Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • Purdie on the Purdie shuffle
  • Type beats
  • 86000+ free music samples
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • Three-chord trick

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

  1. News

17 of the hottest VST/AU distortion plugins

By Computer Music
published 8 March 2016

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

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.

More about tech
studio

Show Us Your Studio #9: "I use Ableton and Maschine as glorified grooveboxes on steroids - it's endless fun and inspiration!"

Pulsar w495

Could this Neumann w495 emulation be the most useful free EQ plugin you download this year?

Latest
Nirvana In Utero cover

Nirvana session cellist Kera Schaley talks about playing on In Utero: "The funny thing about All Apologies is Steve kept trying to talk Kurt out of putting cello on it"

See more latest ►
Most Popular
“It makes it exciting and dangerous and fun”: Yngwie Malmsteen says he doesn’t need to rehearse anymore and explains why he mostly ignores the setlist

By Jonathan Horsley22 September 2023

9 tips for buying second-hand music gear without getting scammed

By Andy Jones22 September 2023

Pro Tools Sketch: industry-standard DAW gets Ableton Live-style clip launching and a free iPad app, but will it convince you to switch?

By Si Truss22 September 2023

Elon Musk allegedly turned up at the studio with a gun while Grimes was recording dialogue for Cyberpunk 2077: "The studio guys were sweating"

By Matt Mullen22 September 2023

Electro Harmonix unveils the 9 mini Pico effects pedals for its NYC DSP Series – with reworked old favourites and new designs

By Rob Laing21 September 2023

DAW not doing it for you? Cantor is a free “music playground” for looping, sampling and sound design

By Ben Rogerson21 September 2023

Watch bluegrass guitarist Ian Ly become the 2023 US National Flat-picking Champion

By Rob Laing21 September 2023

Audiomovers launches Off The Record interview series with first episode featuring Dire Straits producer Chuck Ainlay

By Matt Mullen21 September 2023

“I thought, ‘have I done something heinous?’”: James Blake reminds Brian Eno that he once accused him of using ‘the arsehole chord’ and demands to know what it actually is

By Ben Rogerson21 September 2023

The Vai, Bonamassa, Di Meola and Abasi-backed guitar virtuoso Matteo Mancuso dazzles again on new song Silk Road

By Rob Laing21 September 2023

DAACI is the AI-powered 'meta-composition' software that writes music like a human: "It's interpreting what comes from a composer’s brain, rather than trying to imitate something that’s already been made"

By Andy Price21 September 2023

  1. Positive Grid BIAS FX 2 with guitar neck
    1
    Positive Grid BIAS FX 2 review
  2. 2
    “Sometimes Jimi Hendrix’s girlfriend would go and buy us breakfast because we had no money”: Rod Stewart says early days of the Jeff Beck Group were no picnic
  3. 3
    “Right now I’d like to do a song, it’s a little thing by Howlin’ Wolf…”: Listen to Jimi Hendrix’s newly unearthed performance of Killing Floor at the Hollywood Bowl, 1967
  4. 4
    “He doesn’t do Zoom”: Mick Jagger reflects on how his songwriting partnership with Keith Richards has changed and discusses Paul McCartney’s bass playing on new Rolling Stones album Hackney Diamonds
  5. 5
    16 famous musicians who almost joined very famous bands
  1. Ableton
    1
    10 things you didn't know Ableton Live could do
  2. 2
    Cindy Blackman Santana tackles the iconic In The Air Tonight drum fill as she joins Chris Stapleton and Snoop Dogg on a new version of the song for ESPN’s Monday Night Football
  3. 3
    “He doesn’t do Zoom”: Mick Jagger reflects on how his songwriting partnership with Keith Richards has changed and discusses Paul McCartney’s bass playing on new Rolling Stones album Hackney Diamonds
  4. 4
    9 time-saving plugins that will speed up your workflow in the studio
  5. 5
    “It makes it exciting and dangerous and fun”: Yngwie Malmsteen says he doesn’t need to rehearse anymore and explains why he mostly ignores the setlist

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
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

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