On Friday, Hivetune launched Cactus – a creative digital distortion plugin, which is available in a $10 full version and a free Lite version.
The plugin is available for macOS (AU, VST3) and Windows (VST3).
Depending on where you are in the world, the plugin may actually be cheaper than $10 as the dev has implemented a purchasing power discount system.
The paid version offers the standard feature set, while the Lite edition removes the ability to draw the distortion curve and auto gain and reduces the number of presets.
To get the free version of Cactus, select the Lite version on the Hivetune store, hit the ‘Buy this’ button, and choose a price, which can be as low as zero.
You’ll then be prompted to enter an email address in the Gumroad cart, after which you’ll be forwarded to a page that hosts one-click downloads of the zipped macOS (16.2 MB) and Windows (4.8 MB) versions.
Cactus is aptly named as it can deliver some spiky, abrasive distortion or, when toned down, some subtle warming.
The first thing I noticed when checking out the plugin is that it’s uber no frills!
Cactus just has three dials, which are Mix, Drive and Gain. There’s also an Auto gain switch, which is designed to maintain balance in the mix even when you’ve dimed the dirt.
The unique feature of Cactus is that you can draw your own distortion curve on the main display.
This unlocks quite a bit of creativity with the plugin and allows you to shape the tone in a highly customized way.
Hivetune has also included 20 presets to help kick off your experimentation with the plugin.
So, I think the free version of Cactus would be a good download for someone who wants to add a simple digital distortion to their collection.
You’ll be able to use the three core parameters to dial in a range of sounds, although I think it’s fair to say there’s really not much to distinguish the freebie from any other distortion plugin.
The paid version has a more distinct design, and the ability to draw your own distortion curve is a pretty cool feature that makes the plugin stand out. At $10, it’s also not gonna break the bank.
Cactus is the second plugin Hivetune launched via its Gumroad page. Back in August 2024, Hivetune dropped Relica, a free retro 8-bit synth plugin.
Check out the deal: Cactus (Paid version – $10 / FREE version)
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