I have Sonar X2 producer.  I have not (yet) bought any additional VSTs.  (I already had Garritan Jazz & Big Band, but I am really just talking about effects VSTs for mixing and mastering.)
 
I have been building a list of all the VSTs that people mention here that sound like they could fit what I do.  My problem now is that list his about $4000 long. 
 
I'm just curious how many effects VSTs people generally buy.  Is there any "average" number?  I assume those who are lightweight or hobby users buy fewer effects than people trying to produce commercial products.
 
I'm just looking for a ballpark estimate.

I know this might sound generic, but honestly, it will be different for everyone. SONAR X2 Producer covers a lot of bases on its own, but there are a few things it doesn't have. For example ...
 
Pultec style EQ
LA2A style compressor
Mastering limiter
Frequency analyzer
 
And obviously there's more. I think the relevant question to ask yourself is what are you not able to do with the tools you currently have. From there you can investigate what you need. Based on having X2 Producer I would first look at a mastering limiter or mastering suite of plugins. iZotope Ozone and Ik Multimedia's T-Racks 3 both come to mind, but there are others. I've found the Native Instruments effect to be very good, but they cover some of the same SSL emulation bases that SONAR X2 already has.
 
I would think about this before getting into the habit of downloading every last free VST plugin simply to amass a plugin list of hundreds, if not thousands, of plugins. It can be easy to do that and spend more time downloading and installing plugins and tweaking the plugin list rather than actually making music and getting work done.

Some of the answers you're gonna get will scare you.
 
For myself, it's whatever the limit is plus perhaps 50 more that I've removed to make room for new ones. However, the number of third-party plugins that I actually need is much, much smaller: Kontakt, Omnisphere, Zebra, the FabFilter stuff. I could make do with just those.

I own as few as I can get away with.
 
I rather know the ones I own really well. It's not so much that any of them are that complicated it's just that I enjoy banging through the setup and moving on. I've said it before, and I really mean it. I think the Sonitus EQ and the Sonitus Compressor are super because I really like the layouts and the control placement. I can use them in my sleep. I'd pay full price for a Sonitus x64 VST suite.
 
It seems like they copied the best of the Sonnox designs and they have a simple what you see is what you get design gestalt.
 
I bought a bundle of FabFilter stuff because I wanted horizontal integration. VST and AAX x64. I suspect that I'm the odd ball in that I admire the fancy graphics but would prefer 24/7 text readouts for each parameter and I think some of the eye candy is just eye candy. Plus the *super smooth ultra precise knobs* are kinda clunky and choppy.
 
When I use Sonitus I click in a text box and hit my -/+ keys and get wonderful precise adjustments and that is something that just works really well. I call the -/+ keys my hardware controller.
 
 
 
I very much dislike the analog look a likes. I have lots of analog stuff and I know how to use it. Making believe I'm using analog stuff in the digital domain has no appeal for me. The real life knobs and sliders were never more than a compromise and being fairly familiar with the resolution issues of a real life potentiometer I wonder why there is such much love for twisting dials when you can just type in exactly what you want.
 
I'm perfectly happy with plain old digital.
 
I joke with bapu that I only have 14 different efxs... truth is I probably have less than that in any given project.
 
 
 
I get the impression that a lot of folks buy lots of efx as a way of collecting presets. Nothing wrong with that but I think there is so much potential to work faster if you just learn to know what you want and how to dial it up real quickly on any generic and competent efx that you have available. If you like the layout and the user interface makes sense to your way of thinking than so much the better.
 
 
best regards,
mike

The guys above have the right of it. Dave and Mike that is.
 
Now that I've hit the practical limit of SONAR (and I have deleted a slew of mono plugs to accommodate that limit) and that my original plan "to be compatible" I do realize that I should have been more prudent in my selection. But alas, I own a bricksh!teHouze of VSTs and yes, I may never use them all in two lifetimes.
 
If the OP really cares.... here is my list that is missing a couple of later libraries
 
