Does anyone use the TTS-1 with effects and audio processing to make the sounds bigger and/or imitate more expensive vsts?
 

I rarely use effects from within plugins, and instead use effects at the console level, such as using the effects that came with Sonar.  It just seems easier to work with effects at that level, instead of having to drill down into plugins.
 
Of course, some plugins may well have effects that are either super unique or super great, and in that case I might consider drilling into the plugin's UI to set up some effects from the
plugin. 
 
Bob Bone
 

I rarely use effects from within plugins, and instead use effects at the console level, such as using the effects that came with Sonar.  It just seems easier to work with effects at that level, instead of having to drill down into plugins.
 
Of course, some plugins may well have effects that are either super unique or super great, and in that case I might consider drilling into the plugin's UI to set up some effects from the
plugin. 
 
Bob Bone
 

Absolutely. The TTS-1 is a surprisingly capable synth, especially with the application of external effects.
 
For the first two years I had SONAR, I didn't own any drum samplers and used the TTS-1 for all my percussion. Delay, reverb, compression and transient shapers made that possible. When I pull up those old projects today, I'm often surprised by how good some of those drum and percussion tracks still sound. 
 
 

I love the Tuba on TTS1, it's the only one I use, because it has a sound closer to the trombone (most tubas sound like really low horns). But I have to use a compressor the (Sonitus) to jack it up. Occasionally I use the flutes, and also strings, esp. for really high and low stuff. I agree, it's a great little synth, one of many nice surprises you get in Sonar.

I do ALL the time... The majority of my projects use the piano or percussion or SOMETHING from TTS1. I think I get *decent* sounds, nothing amazing but nothing I dislike ever. I usually use reverb on it (instead on the built-in... those fx are difficult to use for some reason)
I do make judicious use of SI Strings and e piano. The strings (with envelopes) can be used to create some AMAZING sounds (I'll be posting some work this upcoming week which I done with it).