Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • EVH trance state
  • Antonoff on Please Please Please
  • “Mick looked peeved. The Beatles had upstaged him”
  • 95k+ free music samples

Recommended reading

Plugins Future owns
Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
topos
Tech Forever 89 releases Topos, a topographical effects plugin that (quite literally) puts saturation on the map - and there's a free version
synths
Tech 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
plugins
Tech Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: The ultimate soft synth showdown
waves free plguins
Tech Waves makes 7 plugins available for free, including convolution reverb, FM synth and tube saturator
excite audio plugin
Tech Excite Audio's Motion: Fractal plugin is a granular powerhouse for twisting, stretching and scattering sounds
EQ
Tech Digging into the enhanced abilities of today's EQ plugins to enhance your productions
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

17 of the hottest VST/AU distortion plugins

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 8 March 2016

Our pick of the finest software signal-warming and mangling processors in the world

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Sonic weapons

Sonic weapons

There are so many awesome software tools available with which to cook, drive and decimate your sounds that we've drawn up a list of our favourites. If you can't find the distortion you're after among this shedload of plugins, you're in the wrong game, pal.

Page 1 of 19
Page 1 of 19
Soundtoys Decapitator

Soundtoys Decapitator

This modern classic is designed to emulate the valve saturation and overdrive of five legendary pieces of kit: Ampex’ 50, the EMI TG Channel, Neve’s 1057 preamps and the modern Thermionic Culture Culture Vulture.

FULL REVIEW: Soundtoys Decapitator

Page 2 of 19
Page 2 of 19
Audio Damage Kombinat DVA

Audio Damage Kombinat DVA

Three bands with 13 distortion types each, plus feedback and filtering, all resulting in devilishly dirty results.

Whether used as a DJ-style band killer or techno-peddling loop-mangler, you can always get something usably nasty out of DVA.

FIND OUT MORE: Audio Damage Kombinat DVA

Page 3 of 19
Page 3 of 19
Ohm Force Ohmicide

Ohm Force Ohmicide

Four bands of multimode distortion (chosen from over 80-types), per-band dynamics, gate, EQ and more make this MIDI-enabled effect thoroughly unsuited to subtlety!

FULL REVIEW: Ohm Force Ohmicide

Page 4 of 19
Page 4 of 19
iZotope Trash 2

iZotope Trash 2

For convincing analogue sounds and modern digital naughtiness alike, this multiband jack of all trades has just about every kind of distortion you might want, plus some astounding tone-altering properties to transform your sounds.

FULL REVIEW: iZotope Trash 2

Page 5 of 19
Page 5 of 19
Audio Assault XCTR

Audio Assault XCTR

Proving that low-budget needn’t mean low quality, this four-band exciter is at its best when pushed hard, becoming a gloriously analogue-style multiband overdrive. Selectively muting its bands adds another creative dimension.

FULL REVIEW: Audio Assault XCTR

Page 6 of 19
Page 6 of 19
IK Multimedia Amplitube 4 Deluxe

IK Multimedia Amplitube 4 Deluxe

145 virtual modules - painstakingly recreated amps, pedals, speakers and rackmount hardware - give you practically every flavour of guitar-oriented distortion tool known to man. You can increase this number with additional purchases.

FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia Amplitube 4 Deluxe

Page 7 of 19
Page 7 of 19
AudioThing Vinyl Strip

AudioThing Vinyl Strip

With a variety of modules associated with old vinyl records (compression, turntable noise, reverb, EQ, distortion, bit and sample rate reduction), Vinyl Strip is one of the best value all-round old-school distortions on the market.

FULL REVIEW: AudioThing Vinyl Strip

Page 8 of 19
Page 8 of 19
iZotope Ozone 7

iZotope Ozone 7

Ozone has always had a fine harmonic enhancer/exciter module, and v7 adds a Vintage Limiter to this renowned mastering package.

Push it hard on drum busses and full mixes to round off the edges with hardware-style smooth saturation.

FULL REVIEW: iZotope Ozone 7

Page 9 of 19
Page 9 of 19
MeldaProduction MMultiBandBitFun

MeldaProduction MMultiBandBitFun

This company make many distortions, but the most extreme is this multiband bit-manipulator. Offering anything from subtle grit to skull-exploding digital audio destruction, MBBF is one bad MF.

Try the free single-band version - if you dare.

FULL REVIEW: MeldaProduction MMultiBandBitFun

Page 10 of 19
Page 10 of 19
PSP Audioware PSP VintageWarmer2

PSP Audioware PSP VintageWarmer2

This one’s been infusing in-the-box mixes with old-school analogue saturation and warmth for almost as long as people have been mixing on computers.

We love it applied to individual channels, but there’s nothing to stop you throwing it on a whole mix, too.

FULL REVIEW: PSP Audioware PSP VintageWarmer2

Page 11 of 19
Page 11 of 19
cm Plugins

cm Plugins

Free with every issue of Computer Music magazine, the enormous cm Plugins suite includes no less than ten dedicated, pro-quality distortion plugins.

