BitClip

BitClip Bit Crusher / Soft Clipper Plugin (AUv3)

BitClip is an audio effect plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host application such as Logic or GarageBand.

Overview

BitClip combines bit-crushing and soft-clipping to create lo-fi distortion effects. From subtle, retro degradation, to gnarly diode-emulated distortion, BitClip can deliver, with a very low CPU cost! In "Warm" mode, BitClip's DSP has been tuned to mimic the sound of actual hardware, instead of just performing a simple bit-crush calculation. As a result, some of the higher frequencies normally associated with the effect are attenuated. Both effects work well in tandem, especially when trying to bring the character of old hardware samplers and drum machines to sounds that would otherwise be too "pristine".

Parameters

Active - Set to Off for bypass / no processing. Warm mode adds a bit of vintage character to the processing, attenuating some high frequencies, although this is not a simple LPF. Bright mode essentially bypasses the Warm mode processing with no added tonal colouration.

Out - Sets the output level. This can be used to attenuate the overall volume of the effect. For example, you can smash the Gain going into the clipper, then back-off the Out level so the track doesn't dominate your mix. At the maximum setting, no attenuation is applied.

Crush - Toggles bit-crushing On or Off.

Depth - Sets the desired bit-depth of the crushing from 16 Bit down to 4 Bit in 1 Bit intervals. In vintage hardware, devices would often be 8 or 12 Bit, whereas BitClip allows you to explore unusual values in-between. For example, 5 Bit provides much more clarity than 4 Bit, but can still sound satisfyingly crunchy!

Clip - Toggles soft-clipping On or Off.

Gain - Sets the gain applied to the signal going into the soft-clipper. Depending on the level of the incoming signal, lower settings may not sound obvious, but clipping will still occur, creating a subtle distortion effect and preventing any signal through that's over 0dB. With up to 48dB of gain on tap, BitClip can drive pretty much anything into nasty diode-like distortion!


For more info and support please visit:

www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson