Speaking of KVR Challenge entries...I haven't decided yet if it'll make my favorites list, but I've used the Roth-AIR saturator a couple times now and am pleased with the results. I just wish it had some numbers on the dials. As it is, it's kind of a blind tweak-and-listen process. But your patience will be rewarded.

Fleer
So that's his name  
Me and Aksimet have some unsolved business, it seems. 
I'll be Bach indeed. Thanks Bit!

And I'll be Mozart! Glad to see Fleer had Audio Damage comp, Rough Rider in the list. And Impact SoundWorks Stroh Violin. A violin with a metal horn on it. Why would someone make that?

Because they can.

And to make it louder for street musicians.

bitflipper
All correct answers. I'd only add Kotelnikov and PanCake.

Hey bit!  Thanks again for those tips!  I really love that PanCake.  Makes a nice channel effect for a synth lead or pad.  The variations in the presets really show what it can do.  Some can be very subtle, but add movement to the sound.
 
It pairs very nicely with SynthMaster! 
 
Edit: and add Roth-AIR as well!!!  Nice find!  But it's like hot sauce, a little goes a long way!

BassDaddy
Because they can.

And it's a very nice juanita.

How about Klanhelms free units

bitflipper
Speaking of KVR Challenge entries...I haven't decided yet if it'll make my favorites list, but I've used the Roth-AIR saturator a couple times now and am pleased with the results. I just wish it had some numbers on the dials. As it is, it's kind of a blind tweak-and-listen process. But your patience will be rewarded.

Thanks Bit.
I was unaware of this plugin. Going to try it tonight.
This plug seems to be an alternative for the "Aural Exciter" or "Sonic maximizer" type of plugs
that are used for getting more high frequencies out of your track. 
 

 While not free but so often the ones that comes with DAWs are often neglected while assuming 3rd party ones are better.

kitekrazy1
 While not free but so often the ones that comes with DAWs are often neglected while assuming 3rd party ones are better.

 
I really tried hard to limit myself to just the Cakewalk synths, and some free stuff, in order to learn to use what I've got already.
 
Some of the 3rd party stuff is redundant.  How many virtual analog synths do you really need?
 
Do you plan to create your own sounds, or surf presets all day? <rhetorical question>
 
I was doing great, until the deals on AIR, SynthMaster, and SONiVOX came along ...
 
Out of 10,000 new patches, I think I may have found 9,000 that I like!