My DAW Software
The SONAH X2a Producer
Reaper 4 (Non-Commercial Use License)
Presonus Studio One 2.5 Pro
Wavelab 7
Soundforge Pro 10
CD Architect 5.2
TT Dynamic Range Meter 1.4
Sonnox Oxford Fraunhofer Pro-Codec
East West
      Complete Composers Collection
              Symphonic Orchestra Gold
              Symphonic Choirs
              Voices Of Passion
              Gypsy
              Ra
              Goliath
              Ministry Of Rock
              Fab Four
Native Instruments
      Komplete 8 Ultimate
      '57 Drawbar Organ
      North India
      The Giant
      Session Horns
      Action Strings
      Abbey Road Vintage Drums
Kirk Hunter - Powered by Kontakt
      Pop/Rock Strings
      Concert Strings II
      Concert Brass II
      Diamond
Soundiron
      Twine Bass
      Mars (Male) Choir
      Venus (Female) Choir
Waves Factory
      Old Tape Piano
      Tea Towel Drums
      Power Guitars Direct
      Strum GTR
      Strum Guitar (Acoustic) Vol. II
      Acoustic Pick
      Acoustic 12 String Pick
      Uke Strum
      Uke Finger
      W-Tympani
      W-Music Box
      Track Spacer
Elvayta Boys
      Space Boy
Orange Tree Samples
      Tiny Box
      Lap Steel
Hollow Sun
      MLM Bundle
      Vermona
      Vital Organs
      Tubiltizer
SampleTank 2.5 XL - by IK Multimedia
    Rare and Vintage Collection
    Squids Tron Collection
    Sonic Capsules Guitar Collection
    Sonic Capsules Symphonic Collection
    Expansion Tank - Guitar, Bass & Acoustic Drums
    Re-Tank Loops (4000 loops)
IK Multimedia - effects and samplers
    ARC 2
    T-RackS CS Grand
    Amplitube3 - various custom shop amps
    Amplitube2
    Ampeg SVX
    Amplitube Jimi Hendrix
    Amplitube Metal
    Amplitube Fender
    Miroslav Philharmonic
    SampleTron
    SampleMoog
    SonikSynth2
Sonic Reality's Infinite Player - Powered by Kontakt
    Deluxe Acoustic Piano
    Ocean Way Drums & Drum Masters 2 Group Buy/Group Buy II
    Ocean Way Drums SE Vols 1,2 & 3
    Drum Masters Ludwig Jazz Kit
Steven Slate Drums 4.0 Platinum
    CLA Rock Drums
EZDrummer by Toontrack
    Nashville EZX
    DFH EZX
    Claustrophobic EZX
    Latin Percussion EZX
    Twisted EZX
    Vintage Rock EZX
    Funk Masters EZX
    Jazz EZX
    Metal Heads EZX
    The Classic EZX
    Metal Machine EZX
    Americana EZX
    Pop!  EZX
    Rock Solid EZX
Superior Drummer 2.x by Toontrack
    New York Studios Vol. 2 SDX
    The Metal Foundry SDX
    Custom & Vintage SDX
    Music City SDX
    Roots Vol1 & Vol2
    Evil Drums SDX by Platinum Samples
    Superior Drummer Producer Presets
      Steven Slate - Avatar
      Allan Morgan - Avatar
      Allan Morgan II - Avatar
      Bulb - Avatar
      Allan Morgan - Music City
      Mitch Allen - Music City
      Andy Sneap - Metal Foundry
      Chris Pittman - Classic & Vintage
      Peter Henderson - Classic & Vintage
      Miles McPhearson - Classic & Vintage
      Chris Pittman - NY Vol 2
      Charles Feelgood - NY Vol 2
BFD2 by Fxpansion
    Jex Expansion Pack
    Rock Legends Quick Kit by Platinum Samples
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Pack Vol. 1
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Pack Vol. 2
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Z-Pack
BFD Eco 1.5 by Fxpansion
Addictive Drums by XLN
    Retro Expansion Pack
    Jazz Bushes
    Jazz Sticks
    Funk
    Reel Machines
    Metal
    Indie
Addictive Keys by XLN
    Grand
    Upright
    Mark I
Jamstix 3XL
    Bonzo Pak
    Metal Pack
    AIPack
    Jamcussion
