anyways, this has been a nice conversation, I hope someone will stumble upon it and learn a couple tricks and gear/software reccommendations.
I'll emphasize once more the freebies:
MJUC jr compressor (full version is $30ish and drm-free)
VCV Rack eurorack simulator (standalone)
Valhalla Supermassive reverb/delay (also space modulator, freq echo)
Saturation Knob (DRM on a free plugin? dear god Softube, whyyyy)