We're currently living in the age of digital audio. Bit Crusher is an incredibly powerful tool that is essential to any music producer.

But there are so many different Bit Crusher plugins in the music production landscape, so we decided to create the ultimate list of the top Bit Crusher plugins today that will help you find the perfect fit.


Bitcrush Snapin

Bit Crusher by Kilohearts



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Description


Bitcrush: Simulate Lo-Fi Sound Sources

When nostaliga hits, Bitcrush can bring you back to the digital hardware of times past. It simulates the audio being played back using a low quality sampler with limited sample rate and bit depth. Mm, crunchy.

What's a Snapin?

This plugin is a "snapin". That means you can use it as a regular VST/AU plugin, or you can use it with our snapin hosts Multipass and Snap Heap where you can combine effects in amazing ways.



Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


These are the minimum recommended system requirements for running snapins.

CPU:

  • 2 GHz or faster

Memory:

  • 1 GB or more

Operating System:

  • Windows (7 or newer) or Mac OS X (10.7 or newer)

Software:

  • A VST / Audio Unit / AAX compatible DAW

Supported formats:

  • AAX
  • AU
  • VST2
  • Snapin

Please note: If you use a lot of snapins at the same time in your patch the CPU usage willincrease accordingly. Thus, we cannot guarantee that the snapins will work flawlessly in all use cases even if your system does meet the minimum recommended system requirements.

OS Compatibility



Bite Harder

Bit Crusher by denise



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Description


Next Level Crushing

You decide which frequency ranges to target with the push-pull graph.

The push-pull graph lets you have complete control over the frequencies that are going to be crushed, giving you endless possibilities and new sounds. Automate it to create organically changing bit crushed lines and create steep curves for screaming resonances.

Refined Crush Controls

The Bite Harder offers the classic bit crushing features but adds unique controls to refine or destroy your sound even more. With the Silky dial, you can smooth out the effect of the individual bit and sample controls. Alongside this, denise added the push-pull graph, a layer of FX and a drive control.

Controls:

  • Resample
  • Reduce
  • Silky
  • Distort
  • Clipper

Presets from Florian Meindl

denise asked one of their favourite electronic music producers in Berlin to create crazy presets for the Bite Harder & My Crush. They are included for free and in addition to the presets that denise created.

Crazy FX for Extra Fun & Destruction

Create an extra layer of mayhem with the tailored effects in the Bite Harder.

FX:

  • Repeat & Stutter
  • Repeat
  • Glitch
  • Drive
  • Random

Trigger Your Creativity!

Production tricks & ideas for creative bit-crushing.

Inspiration

denise wanted to create an adaptable bit-crusher with complete control over its sound. On top of that, denise wanted an extra layer of surprise, joy and an almost instrument-like feeling. The plugin is based on a crazy-sounding bit-crushing algorithm that denise added their push-pull graph technology to, which you might know from the Dragon Fire & God Mode, with tailored FX and clever smoothing to top things off.

This plugin enables you to destroy your audio and make extremely rough and bold sounds by merging the push-pull technique, as well as classic bit reduction and sample reduction functionalities: You don’t need anything more than this plugin to go from a clean bassline to a distorted, screaming monster, or to give your drums the edge they need and create new glitched up and futuristic arrangements.




Features

  • Push-Pull Graph - Complete control over the frequencies that are going to be crushed, giving you endless possibilities and new sounds
  • Drive - Sometimes less is more, but definitely not with this one. An extra layer of mayhem to make your loops, and sounds, break and scream even more!
  • Solo - Solo frequency ranges to audition individual bands.
  • Presets - Custom from Florian Meindl are included on top of presets from denise.
  • Transparent Clipper - Use it heavily to add extra dirt and saturation.
  • Side-Chain Control - Destroy the sound using an external input source.
  • Silky Control - Smooth out the bit-crushing sound for more delicate, high-end, rounder and warmer sounds.
  • Continuous Reduce & Re-Sample Control - Individually set the bit & sample rate.
  • Looper & Stutter - Create extra arrangements, textures and glitches with a host syncing toggle.
  • Glitch - An extra ring modulator for all your glitching needs. Perfect to create IDM, transitions and effects.

