On Tuesday Audec released the free Heat distortion plugin, which is currently a macOS exclusive release. The developer plans to release a Windows version sometime “in the future.”
Heat is a VST3 and AU release that offers four distortion types.
The plugin has an auto gain function, which creates a constant output volume while maintaining the desired distorted tone.
The auto gain knob sets the maximum value for attenuation and is intended to help create an efficient workflow.

The developer explains that “With a Boost function to multiply the amount of gain, Heat can handle everything from mild saturation to intense distortion.”
The Boost function allows you to increase the gain by up to 10 times.
The plugin also has Oversampling (up to x16), an Offset control for asymmetric distortion, and a resizable window.
Heat is available as a fully functional free download, and you can access the Zip file in a single click process from the product page.
The free version of Heat will occasionally produce a popup that asks for a donation.
If you choose to make a donation, you’ll get a license key that prevents the popup from appearing.
Audec hosts a YouTube demo showing Heat in action on the product page, which showcases how the different parameters interact with a kick.
As you can hear in the demo, Heat is capable of making some drastic changes to the sound of the source, particularly when the gain is multiplied with the Boost function.
The plugin is compatible with macOS 10.13 or newer (Intel/Apple Silicon).
Heat is the eighth effect plugin released by Audec and the 10th overall plugin release.
The two non-effect plugins from the developer are the Clap handclap synth and the Vectorscope, both of which are free.
The effects lineup from Audec features seven free full-featured plugins.
This free lineup features the Spread Delay, Transient, Extra Pan, Haas delay, Crush bit crusher and Mono stereo to mono converter.
The only paid release in the Audec lineup is the Shape 2 dual-stage waveshaper and wavefolder.
The full version of Shape 2 is available for $29. The developer has also made a feature-limited free version of this release available in the form of Shape Lite 2.
Download: Heat (FREE)
More: