Free Distortion & Saturation Plugins

bassPath

bassPath is a free overdrive and saturation Audio Unit plugin developed by Loud Software. Compatible OS(s): macOS.

bassPath provides the most popular effects processing path for bass guitar or synth bass. It includes distortion/overdrive, limiter, speaker cabinet emulator, Three band variable EQ, Chorus, and Delay. Custom user settings are supported, along with four factory settings.

http://loudsoftware.com/

Bandisto

Bandisto is a free overdrive and saturation VST plugin developed by mda. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS.

Multi-band (3 band) distortion. Creates the sound of torn bass bins and other subtle effects.

http://www.mda-vst.com/

Bad Cable

Bad Cable is a free distortion Audio Unit plugin developed by Sound Consulting. Compatible OS(s): macOS.

Bad Cable is an AudioUnit which attempts to simulate a bad audio cable. The result is a form of waveform distortion. With some settings, the effect sounds like FM radio when you’re at the edge of reception (check out preset #2 “FM Edge”).

http://sounds.wa.com/

Audio Impurities – Vintage Edition

Audio Impurities – Vintage Edition is a free distortion VST plugin developed by Retro Sampling. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Audio Impurities – Vintage Edition adds hiss and noise from old vintage studio hardware.

http://www.retrosampling.se/

ATK SD1

ATK SD1 is a free saturation and overdrive VST, VST3, Audio Unit plugin developed by Matthieu Brucher. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

ATK SD1 is an emulation of the Boss SD1 overdrive. It is built on top of the Audio ToolKit library, and implements the overdrive (oversampling x8) and the tone sections of the original pedal.

Contrary to usual distortions, the SD1 features an asymmetric overdrive section that adds even harmonics to the sound.

http://www.audio-tk.com/

Aradaz Amp (Crunch)

Aradaz Amp (Crunch) is a free overdrive and saturation VST plugin developed by Aradaz. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Aradaz Amp (Crunch) is a “Real Time Crunch Sounds Virtual Guitar Amp”. It has three stages of EQ and two built-in cabinet simulators.

https://aradaz.blogspot.com/

Aradaz Amp 2 (White)

Aradaz Amp 2 (White) is a free overdrive and saturation VST plugin developed by Aradaz. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Aradaz Amp 2 (White Version) is a virtual guitar amp.

Features:

Two channels of overdrive and distortion.

Modern tube amp style.

Three stages of EQ.

4 x 12 cabinet simulator.

44100 – 96000 Hz sample rate support.

64 bit internal processing.

and more…

https://aradaz.blogspot.com/

Aradaz Amp 2 (Green)

Aradaz Amp 2 (Green) is a free overdrive and saturation VST plugin developed by Aradaz. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Aradaz Amp 2 Green is a virtual guitar amp.

Features:

8 parameters (input, gain, bass, mid, treble, types of EQ, cabinet simulator and volume).

New tube simulation.

2 types of equalizer.

Sample Rate up to 96 kHz.

64 bit internal processing.

https://aradaz.blogspot.com/

Apocrita

Apocrita is a free saturation and overdrive VST, VST3 plugin developed by EXE Consulting. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b.

64-bit distortion and fuzz pedal emulator with one stage of amplification/clipping with feedback and optional second peak filters. Please see YouTube channel for EXE Consulting for introductory video. Please see SoundCloud for EXE Consulting for songs that employ this distortion and fuzz box emulator. VST2 and VST3.

To use as VST3, change the .dll extension to .vst3.

This pedal emulation can produce very high gains. Please feed the output into a low-gain amp sim such as LG2Amp, especially for live playing. Too much gain and feedback may produce a very high-pitched squeal.

http://www.execonsultingtx.com

+decimate VST

#ERROR!

+decimate VST is a bit-depth and sample-rate reduction plug-in for adding aliasing and decimation noise.

http://www.soundhack.com/