A Bitcrusher effect is a lo-fi (low fidelity) digital audio effect, which produces distortion by reducing the resolution or bandwidth of digital audio data. Moreover, the resulting quantization noise may create a “warmer” sound impression, or a harsh one, depending on the amount of reduction. This kind of effect is quite popular nowadays since it adds a unique character to the sound. As there are many software plugin options of the bitcrusher effect out there just a few of them are capable of delivering impressive sound like the one we will cover in the next tutorial.
Decimort 2
Decimort 2 by D16 is one of the latest releases of the D16 group. It is not just a bitcrusher unit, but rather a sophisticated processing unit that replicates the DA stage of classic samplers, flawlessly without any artifacts. From making drums sounds like in video games to turning synths into digital noise boxes, there is no telling what you can create with this futuristic-retro time machine of a plugin. In addition to this, Decimort 2 has an exceptionally high-quality processing path. Consequently, the algorithms inside Decimort 2 guarantee the best possible result without unwanted artifacts in the signal. The only types of aliasing or artifacts are desirable and emulated so there is no compromise when it comes to audio quality. So let’s see it in action!
Let’s start
For the next example, I have chosen a drum loop that we are going to mangle into something else. So, let’s throw a new instance of Decimort 2 on the newly created channel within Soundbridge and hear how this drum loop sounds unprocessed.
~Drum Loop – Unprocessed
The main features
Before we start with the processing lets, go thru some of the main features of this plugin unit.
In the center of the interface, there is a big knob called RESAMPLER which is a hearth of the engine. This section controls the discretization process of the input signal in the time domain
Main parameters are located in the center of this section, and these are:
- Frequency – The frequency of the signal is discretized to (resampled). This parameter ranges from 44 Hz to 44.1 kHz.
- Jitter – Controlling the intensity of random, short-period Resampler’s deviations.
Additional parameters
Additional parameters located aside the main controls, supervise processing the signal before and after time discretization (Resampling). These include:
- Approximative Filter – Processing signal before resampling.
- Images Filter – Processing signal after resampling.
Images are the artifacts resulting from Resampler’s activity. That is the result of projecting a signal from a higher sampling rate to a lower / reducing signal sample rate. Images Filter allows removing the part, or all of these artifacts from the spectrum after discretization process. As a result, Decimort can also serve as an alias-free brick wall low pass filter.
- Quantizer – Is responsible for signal’s amplitude quantization. In other words, it divides the amplitude to specified (Resolution display) a number of levels.
Furthermore, there are classic controls like filter parameters and DRY/WET value.
The examples
After the initial introduction with the main features of the plugin let us hear few examples of this great plugin used on an above-mentioned drum loop. So, here is how our drum loop sounds processed like an early 80`s sampled kit.
~Drum Loop – Early 80`s type of drum kit
The next example represents how to this drum loop can sound more crunchy.
~Drum Loop -Crunchy drum kit
One of the widely known uses of the bitcrusher effect is the ability to replicate the sound of early video game sound. Here is how it’s easy to replicate that with Decimort 2. For this purpose, I will just automate the frequency knob.
~Drum Loop -Early video game sound
All this and more you can achieve with this great plugin. I strongly recommend using it not just on the drums, but on the variety of other instruments.
Download the project here.
