Distortion

Eleven distortion algorithms in one module, from a gentle tube glow to bit-shredding mayhem. Patch any audio through it, set the drive, and pick a flavour — each character is voiced differently, so the same Drive setting can sound silky on one type and savage on the next.

Controls

  • Drive — how hard the signal is pushed into the shaper. Low settings add subtle warmth and harmonics; cranked, it saturates, clips, or folds depending on the type. Built-in makeup gain keeps the output level roughly in check as you push.
  • Bias — sets the even-vs-odd harmonic balance on the asymmetric types. At 1 (the default) each algorithm keeps its full asymmetric voicing — the valve glow of Tube, Diode, Tape, Fuzz and Overdrive; back it toward 0 to pull those shapers symmetric for a thinner, harder, odd-harmonic edge. Inert on the symmetric algorithms (Classic, the clips, Bitcrush, Rectify, Wavefold), which carry no bias to thin out.
  • Type — selects the distortion character:
  • Classic — smooth tanh saturation; musical and forgiving, the safe default. The only type that adds a little grit even at zero drive.
  • Soft Clip / Hard Clip — rounded clipping that eases into the ceiling, versus a brutal flat-topped clamp bristling with bright odd harmonics.
  • Tube — asymmetric, biased drive with the even-harmonic glow of a valve stage.
  • Diode — soft-knee diode clipping; classic guitar-pedal grit.
  • Tape — Langevin tape saturation with pre/de-emphasis and a gentle high-end roll-off, for warm compression and sag.
  • Fuzz — heavily filtered, hard-biased fuzz with cascaded saturation stages; thick and aggressive.
  • Overdrive — band-limited overdrive that focuses the midrange before driving it.
  • Bitcrush — reduces bit depth and sample rate together for lo-fi digital crunch and aliasing.
  • Rectify — full-wave rectification; harsh, octave-flavoured edge.
  • Wavefold — folds peaks back on themselves for metallic, harmonically dense timbres that bloom as you drive.

Inputs & outputs

  • In L / In R — the audio (or CV) to distort. Patch only In L and it is processed in mono, feeding both outputs; patch both and each channel gets its own independent shaper state while sharing the knobs.
  • Drive / Bias CV — voltage control over the Drive and Bias knobs; patch an envelope or LFO to make the grit swell or shift the harmonic balance over time.
  • Type CV — selects the algorithm by voltage: 0–10 V maps across the 11 types (≈0.9 V per step, Classic at 0 V → Wavefold at 10 V). While patched it overrides the Type menu, which locks and shows the live selection. Patch a sequencer or stepped voltage to switch distortion character per note or per section.
  • Out L / Out R — the processed signal. If you feed it a stereo signal but only cable Out L, the two channels are mixed down into it so nothing goes missing.

When the type changes — by CV or by hand — a tiny (~2.5 ms) fade-out/fade-in happens around the switch, so you can sequence types or audition them live without clicks or pops.

Tips

  • Every type except Classic passes through clean at zero drive — open Drive up to hear them bite.
  • Wavefold and Bitcrush react dramatically to drive level; patch an envelope into Drive CV for timbres that evolve with each note.
  • Patch a quantized or stepped CV (a sequencer, a sample & hold) into Type CV to flip between distortion flavours rhythmically — the built-in fade keeps every switch glitch-free.