Distortion

ReaJS

ReaJS is a free multi fx and echo and delay and compressor and limiter and distortion VST plugin developed by Cockos. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

ReaJS is a real-time user-editable effect processor.

Features:

64-bit internal audio processing, MIDI support, full PDC support, multichannel I/O support, graphics display support.

Hundreds of included effects, including: delays, compressors, limiters, convolution, distortion, spectral noise editors, analyzers, loop samplers, creative effects.

Create new effects from scratch, or modify existing effects to meet your needs.

JS editor and debugger included, opens automatically when you edit a plug-in.

http://www.cockos.com/

Radio Junk

Radio Junk is a free distortion and filter VST plugin developed by Cupwise FX. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

It’s a small but unique suite of effects made from 2 junky old radios, one solid-state (from the 70’s) and the other a tube radio (from the 50’s). The radios were ‘sampled’ using technology similar but superior to the common convolution impulses out there. It’s called Nebula, and it can capture the sound of what’s being sampled at different dynamic levels, and it can also capture some of the distortion, unlike standard convolution.

These effects use a variant of the Nebula tech called ‘Acqua’, which just means that these are stand-alone effects, and you don’t need Nebula to load them (it’s built in, basically). The radios were sampled in extreme ways to get some nasty lo-fi effects. Since these were made with the Nebula technology, they will sound different from other plug-ins out there. You should grab them and give them a try! They’re free!

http://www.cupwise.com/cup/

Pulse Modulator

Pulse Modulator is a free modulation and distortion VST, Audio Unit plugin developed by Audio Damage. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

Pulse Modulator is a tremolo/distortion pedal, loosely based on the extremely rare Electro-Harmonix guitar pedal of the same name. Three separate LFOs drive a VCA, resulting in strange and unique tremolo shapes. Pulse Modulator also has a modeled distortion stage, for extra oomph.

Features:

Three independent LFOs, syncable to host tempo, driving three VCAs.

Continuously variable LFO shape.

“Boost” vintage distortion stage.

Standard Audio Damage MIDI Learn mode for VSTs (handled by host in AU).

http://www.audiodamage.com/

PHInterfereVST

PHInterfereVST is a free distortion and glitch VST plugin developed by Phasic. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

PHInterfereVST is a unique sounding lo-fi/interference effect that modulates and mixes pink noise with the incoming signal, giving a grainy/interference style of distortion. Subtle effects can be achieved by using slow LFO rates with low depths, or you can go to the extremes.

http://www.phasic.co.uk/

OwlSim

OwlSim is a free multi fx and delay and distortion and flanger and phaser VST, Audio Unit plugin developed by Rebel Technology. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

The OwlSim is a VST simulation of the OWL programmable effects pedal.

We’ve just released a VST/AU plugin binary of the OWLSim in its current state featuring a bunch of different plugin effects that you can switch between.

We see VST generation as a pleasant side-effect of the OWL project that allows people to easily test and debug their code in a familiar environment – the main purpose of the OWLSim framework is developing patches for the hardware, so don’t expect a super-neat GUI and bear in mind that the only controllable parameters represent the physical knobs on the OWL pedal.

You can of course change all of this within the framework, so if you want to try making your own binaries, you can download the OWLSim from here:

https://github.com/pingdynasty/OwlSim

You’ll be able to look at the code from the current set of effects and then edit or build your own patches which will compile as your own VST binaries.

N.B. we also have an AU binary available at:

http://hoxtonowl.com/software/owlsim/

http://www.rebeltech.org

Motile

Motile is a free multi fx and distortion and flanger and phaser and chorus and reverb and delay and glitch VST plugin developed by NOVUZEIT. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Motile is designed to aid in the creation of extreme experimental music and idiosyncratic sound design.

Motile consists of many different FX types primarily designed towards “FSU”, including Glitch, Psycho-modulation, Metallicize, Granulation, and more. All of these FX types are controlled from within Motile’s interface by direct mouse control of each effect via an XY grid that allows “dynamic transvolving sounds for each”. The XY movement of each FX unit can also be automated fully using various waveform selections and throttle controls. A combination of human mouse movement and computer aided automation for each effect is possible as well.

Also included is the FX Cycle system, allowing each FX type to be randomly turned on and off in realtime. MIDI CC support for all pertinent parameters is included. Motile’s entire control scheme is fully tool-tipped for ease of use.