Video


Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Windows

  • Windows 7 or newer (64-bit only)
  • VST, VST3, AAX

Mac

  • Mac OSX 10.7 or newer (macOS 11 Big Sur and M1 Mac supported) (64-bit only)
  • VST, VST3, AU, AAX

OS Compatibility



CrushShaper

Bit Crusher by Cableguys



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Description


Get the complete ShaperBox 2 Bundle and save 62%!

Rhythmic Bitcrusher • Vintage Lo-Fi • Multiband Enhancer

Designed to inspire you in ways no ordinary bitcrusher can, CrushShaper is powered by Cableguys’ easy drawable LFOs and flexible envelope followers. Now you can create unique digital distortion patterns, per-note multiband crushing, and crunchy downsampled grooves in just a few clicks. Put simply, it’s the ultimate creative bitcrusher.

CrushShaper puts 3 distinct bitcrushing styles at your full control: ‘Crunch’ for fuzz, grind and grit. ‘Bits’ to reduce audio resolution, going 8-bit and beyond. ‘Resample’ for digital overtones and lo-fi retro sound. Animate each with its own custom LFO and envelope follower, then filter and layer with the dry signal using the handy ‘FX Mix’ section.

An essential creative weapon for production and sound design, use CrushShaper to craft crunchy lo-fi melodies and retro videogame FX. Create ‘talking’ robot synths, gnarly speaker-rattling bass growls and old-school downsampled drums. Transform even the plainest loops into inspirational track-starting rhythms to fuel your next track!

For mixing, deploy CrushShaper as a laser-targeted multiband tool: crush individual hits and frequency ranges in a loop, add treble sizzle and shine to vocals and hi-hats, rough up the lows in a bass, dynamically distort drum transients, and so much more.

Running inside Cableguys' ShaperBox 2 effects plugin, use CrushShaper on its own or with other Shapers — they all work in exactly the same way, stacking up to create elaborate, multilayered effects that'll make your productions stand out.

Do all this with CrushShaper:

  • Get rhythmic inspiration: Turn even the plainest loops into track‑starting grooves using pro presets and drawable LFOs.
  • Make Melodies Lo-Fi: Take your tracks back in time! From dark and fuzzy vintage digital to bright and spiky videogame vibes.
  • Fatten Your Treble: Crush just the highs for modern, in‑your‑face sizzle. Try it on drums, loops, synths – anything.
  • Give Drums Attitude: From phat old‑school downsampling to cutting‑edge crunch and bite.
  • Design Gnarly Bass: Drop the sample rate down low for sub‑rumbling vowel movements and gritty bass textures.
  • Crush Hits in a Loop: Take aim! Target snares in a beat, notes in a riff, and more, with multiband LFOs and envelopes.
  • Make Vocals Pop: Add focused top‑end clarity for that modern, upfront vocal sound that pops through the mix.



Features

  • Crunch. Bits. Resample

  • Combine 3 distinct bitcrushing styles: ‘Crunch’ for fuzz, grind and grit. ‘Bits’ to reduce audio resolution, going 8-bit and beyond. ‘Resample’ for digital overtones and lo-fi retro sound. Animate each with its own custom LFO and envelope follower, then filter and layer with the dry signal using the handy ‘FX Mix’ section, which is itself modulatable.

  • LFOs That You Design

  • From smoothly gliding sample rate reduction to intense stepped distortion patterns, any pattern or wave shape you can imagine is just clicks away with Cableguys’ famous wave-editing tools. Lock your LFOs to host tempo with sample accuracy, or trigger in any rhythm with MIDI notes.

  • Powerful Pens

  • Designing the perfect bitcrushing LFO is fast and simple with three powerful, easy-to-grasp Pens. Draw crisp lines, smooth arcs and flowing S-curves. Easily pick out single hits in a loop, and rapidly sketch wild rhythmic sequences. Switch back to classic single-node editing anytime.

  • Flexible Envelope Followers

  • Discover dynamic bitcrushing that reacts to your beats, loops, melodies – anything. Use CrushShaper’s flexible envelope followers to reduce the sample rate with the transient of each note. Lower the bit-depth as synths grow louder. Trigger from other tracks in your project using sidechain routing.