Platinum Samples
   Neil Peart Drums
   Bobby Jarzombek Metal MIDI Pack
   Brooks Wackerman MIDI Pack
Purrfect Drums 2 - Jet City 1.1
Andy Johns Kit for Session Drummer 3 (Platinum Samples)
Drumagog Platinum
    Invictus Metal Essentials Packs 1 - 5
    Drive Drums by MoReVoX
    Parallel Drums by MoReVoX
    Slate 3.5 "gog"  files
Steven Slate Trigger
MIDI Packs by Toontrack
    MIDI Pack Vol 1
    MIDI Pack Vol 2 - Odd Meters
    MIDI Pack Vol 3 - Fills
    MIDI Library of the Extreme
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack 2
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack 3
    MIDI Pack  - Drum Riffs
ToonTrack EZMix
    Core Expansion Pack
    Chuck Ainly Pack
    Metal Pack
    Metal Essentials Pack
    Metal Guitar Gods Pack
    Modern Pop/Rock Pack
    Rock Pack
    Alternative Rock Pack
    Songwriters Tool Pack
    Dirt Pack
    Randy Staub Pack
ToonTrack EZKeys
    Pop/Rock Pack
    Gospel Pack
    Jazz
    Blues
    Counry 
DrumTracker by Toontrack
Applied Acoustics Systems
    Strum Acoustic Session
    Strum  Electric GS-1
    String Studio
    Cinemetique
True Pianos 1.4 (full version)
Spitfire Audio
    Orchestral Grand Piano
Ivory II
    Grand Pianos
    Italian Grand
MusicLabs
    RealStrat
    RealGuitar
    RealLPC
Schuffman S-Gear V2.1
Acme Bar Gig - Head Case
Overloud TH2 - full version
Golden ASET synth
Synthaway Percussion Kit
Melodyne Singletrack Editor (V2.x)
Jeroen Breebaart
    Isone Pro
    Smash Pro
    Red Phatt Pro
NuGen Audio
    Stereoizer 3
    Mono Filter 4
    Stereo Placer
Izotope
    Ozone 5
    Alloy 2
    Nectar
    Complete RX 2
Voxengo
    Elephant
    Voxformer
    Drumformer
    Soniformer
    AcuDrums
Camelware Plugins
    Camel Space
    Camel Phat
    Camel Crusher
Stillwell Plugins
    1973
    Vibe-EQ
PSP Plugins
    Entire PSP Suite (30 plug-ins)
Steven Slate Digital
    FG-X Virtual Mastering Plug-In
    VCC - Virtual Console Collection
    VTM - Virtual Tape Machines
Nomad Factory
    Integral Studio Pack III (51 plug-ins)
FabFilter
    Pro Bundle( Pro-L, Pro-Q, Pro-C, Pro-G)
    Saturn
ValhallaDSP
    Valhalla Room
    Valhalla UberMod
D.C. Vibes Series
   V.I.P. Bundle (26 plugs)
Flux
   Trax
Sonimus
   Satson Channel
   Satson Bus
Softube
   TSAR-1R Reverb
WAVES Mercury Native (V9) & SSL 4000 Native Bundle
    Mercury & SSL400 contains 135 unique plug-ins
UAD Plugins
    Mix Essentials (1176SE, CS-1, Real-Verb, Pultec EQP-1A)
    Neve Classic Console Bundle MKII (1073 EQ, 1081 EQ, 33609 Compressor, 88RS Channel Strip)
    VCA-VU
   1176LN  
    Fairchild 670
    LA-2A
    LA-3A
    EMT Plate 140 MKII
    Pultec Pro EQ
    Cambridge EQ
    Helios EQ
    Presicion Matering Bundle (Multiband, EQ, Limiter)
    Precision Buss Compressor
    Precision Enhancer kHz
    Precision Enhancer Hz
    DreamVerb
    Precision De-Esser
    Precision Maximizer
    Roland Bundle (CE-1, Dimension-D, RE-201)
    Moog Filter
    Transient Designer
    Little Labs IBP
    Harrison 32 EQ
    Cooper Time Cube
    SSL G Series Compressor
    SSL E Series Channel Strip
    Fatso Sr/Jr
    EMT 250 Reverb
    Manley Massive Passive EQ
    Trident A-Range Classic Console EQ
    Neve 31102/31002S Classic Console EQ
    EP-34 Tape Echo
    Studer A800
    LittleLabs VOG (Voice of God)
    1176 Classic Limiter Collection
Antares AVOX Evo Vocal Toolkit
Har-Bal 3.0
Frank's MIDI Plugins
My Music Composition Software
JammerPro 6 Standalone
    JammerPro 6 PlugIn
Band In A Box Everything Pack (2013)
MasterWriter 2.0