The full version of Motile includes over 60 presets, a HTML user reference manual, and a printable MIDI CC control listing.

http://www.gersic.com/plugins/hosted/darkware/darkware.html

Misstortion

Misstortion is a free distortion VST3, Audio Unit plugin developed by Nimble Tools. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

Free distortion plugin for VST-based hosts. Does its best to be like Logic’s Clip Distortion and adds a bunch of other great features, which makes it very useful for the Hardstyle genre:

Symmetry: Make your waveform asymmetrical for more finetuned distortion.

Hard clip: Simple hard clip distortion.

Soft clip: Hyperbolic soft clip distortion.

Resonance: Increase the resonance to get a great tonal sound.

Bitcrush: Add some bitcrushing to your waveforms.

DC Filter: Filter out that nasty DC offset quickly and efficiently.

It’s free! It runs on Windows and Mac DAW’s that support 64-bit VST3’s. There’s also a Nimble Tools Discord for more info and support.

If you love Misstortion, why not send a donation via Itch.io? When downloading your copy of the plugin below you can select a tip. <3 Donations will further drive development Misstortion as well as other plugins that I’m working on! (More news on those very soon!).

Huge thanks to Code Black, Headhunterz, Frontliner, and many other top Hardstyle DJ’s for their very helpful feedback! And a special thank you to Kimmykix aka Jacknife for the initial idea for me to make this plugin.

https://nimble.tools/

M3

M3 free waveshaper | delay | eq | distortion by Music Unfolding

M3 is a free waveshaper and delay and eq and distortion Audio Unit plugin developed by Music Unfolding. Compatible OS(s): macOS.

M3 is a distortion effect with two wave shapers, two parametric EQs, a delay and an envelope/MIDI controlled formant wah section.

The wave shapers are defined with Bezier curves by clicking and dragging control points – it’s easy to draw your favorite curve with M3 to achieve the distortion effect you want. Each wave shaper can be contoured using a collection of available filters. Because there are two wave shapers, the first can be used to drive the second. You can use the independent contouring filters of the two wave shaper sections to precisely design the character of the distortion.

There are two parametric EQ sections. Each EQ has five filters: low shelf, high shelf and three peak/cut. The first EQ section can be used to contour the signal before the distortion stages. The second is applied after the distortion stages and can be used for emulating cabinet response or adjusting the presence of the distortion.

There is a two-second delay with adjustable depth, feedback and filtering. The delay is placed between the two stages of distortion. The formant section can be set to auto-filter or can be controlled with a MIDI expression pedal. There are 90 different formant filter morphing wahs or oscillations.

http://www.musicunfolding.com/

Guitar Suite

Guitar Suite is a free multi fx and distortion and flanger and phaser and chorus and reverb and delay VST plugin developed by SimulAnalog. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

SimulAnalog Guitar suite is a suite of vst plugin with amplifiers and analog processors for guitarists, actually containing the simulation of:

Boss DS-1 (Distortion stompbox).

Boss SD-1 (Super Overdrive stompbox).

Tube Screamer (Overdrive stompbox).

Oberheim PS-1 (Phaser stompbox).

Univox Univibe (Modulations stompbox).

Fender Twin 1969 (Guitar amplifier).

Marshall JCM900 Dual Reverb (Guitar amplifier).

http://www.simulanalog.org/

Fuzzed

Fuzzed is a free distortion VST plugin developed by Fuzzed. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS.

Fuzzed is an analogue modelling distortion plugin, using “state of the art” state-space modelling techniques to model the physical circuitry of the famous Jimi Hendrix guitar pedal and implement it as a VST plugin using the JUCE API.

Rather than simply modelling the general behaviour of the pedal, this plugin uses the circuit schematic to construct a highly accurate simulation of the pedal’s behaviour, with full parametric control. This is then implemented as a VST plugin for use in real time.

Included are some analysis screenshots of the comparisons between the output of the system and the real pedal, which shows the behaviour of the VST to be highly comparable to the real thing.

This work is the result of continued development of a plugin created and submitted as part of an individual university project.

The examples show case the guitar tones produced, with an additional example showing the use of Fuzzed to add analogue distortion to a synth + verb as a return/aux effect.

Use of Fuzzed as a return effect can add beautiful analogue distortion to your sounds without losing the original tonal content.

**Update 14th December 2016**.

Added Windows 7 support.

**Update 2nd April 2017**.

Optimised performance on some machines. Changes to the circuit to improve the quality of the sound (especially for low frequencies).

https://www.kvraudio.com