  • Multiband Bitcrushing

  • With up to three bands of highly targeted bitcrushing, CrushShaper becomes an incredible mix tool and an even crazier creative playground. Add sizzling top-end air for ultra-modern sounds that leap from the mix. Rhythmise midrange with percolating bit patterns. Grind the bass with gnarly resampling.

  • Runs in ShaperBox 2

  • CrushShaper runs in Cableguys’ ShaperBox 2 effects plugin. Use it on its own, or combine it with Time, Filter, Volume, Pan and Width Shapers for multilayered effects. Buy CrushShaper on its own or get all 6 Shapers with ShaperBox 2 Bundle.

  • Inspiring Presets

  • Get inspired with dozens of LFO wave presets, and share patches with others via the syncable Cableguys Preset Cloud. Up your workflow with 1-click Quick Presets for production essentials like snare enhancement, rhythmic stutters, and more. Just add the plugin, click and create.

  • Additional Features

  • Retina/HiDPI interface, resizable from 75% to 200%.
  • Built-in help — hover over any control for description.
  • Expandable LFO for detailed editing.
  • Set LFO loop length in beats and bars, or Hertz.
  • LFO loop length from 1/128 to 32 bars, with sample-accurate sync.
  • Audio-rate modulation up to 5.24kHz for extreme sound design.
  • Trigger LFO in any rhythm via MIDI.
  • Trigger Smoothing to reduce clicks when MIDI Triggering.
  • 1-click Quick Presets for Snare, Stutter and Air.
  • Dedicated selection tool for multinode editing.
  • 2x/3x button — double or triple patterns with a click.
  • Flip/resize/move/randomize wave or selection.
  • Draggable parameters to shift the entire wave up/down.
  • Copy/paste waves between any Shapers.
  • Unlimited undo/redo for LFO wave edits.
  • Dozens of Wave Presets covering all common uses.
  • 9 slots to store User Waves, saved with the patch.
  • Switch User Waves via MIDI.
  • Additional bitcrushing controls.
  • Push control for Crunch: create asymmetric distortion.
  • Push control for Bits: preserve low-level dynamics and reverb tails.
  • Dither for Bits: increase dynamic range and reduce quantisation distortion.
  • Jitter for Resample: mimic the random fluctuations of real hardware.
  • Filter for Resample: reduce aliasing for more harmonious results.
  • LP for FX Mix: low-pass filter the crushed signal to fit your mix.
  • Gain for FX Mix: Compensate for loudness changes.

Video


Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Mac

  • Mac OS X 10.8 or later (64-bit only)
  • VST, AU or AAX host sequencer.

Windows

  • Windows 7, 8 or 10 (32 & 64-bit)
  • VST or AAX host sequencer.

OS Compatibility



Decimort 2

Bit Crusher by D16 Group



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Description


Decimort Recreates the Colouration and Adds the Vintage Sampler's Magic to any Sound

Electronic music (especially Hip-Hop) producers have long been aware that classic samplers (such as early Akai and E-MU units) had a character and sound all their own: they added a "grit" and "colour" to the samples and loops they played back which made them sound "fat" and sit well in a mix. This sound colouration was due to the encoding techniques, lower sample rate and bit depth, and conversion circuits used by these early samplers. Decimort recreates this colouration and adds that vintage sampler magic back to any loop, any bassline, or any sound played through it for that matter! Beyond vintage sampler emulation, it’s also the perfect bit-crusher with filter, capable of extreme settings for dramatic results.

The highest quality low-quality effect you can buy

While this tagline may seem like an oxymoron on the surface, allow us to explain: the Decimort effect unit (available as part of the SilverLine collection of plugins from D16) is a premium grade bit crusher and sample rate reducer with some highly unconventional features. The advanced signal processing algorithms within Decimort simulate the complex behaviour of the entire sampling path that exists in every AD/DA converter, and with version 2 comes far greater control over the process!

Decimort has zero internal aliasing—in fact, the only aliasing present is the emulated aliasing of the classic samplers we modelled when creating it. Unwelcome artefacts are completely absent in the processed signal: only the desirable, modelled ones remain.

