Wow very cool tools Craig.. I find it so curious that I spent most of my life trying to squeeze every once of high quality fidelity out of my recordings with tape back in the old dayz, to Tascam DA-88's and every generation of Pro Tools and Cakewalk since Pro Audio 9 to SONAR Platinum, which is undoubtedly my favorite (actually since SONAR 4 Producer), most comfortable, and easiest way to do achieve clarity.
What's curious is, some where along the line, we all seem to take the turn to set out to go out of or way to make the most pristine recordings as possible, and than throw it in reverse go out of or ways to find new ways to
"Screw them UP"! And I for one would like the thank Craig and the bakers at Cakewalk for providing some many tools and different ways to do all of the above all out of the same box. :o)
OK that being said, there are of course some very cool tools outside of the SONAR box as well, and one of my favorites is Shattered Glass Audio's
Code Red Free which is, as the name implies, a free VST3 tube preamp emulator plugin.
It certainly warrants attention and absolutely qualifies for donation, but that's left completely up to the user.