I feel ya mate. What specifically are you looking for? I've tried quite a bit of what's on the front page at the free plugins link posted above and some of it's ok, some of it not so much. My new rule is that if it makes cubase crash and doesn't make me slobber on my keyboard then it's history.

I did like this:

Kuassa Amplifikation Lite is a "lite" version of the forthcoming Kuassa Amplifikation Custom Tube Amplification Software for real-time guitar processing.


Liteweight, simple and sounds decent. I deleted the rest of the various free amp models from the same guy.

I also really like 'Ocet' but it might not be your cup of tea.

I hated the "juno-6" synth which, to my ears, sounds nothing like the Juno6. In fact, IMNSHO, only Arturia has come close to the Roland pre-SVF poly filter sound.

There you go, opinion on three free VSTs and one commercial one (well, two, Jupiter 8v/Analog Factory).

Thanks!
I'm interested in every kind. That's why I didn't specify. I'm curious what comes to people's mind first, when they are asked to name some freeware things.

The Waldorf Largo synth gives you a 30 day trial. I just tried it last night.
I wasn't impressed with the presets, but some tweaking did produce good results.
The best demo by far is Zebra.
It goes for 10 minutes, then just reload it.
It lets you load and save presets.
It is a great synth, and also has a special discount offer price.

Oh freeware synth? Crystal, Triple Cheese.

Yes, I already used up Largo's and Rob Papen's 30 day trial once...
Will make some e-mails for these e-licenser demo things:D

Check these two articles written by me. I still need to write part III but I believe that these synths are one of the best freeware synths available...

http://www.vstcafe.com/2009/10/best-free-virtual-s ynths-part-i.html
http://www.vstcafe.com/2009/10/best-free-virtual-s ynths-part-ii.html

Automat. You can draw your own LFOs. Good times. The UI is pretty plain jane, but she's got it where it counts, kid.

Kvr condensed version

Music systems by H.G. Fortune
http://www.hgf-synthesizer.de/

Loser VST Plug-In Bundle
http://loser.asseca.com/

Sweet78 eq
http://www.kvraudio.com/developer_challenge_2006.p hp

Slim Slow Slider Side Chain Compressor
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1315.html

tRaP vst drums
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/340.html

whiteLABEL Twin Engined Verb (TEV)
http://www.kvraudio.com/developer_challenge_2009.p hp#dc09_17

AcmeBarGig LSHS Corrective EQ
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/4111.html

Aradaz Our Cabinet Simulator
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/3381.html

It's really not an impossibly vague question. Here are a few basic surefire VST's, all free and unlimited:

Instruments:
Kore Player
Synth1 - solid free synth with tons of user presets on the internet to help you get started
Proteus VX - it's a pain to use, but so many free sounds it must be mentioned.
shortcircuit - it's a sampler, it won't play anything by itself, you'll need to load some samples into it. If you don't have a sampler, most likely you'll eventually need one. This is the best freebie IMO.

Effects: there are endless types, but everyone needs EQ, reverb, and compression.
DDMF's IIEQ - easy to understand EQ
BootEQ MKII - coloring EQ
EpicVerb - excellent free reverb
Ambience - another free reverb, lots of presets to help you out
Kjaerhus Audio Classic Compressor - freebie compressor
Density MKII - another free compressor