More control than any other effect of this type

Decimort isn’t just another bitcrusher with only bit resolution and sampling frequency to tweak; in fact, it provides far more advanced features than you likely could have ever expected from an effect of this kind, all implemented in stunning quality:

  • Two optional anti-alias filters - A very steep low-pass pre-filter (Approximative Filter) coupled with the resampling frequency that removes all harmonic content above it, ensuring no aliasing will appear below this frequency in the spectrum. A further post filter (Image filter), also synchronized with the resampler, gives control over the amount of aliasing images appearing above resampling frequency when enabled.
  • Adjustable Jitter - An unprecedented feature in the bit crusher’s world which introduces short-period, random fluctuations to the resampling frequency, thus making the process even more sonically interesting by producing a type of harmonic distortion you’ve likely never heard in this context.
  • Two quantization methods - Two available quantization methods; the mid-raiser and mid-tread decimation algorithms, each of them characterized by a drastically different dynamics response.
  • Controllable dithering - Dithering was conceptually developed as a means to reduce audible quantization errors by masking the harmonic distortions they cause. We added controllable dithering to increase the number of ways in which you can (mal)treat the sound.

All this adds up to a very powerful and musical tool which is not only another creativity-releasing item for your arsenal but one that gives you the ability to emulate classic sampling units in-the-box; now with even greater precision through access to a variety of parameters unavailable up till now in effects of this type!

Two in one

Decimort is also equipped with analogue-like filters with adjustable resonance that allow further sculpting of the signal. These can be used to smooth the sound or remove sonic artefacts introduced into the signal path by the modelling process to your taste.

Key Features

  • Ultra accurate resampling algorithm (ADC emulation, no harmonics above 22kHz)
  • Approximative (pre) filter and Image (post) filter, both conjugated with resampler
  • Adjustable jitter
  • Quantization with controlled dithering
  • Two quantization methods (mid-raiser, mid-tread)
  • Analogue-like filters with adjustable resonance and cutoff
  • Tag-based preset browser
  • Two alternative GUI sizes
  • MIDI-learn functionality throughout
  • 64bit internal processing
  • No unwanted harmonic distortions at the output



Video


Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Windows

  • Windows 7 - 10 (32 or 64-bit)
  • CPU - Single-core 2.0 GHz SSE (Multi-core 2.1 GHz SSE recommended)
  • RAM - 8 GB (16 GB Recommended)
  • Plugin Formats - VST2, VST3, AAX

Mac

  • macOS 10.9 - macOS 12 Monterey (64-bit only)
  • CPU - Intel 1.8 GHz / Apple M1 (Intel 2.4 GHz / Apple M1 recommended)
  • RAM - 8 GB (16 GB Recommended)
  • Plugin Formats - VST2, VST3, AU, AAX

Please Note: This is not a standalone program - a host application (DAW) is required to use it.

OS Compatibility



SampleX V3

Bit Crusher by BeatSkillz



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Description


Vintage Sampler Emulator

SampleX Version 3 brings you new features like - New LP/ HP Ladder resonant Filters, Stereo Width (Imaging) Control (Mono / M/S expander) & Beatskillz Dynamic Convolution System where we have sampled the real vintage samplers to get their exact sound at various levels.

Standard Variable Sample Rate, Bitrate, and an Aliasing Control (Shift) are also present. Beatskillz has also added IR Machine on/off feature, POP UP value display for the 1/0 section, Filter Section along with 2 New Sampler Models.

Beatskillz went on a quest to study the actual circuitry and found each and every step right from the A/D converters, preamps, analog, and digital filters, and processes involved to recreate each stage and bring you a plugin that can not only emulate a sampler but many, and also lets you design your own sampler or vintage chip!

Controls

A/D Sample Section

Bits Control

Set the bit rate with this control. The Range varies from the modern-day 24 bit right down to 4 bits! You can also Double click the bit display LCD and manually enter the value that you desire.

SR Control (Sample Rate)

Set the sample rate with this control. The range varies from 96 kHz (Your DAW Sample Rate) down to 2khz, You can also Double click the bit display LCD and manually enter the value that you desire.

