If you're like me, free VSTs and samples are your bread and butter. Over the years, various programmers have made numerous contributions to the pool of available plug-ins. Some are great and become accepted as classics, others are not so great and are cast off into the dustbin of software history.
Here is a short list of 10 of my favorite VSTs in no particular order.
1. MDA Plug-ins
VARIETY PACK
http://mda.smartelectronix.com/
If you don't have these, just go download them now. I'll wait. These come in a pack and include some gems that find their way into almost all of my projects, despite their lack of GUIs. Spanning the gamut from distortion, modulation, synthesis and dynamics, these are an essential grab.
2. Digitalfishphones Dominion
TRANSIENT SHAPER
http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem=4
This one does not get a lot of love when the topic of VSTs comes up. However, it is one of my favorites. Although there are a lot of transient-shaping plug-ins out there, I keep coming back to Dominion when I want to add some punch to a drum track. It never fails to add a real wallop to snares and kick drums.
3. Buzzroom Buzcomp free series
COMPRESSORS
http://www.x-buz.com/BuzCompFree.html
If you're looking for some clean, transparent, good-looking compressors, look no more. I find that these tools end up being cleaner and simpler to use than most any other set of compressors out there.
4. LPGEQ2
GRAPHIC EQ
http://kuro.nengu.jp/tools_c3_lpgeq2.htm
Also known as Linear Phase Graphic EQ 2, this is from a Japanese developer that I know nothing about. However, I do know that it gives you some pretty detailed and extreme control over your frequencies. Where else can you get a 31-band EQ with a -96db cut? While it may sound weird when you push it to the limit, it's suprisingly useful as an effect.
5. Kjaerhaus Classic Chorus
CHORUS
http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-chorus.php
While the other Kjaerhaus Classic Series plug-ins are fully competent and nice-sounding, to me, the Chorus stands out as a really great execution of an everyday effect. It's good for adding extreme chorus effects, or merely adding a little shimmer to hi-hats. Pretty much every developer has their own execution of chorus, flange and phase. Your DAW probably has at least one. But this one, for whatever reason, just sounds better to me. Go figure.
6. Smartelectronix Ambience by Magnus
REVERB
http://magnus.smartelectronix.com/#effects
A rare reverb than handles both small and large-sounding settings well. It's not based on convolution, and it sounds much more realistic to me than any other free reverb I've heard. Freeverb-based plug-ins lie down and weep in front of Ambience. While technically it is donationware or nagware, I use it a lot and intend to send them my $35 someday. A touch of this VST will add a nice, vibrant, realistic quality to drums or synths, while a big dollop will give you a huge, ambient sound. The only downside is that it eats CPU like candy. Thankfully, there is a "Quality/CPU" knob that lets you cut way down on the resource-hogging until you're ready to render.
7. George Yohng's W1 Limiter VST
LIMITER
http://www.yohng.com/w1limit.html
Now, this is a very small plug-in and the creator's sense of modesty is not impressive. However, I have tried it and the sound it produces should not raise any complaints. Definitely worth having on hand to beef up your mix. No GUI, just a simple maximizer that delivers good, loud results. Also, he claims that it nearly exactly replicates the famed (and expensive) Waves L1 compressor. I haven't tested that claim, but if it even comes close, it's well worth the price.
8. Synth 1 by Daichi
SYNTH
http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/softsynth/
Another entry from the land of Godzilla. Synth1 is a VST that everyone agrees on. It simply sounds awesome and is fairly easy to use. If you engage the LFOs and maybe the unison, you'll be getting fat, interesting sounds from this thing in no time. Capable of smooth pads and strings, as well as balls-to-the-wall, ripping bass and leads. Overall, this VST puts many commercial entries to shame when you consider it's range, usability and quality sound.
9. Green Oak Crystal
SYNTH
http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/
Although I tend to seek out VST effects more than synths, Crystal can't be ignored on most any top VST list. Another perennial favorite, Crystal puts an impressive array of features in front of you, for the price of on-the-house. While it's a bit unwieldy for everyday synth parts, it's the go-to tool for evolving textures, spooky pads, or just plain weird effects. It's definitely not easy to program, but if you put some time into it, you'll have some really great sounds on your hands.
10. Land of Cockaigne Oberon
SYNTH
http://www.funkelectric.com/~cockaigne/
Now, I hear what you're saying. "Why would you bother including a dime-a-dozen Synthedit VA synth? You can't GIVE those away!" And you're right. But Oberon is different, because it actually sounds good. Now, it may not be perfect, and it may be limited in use. But as far as free synths go, it's great for getting a warm, analog sound. I can't explain it either, but Land of Cockaigne has managed to put together a very solid-sounding VA synth here. Any VST that includes a preset that is a dead ringer for the sound in Roygbiv by Boards of Canada is all right in my book.
There are a few others that didn't make the top 10, which I will spend a few seconds mentioning here for the curious:
Dblue Glitch: This is a great, great plug-in if you want glitch sounds. I didn't bother mentioning it here, because everyone else will if you ask them about their favorite plugs.
AddSubZynFX : This plug-in sounds amazing. Truly, some amazing pad presets in this one. However, it's not really a true VST and is very cumbersome to use. If you don't mind using standalone synths, by all means check it out.
E-Phonic Retrodelay: This is a great plug-in - if you need a dub-delay effect, you're in business. I don't find myself using it a lot, but it's excellent for that purpose.
Basically anything by Stillwell Audio / Schwa: This is a really solid developer, delivering useful, musical and great-looking software for the masses. I didn't include anything by them on this list because it's all nagware with the explicit expectation that you pay for it if you end up using it. However, I highly recommend checking out VSTs like Olga or Major Tom - if only for the GUIs (although the sound is terrific.)