The Real Her,” “Lust for Life,” and “Trust Issues”.
It turns out presets from this “outdated” VST are behind massive tracks by Frank Ocean and $uicideboy$ too, with billions of streams across all these artists. Once Constrict actually sat down and listened, he realized just how much he’d judged it too quickly.
Here is the honest breakdown of why Xpand!2 is still an absolute powerhouse VST synth for music production in 2026.
00:00 – Why I Hated Xpand!2 (At First)
00:25 – The Secret Drake & 40 Connection
00:46 – Preset Examples: Drake, Frank Ocean, uicideboy
01:48 – Admitting I Was Wrong
02:28 – UI vs. Sound: Why Looks Don’t Matter
#Xpand2 #MusicProduction #VSTPlugins #Drake #ProducerTips #VST #SoundDesign
