Focusrite has teamed up with Swedish developer Klevgrand to supply Degrader as a free obtain for all registered Focusrite and Novation product homeowners.
Right here’s the factor, although. You don’t must personal any {hardware} to qualify. Software program works, too. Even when you solely have the free FAST bundle from a previous promotion (which you in all probability do when you comply with BPB often since we coated it in our information part), you’re eligible.
Degrader is a mixed resampler and bitcrusher that may take your pristine audio and chew it into vintage-style grit or obliterate it fully into glitchy chaos. It’s excellent for including lofi character, digital distortion, or old-school sampler vibes to your tracks.
The resampling engine allows you to drop the pattern charge anyplace between 250 Hz and 96 kHz, with an optionally available low-pass filter positioned earlier than and/or after the method. You’ll be able to select between totally different filter traits (off, low-Q, high-Q) for refined roll-offs or steeper cuts.
For further style, the Jitter management provides instability to the clock sign (with randomized pattern timing), an effective way to make sounds really feel unstable.
The bitcrusher part allows you to repeatedly dial the decision from 24 bits all the way down to a gritty 3 bits, and an added saturation stage can push the degradation additional into analog distortion territory.
I particularly just like the Hyperlink function, which lets you management a number of parameters with a single knob. That is excellent for sweeping between clear and crushed in actual time throughout a transition. It may well additionally assist velocity up automation in your DAW.
Degrader covers a variety of tones, as a lot as you possibly can anticipate from a stable bitcrusher plugin. It may well convincingly emulate older samplers just like the Akai S950 for a refined retro contact, or it will possibly smash sounds into harsh, 8-bit recreation console territory.
On drums, you possibly can add sizzle to hi-hats and add a little bit of crunch to snares, whereas on vocals or synths, you possibly can create lo-fi textures or fully remodel them. I used it so as to add further menace to a monster voice design, and it match the function completely.
The interface is clear and intuitive, with visible suggestions for bit depth and saturation, plus simple grasp controls for enter/output achieve and dry/moist combine. A number of presets are included, simulating varied items of classic digital gear.
In the event you’ve been on the lookout for a flexible bitcrusher/resampler that may go from tasteful retro to outright destruction — and also you qualify for the Focusrite freebie provide — that is a simple win.
Degrader is out there for macOS (10.10+, M1-optimized) and Home windows 7+ in AU, VST, and AAX codecs. Seize it now through your Focusrite or Novation account earlier than the promotion ends.
Get the freebie: Klevgrand Degrader (Focusrite/Novation homeowners can declare for FREE till October tenth)
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Final Up to date on August 13, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
