Distortion
Distortion that hits harder, not just louder
Distortion adds harmonics, the higher copies of a sound that small speakers can play and ears notice. That's why a distorted 808 cuts through on a phone. The two traps: the low end turns to mush, and louder fools you into thinking it's better. Tantrum handles both.
How to distort an 808 (or anything else)
- Put the distortion right on the 808, drum bus or vocal. For a subtle version, use a send or keep Mix around 20 to 40%.
- Keep the sub clean: cut the lows going into the distortion so only the upper part gets dirty. In Tantrum, turn up TIGHT.
- Pick the kind of grit: Crunch for warm amp drive, Fuzz for a wall of sound, Rip for an octave-up snarl, Meltdown for wavefolded chaos.
- Turn up the drive until it speaks on small speakers, then check on your phone or laptop speakers.
- Compare at the same loudness. Tantrum matches the level for you, so turning it up only sounds angrier, not louder. Tame the top with TONE if it fizzes.
Watch it explained: Bass disappears on phone speakers? Use saturation
Hear Tantrum
What you get with Tantrum
- One big TANTRUM knob, from a sulk to a full meltdown
- Four modes: Crunch, Fuzz, Rip (octave up) and Meltdown (wavefolding and bitcrushing)
- TIGHT cuts the lows before the distortion, so bass and kicks stay punchy
- TONE tilts the sound darker or brighter
- The volume is matched for you, plus Mix and Output
- Runs at four times the sample rate for clean fizz
- 10 presets, like 808 Tantrum, Vocal Snarl and Total Meltdown
- Bzzt on screen, getting angrier the more you turn it up
Questions
How do I make my 808 audible on phone speakers?
Phones can't play the deep fundamental of an 808, so give it harmonics they can play. Distortion or saturation adds them. Keep the sub itself clean (cut the lows before the distortion) and check on a phone.
Distortion or saturation: what's the difference?
The same thing at different amounts. Saturation is gentle, warm drive you barely notice; distortion is obvious grit. Most plugins do both depending on how far you turn them.
Why does distortion make my bass muddy?
Distorting the sub creates a pile of low harmonics that blur together. Filter the lows out before the distortion and blend the clean sub back in, or use a TIGHT or low-cut control if your plugin has one.
Should I distort vocals?
On rap and rock vocals a little drive adds edge and helps them cut through. Use a parallel blend (Mix 15 to 30%) so the words stay clear, and de-ess before the distortion so S sounds don't turn to hiss.
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