Distorters / Saturators

If you’ve always wanted an overdrive or distortion pedal featuring two fully independent channels with exactly the same facilities, here it is!

These examples accompany my review of the T-Rex TwinBlaze pedal, published in SOS November 2025.

This quirky 500‑series module is designed for colour and attitude rather than cleanliness.

Part fuzz, part guitar synth, this quirky pedal was conceived with horror soundtracks in mind. But it’s not a one‑trick pony...

The Tube Screamer is one of the most modded pedals there is, and this plug‑in lets you mod the virtual circuit to your heart’s content!

Softube's plug-in version of the Drawmer 1976 offers three‑band saturation and stereo widening.

Like classic fuzz pedals, this one sounds great. Unlike them, it’s easy to control and can play nicely in any setup!

The latest device to take up the challenge of ‘tape without tape’ is the Stardust, which Qu‑Bit describe as a ‘cosmic tape looper’.

JMG’s DarkFire is a harmonic enhancer plug-in whose added harmonics can be shaped by a three‑band EQ to put them precisely where you want them.

They’ve engineered synth noises for years, but this is the California‑based company’s first foray into the guitar‑pedal world.

Evolved from Neural DSP’s earlier Parallax, Parallax X is a multiband processor designed to enhance bass sounds...

JMC’s Cyberdrive is one of those plug‑ins that’s designed to break your audio in interesting and creative ways.

Based on the vintage SPL Machine Head hardware digital rack unit, which was an early attempt to replicate the effects of recording to analogue tape, MBS MixHead plug‑in aims to capture the subtle sound‑massaging capabilities of the original.

Want to add power, energy and excitement to a source? Kraftur can help...

Eventide’s take on the legendary Uni‑Vibe adds modern conveniences and a classy overdrive.

These plug‑ins are all about warmth and distortion, and the flavours on offer range from gentle saturation at the subtler end of the scale through to crunching overload and squelchy obliteration.

A much‑loved creative distortion plug‑in is back from its sabbatical, and it looks like the break has done it good!

The Warm Bender, by Warm Audio, offers users three distinctive fuzz voicings in one robust pedal.

EHX have used digital technology to coax three different characters of drive from a single pedal.

Coil Audio’s CA‑70 valve preamp is based on classic Western Electric and RCA designs dating back as far as the 1930s.

Just when you thought it had all been done with distortion and overdrive pedals, Old Blood Noise Endeavours have put a new spin on the concept...