bapu
The guys above have the right of it. Dave and Mike that is.
 
Now that I've hit the practical limit of SONAR (and I have deleted a slew of mono plugs to accommodate that limit) and that my original plan "to be compatible" I do realize that I should have been more prudent in my selection. But alas, I own a bricksh!teHouze of VSTs and yes, I may never use them all in two lifetimes.
 
If the OP really cares.... here is my list that is missing a couple of later libraries
 
My DAW Software
The SONAH X2a Producer
Reaper 4 (Non-Commercial Use License)
Presonus Studio One 2.5 Pro
Wavelab 7
Soundforge Pro 10
CD Architect 5.2
TT Dynamic Range Meter 1.4
Sonnox Oxford Fraunhofer Pro-Codec
East West
      Complete Composers Collection
              Symphonic Orchestra Gold
              Symphonic Choirs
              Voices Of Passion
              Gypsy
              Ra
              Goliath
              Ministry Of Rock
              Fab Four
Native Instruments
      Komplete 8 Ultimate
      '57 Drawbar Organ
      North India
      The Giant
      Session Horns
      Action Strings
      Abbey Road Vintage Drums
Kirk Hunter - Powered by Kontakt
      Pop/Rock Strings
      Concert Strings II
      Concert Brass II
      Diamond
Soundiron
      Twine Bass
      Mars (Male) Choir
      Venus (Female) Choir
Waves Factory
      Old Tape Piano
      Tea Towel Drums
      Power Guitars Direct
      Strum GTR
      Strum Guitar (Acoustic) Vol. II
      Acoustic Pick
      Acoustic 12 String Pick
      Uke Strum
      Uke Finger
      W-Tympani
      W-Music Box
      Track Spacer
Elvayta Boys
      Space Boy
Orange Tree Samples
      Tiny Box
      Lap Steel
Hollow Sun
      MLM Bundle
      Vermona
      Vital Organs
      Tubiltizer
SampleTank 2.5 XL - by IK Multimedia
    Rare and Vintage Collection
    Squids Tron Collection
    Sonic Capsules Guitar Collection
    Sonic Capsules Symphonic Collection
    Expansion Tank - Guitar, Bass & Acoustic Drums
    Re-Tank Loops (4000 loops)
IK Multimedia - effects and samplers
    ARC 2
    T-RackS CS Grand
    Amplitube3 - various custom shop amps
    Amplitube2
    Ampeg SVX
    Amplitube Jimi Hendrix
    Amplitube Metal
    Amplitube Fender
    Miroslav Philharmonic
    SampleTron
    SampleMoog
    SonikSynth2
Sonic Reality's Infinite Player - Powered by Kontakt
    Deluxe Acoustic Piano
    Ocean Way Drums & Drum Masters 2 Group Buy/Group Buy II
    Ocean Way Drums SE Vols 1,2 & 3
    Drum Masters Ludwig Jazz Kit
Steven Slate Drums 4.0 Platinum
    CLA Rock Drums
EZDrummer by Toontrack
    Nashville EZX
    DFH EZX
    Claustrophobic EZX
    Latin Percussion EZX
    Twisted EZX
    Vintage Rock EZX
    Funk Masters EZX
    Jazz EZX
    Metal Heads EZX
    The Classic EZX
    Metal Machine EZX
    Americana EZX
    Pop!  EZX
    Rock Solid EZX
Superior Drummer 2.x by Toontrack
    New York Studios Vol. 2 SDX
    The Metal Foundry SDX
    Custom & Vintage SDX
    Music City SDX
    Roots Vol1 & Vol2
    Evil Drums SDX by Platinum Samples
    Superior Drummer Producer Presets
      Steven Slate - Avatar
      Allan Morgan - Avatar
      Allan Morgan II - Avatar
      Bulb - Avatar
      Allan Morgan - Music City
      Mitch Allen - Music City
      Andy Sneap - Metal Foundry
      Chris Pittman - Classic & Vintage
      Peter Henderson - Classic & Vintage
      Miles McPhearson - Classic & Vintage
      Chris Pittman - NY Vol 2
      Charles Feelgood - NY Vol 2
BFD2 by Fxpansion
    Jex Expansion Pack
    Rock Legends Quick Kit by Platinum Samples
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Pack Vol. 1
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Pack Vol. 2
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Z-Pack
BFD Eco 1.5 by Fxpansion
Addictive Drums by XLN
    Retro Expansion Pack
    Jazz Bushes
    Jazz Sticks
    Funk
    Reel Machines
    Metal
    Indie
Addictive Keys by XLN
    Grand
    Upright
    Mark I
Jamstix 3XL
    Bonzo Pak
    Metal Pack
    AIPack
    Jamcussion
Platinum Samples
   Neil Peart Drums
