diff --git a/beetsplug/albumtypes.py b/beetsplug/albumtypes.py
index cb9eeb0bb..a73d41b4e 100644
--- a/beetsplug/albumtypes.py
+++ b/beetsplug/albumtypes.py
@@ -31,9 +31,16 @@ class AlbumTypesPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         super(AlbumTypesPlugin, self).__init__()
         self.album_template_fields['atypes'] = self._atypes
         self.config.add({
-            'types': [],
-            'ignore_va': [],
-            'brackets': '[]'
+            'types': [
+                ('ep', 'EP'),
+                ('single', 'Single'),
+                ('soundtrack', 'OST'),
+                ('live', 'Live'),
+                ('compilation', 'Anthology'),
+                ('remix', 'Remix')
+            ],
+            'ignore_va': ['compilation'],
+            'bracket': '[]'
         })
 
     def _atypes(self, item: Album):
diff --git a/docs/plugins/albumtypes.rst b/docs/plugins/albumtypes.rst
index f97a11a71..4a9f67c4a 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/albumtypes.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/albumtypes.rst
@@ -20,17 +20,12 @@ file. The available options are:
 - **types**: An ordered list of album type to format mappings. The order of the
   mappings determines their order in the output. If a mapping is missing or
   blank, it will not be in the output.
-  Default: ``[]``.
 - **ignore_va**: A list of types that should not be output for Various Artists
   albums. Useful for not adding redundant information - various artist albums
   are often compilations.
-  Default: ``[]``.
 - **bracket**: Defines the brackets to enclose each album type in the output.
-  Default: ``'[]'``
 
-Examples
---------
-Example config::
+The default configuration looks like this::
 
     albumtypes:
         types:
@@ -41,16 +36,22 @@ Example config::
             - compilation: 'Anthology'
             - remix: 'Remix'
         ignore_va: compilation
-        bracket: '()'
+        bracket: '[]'
+
+Examples
+--------
+With path formats configured like::
 
     paths:
-        default: $albumartist/($year)$atypes $album/...
-        albumtype:soundtrack Various Artists/$album ($year)$atypes)/...
-        comp: Various Artists/$album ($year)$atypes/...
+        default: $albumartist/[$year]$atypes $album/...
+        albumtype:soundtrack Various Artists/$album [$year]$atypes)/...
+        comp: Various Artists/$album [$year]$atypes/...
 
-This configuration generates paths that look like this, for example::
 
-    Aphex Twin/(1993)(EP)(Remix) On Remixes
-    Pink Flow/(1995)(Live) p·u·l·s·e
-    Various Artists/20th Century Lullabies (1999)
-    Various Artists/Ocean's Eleven (2001)(OST)
+The default plugin configuration generates paths that look like this, for example::
+
+    Aphex Twin/[1993][EP][Remix] On Remixes
+    Pink Flow/[1995][Live] p·u·l·s·e
+    Various Artists/20th Century Lullabies [1999]
+    Various Artists/Ocean's Eleven [2001][OST]
+
diff --git a/test/test_albumtypes.py b/test/test_albumtypes.py
index f69edbb8b..a9db12c30 100644
--- a/test/test_albumtypes.py
+++ b/test/test_albumtypes.py
@@ -90,6 +90,17 @@ class AlbumTypesPluginTest(unittest.TestCase, TestHelper):
         result = subject._atypes(album)
         self.assertEqual('(OST)', result)
 
+    def test_respects_defaults(self):
+        """Tests if the plugin uses the default values if config not given."""
+        album = self._create_album(
+            album_types=['ep', 'single', 'soundtrack', 'live', 'compilation',
+                         'remix'],
+            artist_id=VARIOUS_ARTISTS_ID
+        )
+        subject = AlbumTypesPlugin()
+        result = subject._atypes(album)
+        self.assertEqual('[EP][Single][OST][Live][Remix]', result)
+
     def _set_config(self, types: [(str, str)], ignore_va: [str], bracket: str):
         self.config['albumtypes']['types'] = types
         self.config['albumtypes']['ignore_va'] = ignore_va