I almost don't want to post this or draw attention to these two plugins so I can keep them as my secret recipe.
 
But holy cow, I feel guilty not letting my forum friends know that for about $100 you can have so much general purpose zing.
 
End of the prelude.
 
LFO Tool - from XFer Records.  $49.95.  Oh, my gosh.
Tantra - from this like unknown guy, Dmitri Sches.  $49.00 (that's an intro price, it was just released).
 
I've been using them both, separately and then also been using them together in one FX bin for even more fireworks.
 
I can take the blandest, totally sappy nothing 8 bars - and practically turn it into a hit song 8 bars - by just adding one or the other of these two, or combining them, or putting them on the master bus.
 
I mentioned 8 bars, obviously meaning these can be applied to any track or any length of measures, or any bus, or the whole song.  I've applied them to single tracks and then different instances to the master.  It all gets increasing interesting.
 
Wet/dry is available, so you can dial up or dial down how much of the goodness you want to lather on.
 
I've picked up plenty of plugins over the last several years.  These two are killer. Right at the top of the heap. For $100 combined?  Holy cow.
 
I give credit to where credit is due.  First, the guys that developed them of course. 
 
Then here on the forum, there were posts that led me to discover them.  Now that I've added them to my available tools on my system, I am amplifying and focusing those various threads to clarify what should be a brain dead choice for some.
 
Details and links below.  It's up to you to explore and look into them.  But if you have any interest in making your tracks snazzier, these at this value are a heck of a thing to consider.
 
You're welcome.
 
 
What you see in the demos and links below work as advertised.  I have them installed.  With even simple experimentation I'm off to the races. 
 
 
Thread about Cthulhu which led me to discover LFO Tool:
http://forum.cakewalk.com...-Cthulhu-m3203636.aspx

Demo 1 of LFO Tool (from Plugin Guru):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmAODZDe6ls

Demo 2 of LFO Tool (from MusicMarketingTV)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj3daxaA2mo

Xfer Records (maker of LFO Tool) page link to LFO Tool ($49.95)
http://www.xferrecords.com/products/lfo-tool



cclarry's tip off on Tantra a week or so ago, which led me to discover Tantra:
http://forum.cakewalk.com...-and-Win-m3209343.aspx

Link to Dmitri Sches' website, the Tantra page:
http://www.dmitrysches.com/tantra

Listen to the sound audio sample on the Tantra page. Applying Tantra to tracks is just about as instant gratification as listening to those samples.

LFOTool is pretty cool, I have had Serum for a while, which is excellent also, but that thread about Cthulhu (again awesome) introduced me to LFOTool, so I ended up getting Cthulhu, LFOTool and Nerve as well. Tantra certainly looks and sounds fun and interesting, and at that price, I just grabbed it after listening to the audio demo. Not really my thing the electronic stuff, but I have been dabbling a bit and trying to incorporate certain elements of it. If nothing else something fun, interesting and different for those down times. Good stuff. 

jih64
Tantra certainly looks and sounds fun and interesting, and at that price, I just grabbed it after listening to the audio demo. Not really my thing the electronic stuff, but I have been dabbling a bit and trying to incorporate certain elements of it.

Tantra has a Wet/Dry which is slick. You can use it like salt and pepper on where you're applying it.  So if you want just a dash of sparkle, you can set it near Dry.  If you want to add some sizzle, turn it a little more toward the Wet setting.  Yes, you will have fun with it.  I recommend when you first load it up just pick through a few presets. There are loads of them.  And you're off!
 

I almost grabbed LFO Tool when it was on sale and I really regret not doing it. When it goes back up on sale, I will certainly be grabbing it along with Cthulhu.
 
Tantra I saw earlier this past week and I wasn't convinced on first look but I might give it another.

Considering the power of these two to conveniently add special sauce to elements of songs, or to complete songs, for a total of just $100 they are a great value. That's part of my original post. There's lots of other tools out there, plenty which cost a lot more. These two provide a satisfying bang for the buck.

Even if you are writing acoustic folk songs these could potentially add some subtle, tasteful zing. Because you can simmer them down.

On the other hand, if you have some songs with some rhythm and a beat, these can be dialed in further to add some X factor. To add sparkle to various single tracks or to a bus etc.

Oh well, I'll stop saying it over again. But I will say to those that go for them, you'll be glad you did.

Oh, how I wish I wouldn't have found this thread! $$$$ later, I ended up getting Cthulhu, LFOTool and Nerve then had to get Tantra as well. Thanks for the tip, lawajava - now I'm spent (literally)!!

TD75

Oh, how I wish I wouldn't have found this thread! $$$$ later, I ended up getting Cthulhu, LFOTool and Nerve then had to get Tantra as well. Thanks for the tip, lawajava - now I'm spent (literally)!!

Make sure you grab the latest versions from the forum, I didn't with Nerve, and the one you get from the actual site, and I think the Email may direct you to is 32bit, when I realized that, I was a bit down, but then I remembered it said to get the latest versions from the forum, and there it was, 64bit, happy again.
 

lawajava
 
Oh well, I'll stop saying it over again. But I will say to those that go for them, you'll be glad you did.
 

 
+1 Yes indeed

I have used Dmitry's Diversion synth for a long time now - one of my favorite VSTi's - great synth and well worth a look.
Soon as Tantra came out I knew it would be good so purchased straight away - wow its superb and I am using it right now on a track I am writing for a special project.
Should also point out Dmitry's a cool guy - very helpful and responds to any queries quickly.
Nigel
 

My tight budget didn't keep me reigned in for long. After several times revisiting this thread and listening to the Tantra demos I caved.  LFO Tool may be a future purchase too, but Tantra is just something that fits me to a T.  I've been a rock and metal player since the 80s, but I've been experimenting more and more with electronic elements in my music for the past few years.  I love rhythmic patterns that accentuate the groove, so this will really come in handy.  Really like it so far.  Looking forward to seeing what kind of strange new rhythmic textures I can add to my experiments.