If you've ever used Pro Tools, you may remember this little gem called SansAmp. It's a free plugin that's been used on countless recordings to add distortion in various flavors. Great on bass, drums, etc. But until now, it's been available for PT only.
 
Now there's a standard VST that copies SansAmp and adds a few extra features. That's right, you can use a SansAmp clone outside of Pro Tools! Best of all, it's free, part of the latest KVR Developer Challenge. It's called the AXP SoftAmp PSA. Check it out -- it seems to work pretty well. 
 
And don't forget to peruse the other entries in the Challenge. There's always a worthy contender or two in there.
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

Thanks for the heads up, Eddie. It's arguably the best overdrive/distortion pedal VST I've ever heard.

Lots of goodies this year. I was also impressed by Roth-AIR (HF exciter) and Lagrange (delay). But of the ones I've tested, this amp sim is the one I'll most likely use.

Thanks for the heads up. I see lots of video tutorials where people use the heck out of the Sansamp. I'll give it a go.

Thx Eddie.

Much appreciated. I have a very early Sans Amp classic - and it's still hard to beat it for some forms of pre- amping and over drive. It'll be interesting to compare the two.

I sometimes launch Pro Tools just to process a track with SansAmp - I love that plug-in. Too bad for me that there's no Audio Unit version. 

bapu
Thx Eddie.

Like you need another plug in :-)
 
I may give this a look.  I usually don't bother with freebies because they are so hit and miss, but I've seen SansAmp used in some videos (like others) and it does a really nice job.

There's need. Then there's want.

bapu
There's need. Then there's want.

And then there's Edith.