Aliasing & Drive Section

Shift

The key process of getting those “Aliased/ring” sounds from the vintage samplers was to lower the pitch of the samples. The Effect caused by vintage samplers is emulated here, Allowing a user to “Dial-In” the exact aliasing sound that they want to hear, without actually modifying the pitch of the sample. ” Double Click” and Enter the value or Use the Dial.

Drive (ON / OFF Switch and Control)

In Vintage samplers, users often “Overloaded” the pre-Amp before the A/D Converter to get a “Driven” Sound. We have accurately emulated the sound found in the s900 sampler to give you the same saturation and drive and get even closer to the sounds of those vintage beasts. ” Double Click ” and Enter the value or Use the Dial.

Width Control

Width is a stereo fixed expander and collapser, Go from mono to the original stereo field to m/s expanded space with this control.

Analog Filter Emulation

Filter Type (The Red On / Off Switch)

We have accurately modelled the popular vintage analog mono synth used on countless recordings. This is a 24 DB/OCT Low pass filter with resonance. If you increase the resonance it does FO into ” Self=Oscillation” creating a pitched Tone, Just like the original. This filter is perfect for those warm and dark tones fit for Lo-fi and Hip-Hop music, Extremely addictive.

Filter Freq Control

Set the Cutoff frequency for the low pass filter here. The range is 20 KWZ to 20 HZ.

RES Control

Set the resonance of the low pass filter using the slider control. The Range is 0 to 1.0, You can go extreme and get the filter into self-oscillation mode like the real analog filter that it was modelled after.

Mix & Input - Output Section

Wet / Dry

The Wet Control will control the amount of the “Effected” signal and the Dry Control will mix in the Original/Clean signal. This gives you the possibility of mixing just the right amount of processing to your input audio.

In / Out

The In Control lets the user increase or decrease the gain of the input audio and the out control lets the user increase and decrease and the gain on the output audio signal, after being processed by the plugin.




Features

  • 6 Iconic Vintage Samplers
  • New Multi Convolution System
  • New HP / LP Resonant Ladder Filters
  • Width Control Stereo Expansion to Mono
  • New Presets and GUI
  • IR Machine on/off feature
  • Popup value display for the 1/0 section and the Filter Section

Video


Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Mac

  • macOS 10.14 Mojave or later (macOS 10.15 Catalina & macOS 11 Big Sur Supported) (64-bit only)
  • VST3 / AU / AAX Format
  • Intel i5 or later / AMD Athlon 64 or equivalent
  • Screen Resolution: 1024×768
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 300 MB HD Space

Windows

  • Windows 10 or later (64-bit only)
  • VST3 / AAX Format
  • Intel i5 or later / AMD Athlon 64 or equivalent
  • Screen Resolution: 1024×768
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 300 MB HD Space

OS Compatibility



My Crush

Bit Crusher by denise



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Description


A Brutal & Crazy Crush

Refined Crush Controls

The same insane bit crushing algorithm from the Bite Harder drives the My Crush plugin. The individual bit (reduce) and re-sample dials help you to gradually destroy your sound. The stutter fader adds a layer of creativity on top.

Presets from Florian Meindl

denise asked one of their favourite electronic music producers in Berlin to create crazy presets for the Bite Harder & My Crush. They are included for free and in addition to the presets that denise created.

Inspiration

denise wanted to create a fun and inspiring crusher, with the same brutal power of the Bite Harder, but the simplicity of preset controls and a way to shape your sound in a quick and inspiring way. My Crush gives you the possibility to create the same, classic bit-crushing tones and audio destruction, in a simplified way, for no cost at all.




Features

  • Brutal Algorithm - Brutal crushing algorithm.
  • Filters - Easy to use LPF & HPF filters on the main panel.
  • Stutter - Create extra arrangements and textures with the stutter control.
  • Continuous Reduce Re-Sample Control - Individually set the bit & sample rate.
  • Graph Curves - Six different preset curves change the tone and vibrancy of the bit-crusher control.
  • Presets - Custom presets from Florian Meindl are included on top of presets from denise.

Video


Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Mac:

  • Mac OSX 10.7 or newer (64-bit only) (macOS 11 Big Sur and M1 Apple Silicon supported)
  • VST, VST3, AU, AAX

​Windows: 

  • Windows 7 or newer (64-bit only)
  • VST, VST3, AAX

OS Compatibility