From amp sims and hardware-style saturators to flexible digital waveshaping and multiband processing, there’s plenty to turn a track with a clean bill of health into an extremely dirty, deranged monster!

READ MORE: cm Plugins

Page 12 of 19
Page 12 of 19
Slate Digital Virtual Preamp Collection

Slate Digital Virtual Preamp Collection

This stunning new pack fits two classic pre-amps - the Neve 1073 and Telefunken V76 - inside Slate’s Virtual Mix Rack system.

Other must-try Slate Digital warmer-uppers include Virtual Tape Machines, FG-Bomber, RC-Tube and Virtual Console Collection.

READ MORE: Slate Digital Virtual Preamp Collection

Page 13 of 19
Page 13 of 19
D16 Group Decimort 2

D16 Group Decimort 2

An acclaimed recreation of the bit depth and sample rate reduction characteristics of classic samplers, with a list of presets to emulate specific hardware, Decimort 2 is an ideal digital exciter or for authentic old-school emulation.

READ MORE: D16 Group Decimort 2

Page 14 of 19
Page 14 of 19
FabFilter Saturn

FabFilter Saturn

This multiband saturation and distortion allows convincing amp and tape recreation, classic digital and analogue hardware simulation, and experimental modulated patches. Saturn is truly one of those rare ‘desert island’ plugins.

FULL REVIEW: FabFilter Saturn

Page 15 of 19
Page 15 of 19
Sonimus Burnley 73

Sonimus Burnley 73

The distinctive saturation of Neve’s 1073 preamp is as revered as any in the business, and this faithful recreation (with its three-band EQ) is one of our faves.

Hear what it can do for your mixes in Computer Music's in-depth video.

FULL REVIEW: Sonimus Burnley 73

Page 16 of 19
Page 16 of 19
Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 Pro

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 Pro

One of the most respected names in guitar cab and amp simulation, with 17 amps, 27 cabs and 13 effects. GR5’s presets offer just about every classic setup and sound you could wish for, and it’s also ideal for dirtying up vocals, drums, synths… you name it!

FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 Pro

Page 17 of 19
Page 17 of 19
Universal Audio UAD Thermionic Culture Vulture

Universal Audio UAD Thermionic Culture Vulture

The hardware is a modern classic, with three types of genuine valve saturation (one triode and two pentode types), and this is the definitive virtual version.

Use it as an insert or via a parallel channel on absolutely any type of signal, from drums and bass to reverbs and master buses! Hot stuff.

FULL REVIEW: Universal Audio UAD Thermionic Culture Vulture

Page 18 of 19
Page 18 of 19
Computer Music issue 228 on sale now

Computer Music issue 228 on sale now

Think you know distortion? Think again! To give your sounds and mixes the heat they truly deserve, you can't just pile on the plugins and hope for the best.

Check out Computer Music issue 228 to find out how distortion really works, and what you've been missing out on in the quest for professional, attention-grabbing sounds.

Plus: FREE Distortion Plugin – 57 more VST/AU plugins – 916 Retro House Samples!

Page 19 of 19
Page 19 of 19
Computer Music
Computer Music
Social Links Navigation

Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine
More Info
Read more
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
topos
Forever 89 releases Topos, a topographical effects plugin that (quite literally) puts saturation on the map - and there's a free version
synths
5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
plugins
Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: The ultimate soft synth showdown
waves free plguins
Waves makes 7 plugins available for free, including convolution reverb, FM synth and tube saturator
excite audio plugin
Excite Audio's Motion: Fractal plugin is a granular powerhouse for twisting, stretching and scattering sounds
Latest in Plugins
tapeoplex
"A tape delay plugin that finally sounds like the real thing": Heritage Audio takes on the legendary Echoplex with its TAPEoPLEX plugin
Arturia Pigments
“Pigments is becoming so powerful it risks making the V Collection look obsolete”: Arturia Pigments review
codec
Codec, one of our favourite free lo-fi plugins, just got an update
acon digital
This AI-powered plugin could be a game-changingly useful tool for drum production
rhodes
"Raw, warm, and beautifully expressive": Rhodes releases Wurli, a virtual instrument based on the Wurlitzer 200A
excite audio plugin
Excite Audio's Motion: Fractal plugin is a granular powerhouse for twisting, stretching and scattering sounds
Latest in News
Home studio
You don't need to be a music theory expert to make electronic music, but it helps - here's our guide to the basics
Ed Sheeran, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix
How Ed Sheeran generated royalties for Bob Dylan by borrowing from Jimi Hendrix
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: My pick of Father's Day deals for musicians include $400 off the Polyend Play+, $200 off a Martin acoustic and so much more
pmt
"It’s been a tough few years": UK gear retailer PMT closes its doors, makes 96 staff redundant and sells £2.4m of stock to Gear4Music
Gretsch Broadkaster Jr LX Center Block with Bigsby
Gretsch’s unveils new MIJ high-end semi-hollows with redesigned bodies and Pro Twin Six humbuckers
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter on her musical heroes, why she decided to release a new album so soon... and Rush

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...