Dear audio software makers...

...stop living in the past. This is the Sony Oxford EQ, widely considered one of the best EQ plugins:

...and this is Tracktion's built-in EQ:

They're both extremely similar in both function, and the amount of control they offer, but the second works like a real computer program (drag and swoosh the circles around til it sounds as you wish), while the first, 'pro' offering has a pile of twaddly little knobs as if keyboards and mice were never invented. Crossing fingers that one day, VST makers will realise that they're designing GUIs, not rack units

Free VSTs that aren't shite

I use Tracktion 2 for all my recording needs. It came free with my soundcard, and is a joy to use. The built in EQ is pretty good, and very intuitive. The MDA plugins included, however, leave a lot to be desired. For those of you interested in this sort of thing (hi Andy), I present to you my list of usable free VST plugins to get you started:

• Steroid Bouncer - processing for stereo tracks that aren't really stereo, i.e. bass direct and mic'd amp
• Cyanide - simple sigmoid type distortion
• endorphin - excellent dual band compressor, intuitive controls, good for heavy squashing
• Bionic Delay - nice dub type delay - make left and right delay times different and you can get nice Haas effect placement
• newB - bass enhancer, can be good if used subtly
• Freeverb - the daddy of free reverbs. Only really has one sound (medium room) but it's a good one
• Ambience - good reverb for when you want an obvious effect
• SIR - impulse reverb. Get impluses here and here.
• Tapeworm - Mellotron VST. Nice flutes