What are your top 3 freeware/cheap FX plug-ins or VSTs you found ?

I heard that Glitch is pretty good and I'm trying to get to know that now. What FX plugins or cheap/freeware instruments you've found really useful ?

TAL audio

Ha - Scook beat me to it. Rapture for $19.99 is an unbelievable deal. Right up there with the big synths, IMO. I consider DPro is a credible replacement for Sampletank I think - especially with the addition of some 3rd party soundsets.
Both are 64 bit also.

Artifake Labs Redtron_SE, Variety of Sound ThrillseekerXTC, Distorque Audio Plus Distortion

My top 3 free

1. http://www.aixcoustic.com/index.php/posihfopit_edition/30/0/ Electri-Q' - posihfopit edition
2. http://loudmax.blogspot.no/ LoudMax Limiter
3. http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/downloads/ ThrillseekerXTC

Not in any order:

Voxengo Span - Free Spectrum Analyser 
Ambience - Reverb
Kjaerhus Audio Classic Series - Effects Bundle
TAL - Togu Audio Line (various synth, effects, etc)

Don't forget that the bundled Sonitus effects are very good and quite underrated.  I really like the Gate as it can be side-chained and uses minimal processing power.  In fact, I think it's better than using a compressor to get that ducking effect as it doesn't colour the sound at all.

I also like the reverb as I get good results, very smooth and lush but one downside is that it only has a mono input so I only use it with mono sources.

Lastly, I have to say that the Delay is excellent too and I've had great results from that so some excellent plug-ins within Sonar.

Sleepy-time dsp is some good stuff.

chuckebaby

but theres some pretty good stuff out there, in a later project at some point id like to try and record a whole demo using just freeware.

http://www.groove3.com/str/Mixing-with-FREE-Plug-Ins.html
 
Ironically, the video is NOT free. 
 
Cheers,
Eddie

 

Ok, this TDR Feedback compressor II by Tokyo Dawn Labs  that everyone keeps mentioning. WOW. I just tried this out. Got to be the most transparent compressor I've EVER heard in my life! This thing is amazing!! I just tried it out on drums and smashed it hard. Sure, it sounded compressed, but no matter what setting I chose for the release, it didn't pump! Every comp I've ever used to hit drums makes the cymbals swell if I hit it really hard (which sometimes I like the sound of if I'm going for that), but this thing just maintains perfect tact the entire way through! Zero pumping! Amazing. This would be so great for a mastering compressor.. So smooth.. Definitely adding this comp to my arsenal... It does NOT sound like a free comp in any way. Can't wait to try this on other things. I'd love to see how it compares to the PC2A on vocals.. Must. Go. Test.

Free VSTs by manufactures of quality paid plugins are the best bet if you are worried about stability. For effects I like Blue Cat's free stuff.

#3. Blue Cat Series
#2. Kjaerhus Audio Classic Series
#1. Variety Of Sound Suite x10!!
 
The "BootEQ" and the "Epic-verb" are stellar all by them selves. These are heads and shoulders above the current crop of free vst's that its amazing they are still free. The Epic Verb side by side with the UA/EMT Plate can produce astonishingly similar results considering the price difference.
 
Its the only free vst that I still use in daily production. The BootEQ is also a unique vintage color that is killer on vocals and a drum buss. All three all a good bit of programing and useful but considering Sonar now has a great set of tools included, you end up using less of them yet the Variety Of Sound stuff is still unique and powerful enough to still be viable alongside Sonar's tool set. The only drawback is they run at 32 bit so they will wrapped. But even under those conditions, they are still a completely useful daily tool.
http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/vst-effects/

* Free Blue Cat Audio FX Plug-in Pack - http://www.digifreq.com/d.ifreq/download.asp?ID=83
* Free Groove Monkee 300 MIDI Drum Loop Collection - http://www.digifreq.com/d..req/download.asp?ID=100
* Free Ohm Force Frohmage Filter FX Plug-in - http://www.digifreq.com/d..req/download.asp?ID=122

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview

I think we buried Bansaw.

Tal Noisemaker- great analogue style synth. 

He's back, good to hear from you. Yeah, the Rapture deal is a good one probably not going to get any cheaper.