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Introduction

Nothing beats free in my book. Here is a list of good to great free VST plugins (instruments, effects, amps), recording software, and you name it....

Almost Free Instruments

The following are almost free:

Free Instruments

Free Patches and Patch Banks

Effect and Amp Simulation Plugins

The following are free (not demo) effect and amp plugins:

Software - Recording - Sequencing

How to Use VST and DXi Plugins

In case you don't know how to use VST/DXi Plugins:

The synth instruments and effects listed above are all VST plugins; implementation varies somewhat based on your recording application.

In Tracktion 2 and Pro Tracks (Sonar 2), I assign the synth to a track. I may assign the same synth to more than one track, or multiple synths to multiple tracks (never more than one synth per track however).

I can record a lead line in Midi and copy it to multiple tracks/synths with different synth preset assignments to create an orchestra of sounds.

You can even download a midi (there are millions available for free) and import it into the your recording app, assign a synth, and you're good to go. However, most midis have multiple tracks so when you import them, you need to sort and delete tracks as necessary.

But for instance, if you like Van Halen's Jump synth parts, just download the midi (I think I have 10-12 versions), import it in to your application, assign synths (Eddie used an Oberhiem OBxa) with some double saw or brass presets and you're on your way. (May want to remove the drum tracks, guitar tracks, etc.).

I play keyboards (poorly), but alot of guitar players don't, yet they have learned how to do what I am describing here and get some pretty cool synth sounds for little effort.

VST plug in synths (and effects/amps) are very powerful and easy to use tools, and as you can see, many of them are free or close to free.