Sometime you just need a plain good old sampler VST plugin for your tracks :
just load a .wav sample, tweak some envelope, maybe adjust pitch, and add some loop points. No more no less.
You don’t need the bells & whistles of Kontakt, nor gigabytes of library => just load some samples and come on !

So here’s a selection of 6 FREEWARE sampler in VST format:

1. TX16Wx VST

This is a free sketching tool, created for songwriting/demo recording, so it does not include multiple articulations or round robin samples. It is not supposed to be an alternative to big, professional sampled instruments and libraries. Windows 32bit/64bit VST.

Live 7 has an improvement to the Random plugin which is basically a round robin mode. It cycles thru the range of notes. Alternatively, Sampler has an addition that lets you select samples with an LFO.
Round-robin / Random overlapped sample trigger. Load EXS24 sampler format. Sample loop, Choke cluster, Release trigger. Big sample mapping area and sample table view. Export.mse compact instrument file. VST and Audio Unit player plug-in generation (32 and 64bit). What you see is what you get player GUI editor.
The Decent Samples plugin is a FREE sample player plugin that allows you to play sample libraries in the DecentSampler format (files with extensions: dspreset and dslibrary). It is available in the following formats: Windows: 64-bit VST, 64-bit VST3, 64-bit Standalone; Mac: 64-bit VST, VST3, AU, AUv3, Standalone; It comes with a very basic.

download 100% free : http://www.tx16wx.com/

Available for Windows (32 & 64 bit) & Mac (VST & AU 64 bit)
This one is more than a simple sampler for loading & playing audio files!
It’s the more complete & full featured free sampler.
Tons of modulations & envelope, powerful keyboard mapping…
You can choose between 4 sizes for the UI (from 800X600 to 1280X768)
and the plugin can record from its own inputs (DAW inputs).
This is also the more “up to date” plugin.
It can load wav, aiff ogg, flac + sf2 soundfonts and sfz.

2. Grace : Sampler

Grace Sampler

download : http://www.onesmallclue.com/plugin/grace/

Available for Windows in 32 & 64 bit VST format.
I find it more good looking than the TX16Wx!
It’s also very powerful; with keyboard mapping, envelope & modulation.
like the precedent, it can preview sounds, the browser is very nice.
can load wav, aif & snd + sfz bank sounds.
On the website you can also download library with good sounds.

3. ShortCircuit 2

download 4 free ! http://vemberaudio.se/shortcircuit.php

Availbable for Windows , 32 bit VST.
Sadly, Shortcircuit is discontinued.
But if you’re still using 32 bit VST, it’s one the best VST sampler around.
The Keyboard mapping (on a vertical view ! unlike the others), the modulation & evelope options, it’s very complete, and should work without any problems (you can also download older version if you experience some bugs)

can load wav files + AKAI sample file (AKAI S5000/S6000/ Z4 Z8) + sf2 files + Recycle REX files.

4. Paax 2 sampler

Free Round Robin Sampler Vst Plugin

Paax 2 VST

direct download : http://www.behringerdownload.de/UCONTROL/p2_app.zip

Available for Windows 32 bit only VST.
Unfortunaly, the paax sampler has vanished from the internet, and is no longer developed.
The paax 3 was free for some time, and the paax 2 was always freeware.
The UI is small, but all the features are here.
Not the fastest workflow, but some like it like that.

5. EZ-Sampler

download : http://sbaudio.org/ez-sampler

Free Round Robin Sampler Vst Downloads

Available for Windows, 32 bit VST only.
This one is simple, you can load only one sample, so no keyboard mapping.
Sometimes it’s just what you need ! and with EZ-Sampler, it’s fast and without troubles.
can load wav, aiff, ogg, flac, snd, wma & mp3 (need Lame Encoder).

6. Helios VST !

Free Round Robin Sampler Vst Download

Tobybear Helios VST

Free Round Robin Sampler Vst Plugins

dowload : http://www.tobybear.de/files.html

Available for Windows, 32 bit VST only.
From the Tobybear “insbag” VST collection. This one is old school !
ADSR on volume + filter + delay + LFO + loop. Just load a wav file and let’s go!
drop some LFO on the loop start : instant funkyness!