   Bobby Jarzombek Metal MIDI Pack
   Brooks Wackerman MIDI Pack
Purrfect Drums 2 - Jet City 1.1
Andy Johns Kit for Session Drummer 3 (Platinum Samples)
Drumagog Platinum
    Invictus Metal Essentials Packs 1 - 5
    Drive Drums by MoReVoX
    Parallel Drums by MoReVoX
    Slate 3.5 "gog"  files
Steven Slate Trigger
MIDI Packs by Toontrack
    MIDI Pack Vol 1
    MIDI Pack Vol 2 - Odd Meters
    MIDI Pack Vol 3 - Fills
    MIDI Library of the Extreme
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack 2
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack 3
    MIDI Pack  - Drum Riffs
ToonTrack EZMix
    Core Expansion Pack
    Chuck Ainly Pack
    Metal Pack
    Metal Essentials Pack
    Metal Guitar Gods Pack
    Modern Pop/Rock Pack
    Rock Pack
    Alternative Rock Pack
    Songwriters Tool Pack
    Dirt Pack
    Randy Staub Pack
ToonTrack EZKeys
    Pop/Rock Pack
    Gospel Pack
    Jazz
    Blues
    Counry 
DrumTracker by Toontrack
Applied Acoustics Systems
    Strum Acoustic Session
    Strum  Electric GS-1
    String Studio
    Cinemetique
True Pianos 1.4 (full version)
Spitfire Audio
    Orchestral Grand Piano
Ivory II
    Grand Pianos
    Italian Grand
MusicLabs
    RealStrat
    RealGuitar
    RealLPC
Schuffman S-Gear V2.1
Acme Bar Gig - Head Case
Overloud TH2 - full version
Golden ASET synth
Synthaway Percussion Kit
Melodyne Singletrack Editor (V2.x)
Jeroen Breebaart
    Isone Pro
    Smash Pro
    Red Phatt Pro
NuGen Audio
    Stereoizer 3
    Mono Filter 4
    Stereo Placer
Izotope
    Ozone 5
    Alloy 2
    Nectar
    Complete RX 2
Voxengo
    Elephant
    Voxformer
    Drumformer
    Soniformer
    AcuDrums
Camelware Plugins
    Camel Space
    Camel Phat
    Camel Crusher
Stillwell Plugins
    1973
    Vibe-EQ
PSP Plugins
    Entire PSP Suite (30 plug-ins)
Steven Slate Digital
    FG-X Virtual Mastering Plug-In
    VCC - Virtual Console Collection
    VTM - Virtual Tape Machines
Nomad Factory
    Integral Studio Pack III (51 plug-ins)
FabFilter
    Pro Bundle( Pro-L, Pro-Q, Pro-C, Pro-G)
    Saturn
ValhallaDSP
    Valhalla Room
    Valhalla UberMod
D.C. Vibes Series
   V.I.P. Bundle (26 plugs)
Flux
   Trax
Sonimus
   Satson Channel
   Satson Bus
Softube
   TSAR-1R Reverb
WAVES Mercury Native (V9) & SSL 4000 Native Bundle
    Mercury & SSL400 contains 135 unique plug-ins
UAD Plugins
    Mix Essentials (1176SE, CS-1, Real-Verb, Pultec EQP-1A)
    Neve Classic Console Bundle MKII (1073 EQ, 1081 EQ, 33609 Compressor, 88RS Channel Strip)
    VCA-VU
   1176LN  
    Fairchild 670
    LA-2A
    LA-3A
    EMT Plate 140 MKII
    Pultec Pro EQ
    Cambridge EQ
    Helios EQ
    Presicion Matering Bundle (Multiband, EQ, Limiter)
    Precision Buss Compressor
    Precision Enhancer kHz
    Precision Enhancer Hz
    DreamVerb
    Precision De-Esser
    Precision Maximizer
    Roland Bundle (CE-1, Dimension-D, RE-201)
    Moog Filter
    Transient Designer
    Little Labs IBP
    Harrison 32 EQ
    Cooper Time Cube
    SSL G Series Compressor
    SSL E Series Channel Strip
    Fatso Sr/Jr
    EMT 250 Reverb
    Manley Massive Passive EQ
    Trident A-Range Classic Console EQ
    Neve 31102/31002S Classic Console EQ
    EP-34 Tape Echo
    Studer A800
    LittleLabs VOG (Voice of God)
    1176 Classic Limiter Collection
Antares AVOX Evo Vocal Toolkit
Har-Bal 3.0
Frank's MIDI Plugins
My Music Composition Software
JammerPro 6 Standalone
    JammerPro 6 PlugIn
Band In A Box Everything Pack (2013)
MasterWriter 2.0

 
 Pfft...........
 
I don't see no NagBap Pro 65bit in there.
 
That's all I needs in me FX Bing.
 
 

 
And you might have listed 'em all in alphabetical order Baps...
 
Like I did

SteveStrummerUK
 
And you might have listed 'em all in alphabetical order Baps...
 
Like I did

Alphabetically loses it's WOW factor, IMHO.
 
YMMV

Is it bad to envy the bapu?
 
If it's not I just may.
 
:-)

bapu

SteveStrummerUK
 
And you might have listed 'em all in alphabetical order Baps...
 
Like I did

Alphabetically loses it's WOW factor, IMHO.
 
YMMV

Well done.