Audec has released Drive, a freeware distortion effect in VST3 and AU plugin formats for compatible digital audio workstations on Mac.
Drive is a flexible waveshaping tool with a customizable shaping curve. Changing the curve shape directly affects the character of the distortion that is applied to the processed audio signal. The plugin can be used to achieve soft clipping, hard clipping, tube saturation, and many other distortion flavors.
See also: Best FREE Distortion VST/AU Plugins!The user interface looks fairly simple but there is a slight learning curve when it comes to operating the plugin. The input and output gain controls are self-explanatory, whereas the four curve shaping controls (P Liner, P Curve, L Liner, L Curve) could do with slightly more descriptive labels. That said, a quick look at the manual on the product page will help get you started with using Drive in no time.
In addition to the main controls mentioned above, the plugin also features an oversampling factor control and a DC block switch. The oversampling control is used to reduce the aliasing noise, resulting in a smoother distortion sound. The oversampling factor can be set to off, 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x oversampling. The DC block feature enables the high-pass filter that removes the direct-current component from the audio signal.
If you own a Mac-based digital audio workstation, visit the product page linked below and click the download button. You will then be taken to the Gumroad where you can download your free copy of the plugin. Optionally, enter any amount higher than $0 before checkout to make a donation to Audec.
Windows users will have tofind a different waveshaping tool because Drive will only work in VST3 and AU plugin hosts on MacOS. If you’re looking for a suggestion, could check out the freeware MWaveFolder waveshaper plugin by MeldaProduction. It is a versatile distortion effect with a control layout that is rather similar to the one found in Drive.
Drive is available for free download via Audec (1.8 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST3/AU plugin format for MacOS).
Last Updated on September 12, 2019 by Tomislav Zlatic.
