Steinberg QuadraFuzz Plugin (Macintosh and Windows CDROM)

QuadraFuzz is the first multi-band distortion Plug-In for VST PC and Mac host applications, DirectX and WaveLab. It uses an entirely different approach to distortion, splitting the signal into 4 frequency bands, and distorting each one individually.

Craig Anderton (Electronic Musician, Guitar Player, Keyboards): "This Plug-In is based on a hardware design that was first presented as a do-it-yourself project in Guitar Player magazine back in the 1980's. I designed this circuit to give more control over distortion, and spent hours tweaking the filter bandwidths for the "perfect" sound. The distortion elements weren't tubes, diodes, or transistors, but LEDs. This was part of the secret of the QuadraFuzz's sound, as the distortion automatically became brighter with loud signals, and duller with softer signals. The result was a lively, responsive type of distortion."

Now QuadraFuzz is brought to the digital domain with most of the original QuadraFuzz sounds reproduced. But the filter response can be changed in ways that would be impossible to do in the analog domain. With guitar, this results in a "clean" distortion that can sound extremely "focused" with power chords. It can also do some great lead effects, when dialing in anything from a dark, fat fuzz with huge amounts of distortion, to a bright, almost acoustic-sounding crunch. Certain mid-range peaks can be emphasized, or can be brought out almost entirely. As a result, QuadraFuzz is good for much more than guitar — it sounds… read more spectacular on drums, whether the sound wants to be tightened up a bit or brought to a fullblown, "Drums of Doom" effect. Bass works well too, as does "warming up" old synths like the DX7 or TB-303. Included with QuadraFuzz are 16 sample presets created by Craig Anderton, some for lead guitar, some for power chords, and some for drums. "The world's first truly programmable QuadraFuzz."

Applications
- 'Creative' distortion of voice, guitar, percussion, synth, etc.
- Emphasis on lead instruments
- Realization of sounds from 'grunge' to 'industrial'
- Sound design via automation (VST version)

Features
- Processing the signal individually in 4 bands
- Control over harmonic distortion
- Analog sound character
- Preset editor
- Internal preset handling for quick start read less