Rebel Audio has released DoubleToner, a freeware multi-band distortion effect in VST plugin format for Windows based digital audio workstations (32-bit and 64-bit).
DoubleToner is the second freeware effect released by Rebel Audio, following the excellent OverToner plugin which ranked at #15 in our last year’s round-up of the best freeware VST plugins. Similar to its predecessor, DoubleToner is a multi-mode distortion effect, although with a significantly more complex architecture.
The plugin packs thirteen different distortion algorithms which can be used in two separate distortion modules. The real highlight feature for me, though, is the ability to fade between the two distortion modules, leading to an almost unlimited amount of distortion algorithm combinations. Furthermore, both distortion modules come with two separate frequency bands (high and low), turning DoubleToner into one of the most complex and versatile freeware distortion effects on the market. The developers have labeled it a dual-quad-band distortion effect because of its ability to mix the output of two dual-band distortion modules.
Apart from the features mentioned above, DoubleToner also provides four programmable user preset slots (accessed via four buttons on the bottom part of the GUI) which can be very useful for loading different distortion modes during a live performance, or for blind-testing a number of distortion flavors while mixing. The UI fader controls are smoothed out to prevent the notorious “stepping” effect when gradually changing their value.
DoubleToner is fairly well optimized, resulting in a 4-6% CPU hit when all four bands are active (on an i7 processor). I haven’t experienced any bugs or stability issues while testing the plugin. You can download DoubleToner completely free of charge from the product page linked below, no registration required. The download pack is a ZIP archive containing two DLL files (one for 32-bit and the other one for 64-bit systems).
DoubleToner is available for free download via Rebel Audio (320 KB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin format for Windows).
Last Updated on July 30, 2016 by Tomislav Zlatic.
