RebelAudio has released SpaceScraper, a freeware adaptive distortion effect in VST plugin format for 32-bit and 64-bit digital audio workstations on Windows.
Based on RebelAudio’s newly developed adaptive distortion algorithm, SpaceScraper promises to be a unique kind of distortion effect on the market. Its distortion parameters are directly influenced by the characteristics of the input signal, resulting in interesting non-linear behavior. RebelAudio already has a couple of unique distortion plugins in their arsenal (OverToner and DoubleToner) and SpaceScraper seems to be their most original work to date.
Although complex on the inside, SpaceScraper features a rather simple control scheme. The user can choose between seven different distortion modes which change the internal connections of the distortion algorithm, directly influencing the coloration of the signal on the output. The Rise and Fall parameters influence the way in which the adaptive algorithm and the active mode react to the properties of the input signal. The other available controls include a dry/wet knob, a gain knob, and an analog-style high-pass filter which sounds unexpectedly good. A simple 4-slot preset manager is also included for storing different distortion setups.
By changing the distortion mode and Rise/Fall parameters, the user can achieve a range of different distortion styles with SpaceScraper. The only problem, in my opinion, is that the plugin’s unconventional design results in a very steep learning curve. The different modes have generic names (Mode 01, Mode 02, etc.), and the overall user experience is fairly unintuitive. There’s no user manual, either. However, SpaceScraper does indeed sound very good and, unless you’re in a hurry, spending some time to tweak it according to the signal on the input can unleash fantastic sounding results. In other words, SpaceScraper isn’t the kind of tool you’d use for quick saturation/distortion tasks in a mixing project, but rather a versatile and powerful distortion utility for the patient sound designer.
Offered as a 32-bit and 64-bit VST plugin, SpaceScraper will work in all digital audio workstations on Windows. It can be downloaded directly from the product page linked below, no email registration required. The downloaded ZIP file contains the necessary plugin files for manual installation.
SpaceScraper is available for free download via RebelAudio (522 KB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin format for Windows).
