You kinda, sorta can use the DAW Reaper for free which would qualify as "...overall audio work....".

 

What about using Audacity? It's free and comes with many utilities which are way beyond just basic junk. A stand-alone audio editor might be easiest to learn first. And it also has Paul's Extreme Stretch in the default install.

 

IronOxide to simulate an old tape, kinda like neold warble, but it doesnt sound harsh, just oldschool and colorful
Busscolors to simulate some flavours of analog equipment on busses
Tape and ToTape6 (i prefer Tape)
Channel9 sounded WAY better than NLS to me (VCC was the winner to me), on individual channels
Verbity (easy to dial bricasti like reverb)
Doublelay (doubler with delay, this is siiiiiiiiiiiiiick)
Texturize (Noise shaping)
Sillhouette (Noise shaping)
Pockey2 (AKAI simulation)
Capacitor2(HPF and LPF with saturation)
Interstage
Desk4
Tubedesk, Transdesk, Desk (just drop in any channel or buss and feel the majik)

Many others, but these are on my daily work. And of course, my secret weapon which i will not tell...

 

If your on Mac, I think Logic Pro has one of the best native plugins. You can do a decent mix in Logic Pro without any third party plugins. Studio One is another one though they probably don't count as free. Whatever DAW your using, start with their plugins first before you start looking elsewhere.

 

I suggested a simple audio editor for "general audio" work because a lot of people think of that as doing things like minor crossfade edits, 1 channel strip of plugins, maybe some restoration stuff. DART pro. just kidding

Or Soundforge or Wavelab. But those are not free. If someone did have Logic available to them, and ask this; that is an entirely different challenge.

 

Last edited: Nov 26, 2022

Yes, some time ago I installed free Kiloheartz plugins and they really surprized me. Basic but really good. Have to add that using their "snap-ins" system is not needed (IMHO, Snap Heap is the worst part of their free offer), their plugins work as usual, without any "host" plugin, as simple VSTs.