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Having gone from using mostly free music software for my productions, to a hefty, pro production rig, I thought it would be fun to write a guide focusing on the selection of free tools that I still make use of today. The result is my guide entitled "The Best Free Music Software", available at my music industry blog/resource SoundTempest. I was surprised when I went through my list of commonly-used plugins and apps and discovered a whole bunch of them didn't actually cost me anything!What are some essential music tools you guys use that didn't cost much (if anything)?

Here's where to find the Maestro Concert Grand, available in Giga and SF. (or can be converted to SF, if I'm not mistaken) Some other good free sampled instruments, too.http://sonimusicae.free.fr/accueil-en.htmlHere's a bunch of useful EQs, compressors and stuff:http://antress.myweb.hinet.net/Here's an overview and link to Bootsy's plug-ins, the Rescue Mid-side processor does some neat tricks, in particular, but they're all useful, IMO.http://rekkerd.org/bootsy-plug-ins/More good free plugs here, including Ferox and JB's Barricade brickwall limiter:http://www.jeroenbreebaart.com/

you can find a butt-load of free VSTs on the KVR Audio site. http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/index.phpAll of the non SONAR plugs I use were free. I started with Kristal Audio Engine and Audacity, and I've tried Wavosaur and Tiny Wave Editor--all perfectly usable. Moved on to SONAR and CEP because I fell into them and got used to them.

All the Kjaerhus stuff is essential - Classic Limiter, Classic EQ, Classic Compression...really good stuff.If you need a Fender Rhodes, look for MrRay73.A great clav sound is Ticky Clav.

Jan 11, 2009, 2:38pm, lyle wrote:All the Kjaerhus stuff is essential - Classic Limiter, Classic EQ, Classic Compression...really good stuff.If you need a Fender Rhodes, look for MrRay73.A great clav sound is Ticky Clav.Don't forget the Kjaerhus classic reverb and delay are pretty good too!I didn't see Ferox on the list. It's a pretty good warming/saturation plug.

Awesome thread gang. There's more than enough goodies here to learn with...in fact, it looks like I won't need to upgrade some of these great VST plugs (if it's good enough for the big dogs...), and by the time I figure out what fits my music, maybe UAD etc will have another sale.Sweet!Jan 12, 2009, 5:02am, billg wrote:I didn't see Ferox on the list. It's a pretty good warming/saturation plug. I found it in Mojo's last link, if it's the same plug from Jeroen Breebaart?Man that stuff loads fast...the dll files are tiny (but work real nice!).I spent most of last night messing with some of these apps, thanks everyone! Who says I need more than 4 hours sleep...thanks for that too everyone!

Here's another thumbs-up for the Kjaerhus stuff, especially the classic limiter.Bookmarking this thread.

Two good limitershttp://www.betabugsaudio.com/plugs.php W1 Limiterhttp://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/TLsPocketLimiter/ TLSReverbhttp://www.knufinke.de/sir/sir1.html

Yes! TLs Pocket Limiter is crazy, as is TLs Maximizer. I've updated the blog post with some new items, like the Kjaerhus plugs, as well as some other cool stuff like Proteus VX which I had forgotten about.http://soundtempest.net/the-best-free-music-software/

"All the Kjaerhus stuff is essential"Mark,I downloaded their free set about a year ago, but never loaded it. Hearing you say "really good stuff" may give me enough of a push to give it a shot.Thanks for the feedback!GB