The Best of the Best Free Things

[Frippertronix]

I know, I know, not another Best Freeware thread. But I got the idea to start a thread about the freeware that, for all intents and purposes, is every bit as good as even the better (or even best) of the pay software. The real giants among the freebies. I don't have time to add links tonight, but if this thread doesn't get totally buried, I'll add them later. These are in no particular order.

NOTE: Anything music related goes here. Effects, Instruments, Utils, Hosts. But ONLY free, not donationware, since that is really sliding scale payware.

Also, this is time for the brutal cutoff. ONLY the things that really shine should go here, since there are many, many good free effects and synths out there. Here, the Best of the Best.

My (partial) list:

Lollapallooza Light subtractive synth
SIR convolution effect (this is borderline because the latency is high and it is somewhat glitchy in some hosts, but I include it because it is unique as a free convo effect, the sound quality is high, and it is extrememly useful when all the free impulses around the web are factored in)
Anwida DX Reverb Light
Room Machine reverb
ZynAddSub wave Synth
CH-1 chorus
PLPara EQ 1
Posihfopit eq
Voxengo Stereo Touch stereo enhancer
Comprimere saturator
NWEQ eq
Kjaerhus Classic Chorus
Galleoneer Multimodefilter Mk1
Superwave P8 subtractive synth
TbT Pocket Limiter
TbT Tls Maximizer
EVM Ultrasonique hybrid synth
ZR3 Hammond organ modeller
Simulanalog Suite modelled guitar amps and effects

[GW]

I think Synth 1 should be on this list.

[blue on blue]

Crystal will always get my vote in threads like this.

[RWA]

I suggest a groupbuy of anything free!

To get it over with.....once and for all.

[audiojunkie]

I like Nubi LE a LOT better than the ZR3.

[AndrewSimon]

In my opinion MrRay73 is the most amazing free plug,
well it's actually a donationware so do support this great developer.

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1658.html

[Morgaxx]

me tooo....I like them also...Is this annoying yet?

[Failed Muso]

MinimogueVA, Arppe2600VA, ReBirth, Audacity, SAVIHost, Delay Lama, daHornet & Ugo Motion.

That's just for starters

[Kriminal]

SEX and Karnage

[zeoy]

I think this depends on each one's musical preferences but if I had to choose one (or two or er... a few) for each of the following categories these would be my choices (CAUTION some of them are donationware):

VSTi's
------

1. Subtractive
Asynth, Polyblit, Synth 1

2. Mono bass machines
Taurus, TriangleII, Iblit

3. FM
Odo's Purple

4. Additive
???

5. Monsters
Foorius, Crystal, Protoplasm Free, Cygnus

6. PM
String theory

7. Samplers
SFZ, Short Circuit free

8. Organ, Electric piano
NubiLE, MrRay73

9. Drum Synths
Drumatic 3, ERS drums


VST effects
-----------

1. EQ
SpinEQ (CM magazinware), Nyquist EQ

2. Compressors, Limiters etc
The fish filets suite, W1 limiter

3. Chorus, Phaser etc
Kjaerhus Classic series, Monsta Chorus, Anti's phase 90, xhip effects suite, SpinBug

4. Delay
Bionic delay, retrodelay

5. Reverb
Ambience, Anwida DX, Glaceverb, SIR

6. Strange animals
LiveCut, SuppaTrigga, Minion, Kjaerhus Autofilter

7. Amp sims
Simulanalog GuitarSUite, Cortex , Saro

MIDI FX, utilities
StepChild/StepBeater,ndc plugs, humanisator

Check also MDA's suite, lots of useful or just weird stuff there.

Add some good soundfonts to feed SFZ (NSkit7free and GSCW drums are two good examples of excellent acoustic drums soundfonts) and you are more than ready to go.
A big thanx to all these great developers. Hope I didn't forget something crucial from my personal best-of-the-best list.

[bambooman]

Syntrax
*******

http://www.klaar.com/cms/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=49

PC-Version Win-OS: http://www.klaar.com/apps/syntrax.msi

Symbian-OS-version(S60): http://www.clickapps.com/download.htm?pvid=2056

Manual: http://www.klaar.com/apps/syntraxmanual.pdf

Summary :
The complete FREE audio studio for your mobile device. Make tracks on the move!


Description :
SYNTRAX FOR SERIES60 IS COMPLETELY FREE!!!

Please note that this free version contains all the exciting features the PocketPC and SymbianUIQ versions have.

So why is this version free?

- First of all as a celebration for the fact that the PocketPC version of Syntrax has been nominated as 'Best music composition software by PocketPC Magazine'.

- Secondly, because we are not actively supporting and developing the series60 version anymore. We feel that, although the program works as expected, the method of input (keys) and the small screensize of the series 60 is not optimal for Syntrax. This doesn't mean you can't work with it, on the contrary. With this version you can listen to songs created on all versions, and you can make your own songs!

Description:
Meet our flagship product Syntrax. It has all the modern musician wants when away from the studio! A sequencer, sound synthesis and sample editor all wrapped up in a nice little package!

Never again will you be bored in the train, never again will you whistle that tune and be not able to write it down. Mobile composing is here



Supported devices
# Nokia NGage, NGage-QD, 6600, 6620, 6630, 7610


Features:
# Upto 8 stereo audio channels simultaneously (previously only 6)
# Playback of samples with bi-directional looping support
# Realtime sound synthesis with 15 sound generation effects
# Realtime effects like filters, morphs and echoes
# A built in small sample editor
# A full featured sequencer
# Dynamic playback options (songspeed, groove, muting etc..)
# Realtime instrument parameter changing
# Tons of preset songs and sounds for you to start working with
# User adjustable sound quality for slower devices
# Great graphical user interface (knobs and dials)
# Fast mixing core. Optimized for small devices and limited resources.
# MIDI and Wav export functions (in the free PC version)
# Memory footprin

[Ja.x]

I use lot of the above. For basses also daHornet and Monolisa.

[Frippertronix]

Is the Syntrax spam a joke?

I forgot to add sfz also, and I'll add the new H.G. Fortune STS-21, which is quite amazing.

[bduffy]

All TbT Plugins, I tend to use the old ones a lot. Hard to think of any paid compressors that work as well:

Tube Limiter, Tls Maximizer, ToW Compressor, Grease Tube, PreAMP TGR-18.

BuzComp's old BuzVintageMaxi_beta2 and his free collection.

Devine Machine Minion

GVST Suite (free Autotune!)

ProjectX X-Amp

Smartelectronix Supaphaser - best phaser on the market, period.

Luxonix LFX-1310

...to name a few. These days, I'm reaching for freeware more often than payware, it seems!

[freeztar]

Crystal will always get my vote in threads like this.