Hmm..  well the stuff I use most is:


Z3TA+ 2 
Rapture (full version + extra's)
Dimension pro
Pentagon (yep still nice)
Studio Instruments
Sound Center
PSYN II (still has some nice dirty sounds)
Padshop Pro
Retrolouge
BFD2
DCAM Synth Squad
SonikSynth 2
FM8
Tassman 4
TruePianos (not very often).


And for the free stuff: 


Alchemy Player
Proteus VX (+ extra sound bank CD's)
Sampletank Free (+ sound banks gotten with SonikSynth deal)
Independence Free
Komplete 7+8 players
Skanner
Microprism


Plus a few free (a bit lesser and/or exotic) synths like: 

LaserBlade and ProtoPlasm (the full version is free now)
Artphase
DSK Analog Matrix
MrRay22
etc., etc.

I try out a lot of free stuff on my test system. Sometimes there is good stuff and sometimes it is bad (or boring). Sometimes things make it to my main system, but most times not..

synkrotron


Interesting... I can see that three of us, at least, are using one, or both of the A|A|S Strum VSTs. I would be interested to hear how you guys feel about using them. Perhaps I should start a separate post in one of the other non-Cakewalk forums...


p.s. xabiton - the ink in your signature doesn't appear to work

thanks or catching that. Its fixed now. As for the Strum vsts I like them. I am not a guitar player so for me these work wonderfully. 

Geez, this question again.  But, in order of what I use most:

Alchemy
Rapture
Kontakt
Z3TA 1 now 2
DimPro
Komplexer
Ironhead

and a random selection of others.

xabiton

thanks or catching that. Its fixed now. As for the Strum vsts I like them. I am not a guitar player so for me these work wonderfully.  

No probs man... I'm always checking links here and there. And I just spotted that I typed "ink" and I really must get that "L" key fixed on my laptop haha.

John


Its not how many you have its what you use.  At least that is what the title asks.

 


true enough, which means I really need to start using them there synths and stuff...

John


Its not how many you have its what you use.  At least that is what the title asks.

I have a lot more that I don't use. 

Or have not used yet.

I have both Rapture and Z3TA 2 but have not employed them yet.

I can't speak for everyone else but I use everything I have mentioned for a variety of Reasons. I noticed a lot of people are naming fx too I left mine out since i thought this was about virtual instruments. My list might be pretty bare if was about mixing plugs as I mainly use T Racks deluxe for mixing. 

RealGuitar, RealStrat, RealLPC, Ivory II Grands, Melodyne Assistant, Vienna Symphonic Library, EastWest Hollywood Strings, EastWest Fab Four, Vir2 Acoustic Legends HD, Vir2 Electr6ty, Guitar Rig 4 Pro.  I also have AAS Strum Acoustic Sessions but I never use it.

I also use the Fantom synthesizer that came built into the V-Studio 700.  It is harware but is used as a plug-in.

I don't know if you want to count these but I use several of the things packaged with X1 Producer: Session Drummer 3, SI-Electric Piano, and SI-Bass.  I have looked at Dimension Pro but have not needed it so far. 

I have WaveLore's steel guitar for Kontakt but haven't had a chance to get into it.  I have used external synths for this sound so far.
 
EDIT: Just realized you asked for recommendations: Out of all this, I could not live without Ivory or RealGuitar.
 
For orchestra, Vienna is way more efficient and easier to use than Hollywood (plus it has the whole orchestra) but since VSL no longer sells the same special edition  packages as before, I am not sure what it would cost to get everything you need.

My Entire Collection is listed 

HERE
I just can't be arsed to type it all over.

I have to steer clear of recommendations as I own just enough to be confused over what is better than anything else. But I guess I can say that I pretty much go to Ivory these days if I'm looking for a piano.

For anything?

yorolpal


For anything?

Assuming you meant me, ya.... so far. But I don't use a lot of piano just now.