I'm taking the same attitude, Nigel. Even if there ultimately aren't any keepers in the collection, I'm still going to test as many as I can and vote. After all, these represent a huge amount of effort on the part of the developers, and there are prizes to be awarded.

Has anyone found anything useful? The Bootsy and Vladg plugs are pretty good, but nothing I can't live without. Maxwell Smart limiter seems to distort easily. I'm not interested in any of the sample libraries... I do appreciate the effort though. I have, use, and will keep many plugins from Bootsy and Vladg.

OK, so I think I have finished my evaluations and here are my thoughts:-

1) AXP Softamp - installed OK and seems not too bad but nothing special I didn't feel
2) Bootsie Thrillseeker - installed fine, seemed the most professionally put together of all the ones I tried, effect seems OK if not stunning
3) BPB Commodore Synth - installed fine (Kontakt) and I though was very realistic - definitely a keeper
4) Space 360 - installed Ok and worked OK but I couldn't quite work out what exactly this was supposed to be doing what you couldn't do with a reverb
5) Azurite - installed OK but crashed my system every time I tried to load
6) Freqshifter loaded Ok but not that keen on what it says it does
7) Agr max - could not get it to load
8) Cupwise - could not get it to load
9) Minimal systems delay - installed OK - this has delays on different frequencies and whilst it sort of worked Ok (except the meters that seem somewhat erratic) this has some potential but needs more development I feel - if developed more could be interesting
10) Automathico - could not get it to load
11) Vintager Toy - loaded OK but was not terrible impressed
12) Fushion Delay - loaded OK but seemed a bit unstable and did not like the effect
13) Vladg Sound Proximity - loaded Ok but didn't seem to work very well

So done my bit I feel, shall go and vote now
Nigel

Sleepy-time records may win this thing. Transient is very good.

I didn't try that one - sods law I suppose - I will download it and give it a try

Just downloaded and tried sleepy times Transient - actually pretty impressed - just trying a few A/B's with my UAD SPL Transient whatever - first impression is very positive indeed.

Bajan Blue


Just downloaded and tried sleepy times Transient - actually pretty impressed - just trying a few A/B's with my UAD SPL Transient whatever - first impression is very positive indeed.

checkout his mono/ stereo channel too- 
http://sleepytimerecords.com/audioplugins

I downloaded and installed a few of these plugins but I have only tried using one of them so far - Azurite.  It seemed pretty good at first so I made use of it in an existing project.  But when I later re-opened the project, the plugin's GUI window was blank.  Apparently it was still audibly working, but I could not make any adjustments to the settings without the GUI's controls.  It sounded more or less ok so I bounced the audio and removed the plugin.  I guess that I won't be using Azurite again and I feel disinclined to try any of the others now.

I'm liking a few now. The PTEq-1a by ignite amps is very good. Proximity by Vladg sound/ Tokyo Dawn Labs has a lot of potential. Bootsie's Thrillseeker XTC will be a keeper. The Maxwell Smart limiter is pretty good if you need to do minor gain reduction. I wouldn't use it on the master buss. I haven't tried them all.

And the winner is ...
 
http://www.kvraudio.com/news/kvr-developer-challenge-2012---the-winner-is-20871
 
No surprises:  Bootsy's ThrillseekerXTC exciter plugin was the clear victor, with Vladg's Proximity in second place overall.  Congrats to two of the best freeware devs out there!
 
Cheers,
Eddie