Get the Low Hi Sound with Decimort 2 by D16

A Bitcrusher effect is a lo-fi (low fidelity) digital audio effect that produces distortion by reducing the resolution or bandwidth of digital audio data. Moreover, the resulting quantization noise may create a "warmer" sound impression or a harsh one, depending on the amount of reduction. This effect is quite popular nowadays since it adds a unique character to the sound. As there are many software plugin options for the bit crusher effect, just a few can deliver impressive sounds like the one we will cover in the following tutorial.  

Decimort 2

Decimort 2 by D16 is one of the latest releases of the D16 group. It is not just a bit of a crusher unit but a sophisticated processing unit replicating the DA stage of classic samplers flawlessly without any artifacts. From making drums sound like in video games to turning synths into digital noise boxes, there is no telling what you can create with this futuristic retro time machine of a plugin. In addition to this, Decimort 2 has an exceptionally high-quality processing path. Consequently, the algorithms inside Decimort 2 guarantee the best possible result without unwanted artifacts in the signal. The only types of aliasing or artifacts are desirable and emulated, so there is no compromise regarding audio quality. So, let's see it in action!  

Let's Start

For the following example, I have chosen a drum loop we will mangle into something else. So, let's throw a new instance of Decimort 2 on the newly created channel within Soundbridge and hear how this drum loop sounds unprocessed.  

~Drum Loop - Unprocessed  

The Main Features

Before we start with the processing, go through some of the main features of this plugin unit. In the center of the interface, there is a big knob called RESAMPLER which is a hearth of the engine. This section controls the discretization process of the input signal in the time domain. The main parameters are located in the center of this section, and these are:

• Frequency - The frequency of the signal is discretized to (resampled). This parameter ranges from 44 Hz to 44.1 kHz.
• Jitter - Controlling the intensity of random, short-period ReResampler's Eliminations.

Additional Parameters

Additional parameters aside from the main controls supervise the signal processing before and after time discretization (Resampling). These include:

• Approximative Filter - Processing signal before resampling.
• Images Filter - Processing signal after resampling.

  Images are the artifacts resulting from ReResampler'sctivity. That results from projecting a signal from a higher sampling rate to a lower / reduced signal sample rate. Images Filter allows removing part or all of these artifacts from the spectrum after discretization. As a result, Decimort can also serve as an alias-free brick wall low pass filter.

• Quantizer - Is responsible for signal amplitude quantization. In other words, it divides the amplitude into specified (Resolution display) levels.

Furthermore, classic controls like filter parameters and DRY/WET values exist.  

The Examples

After the initial introduction with the plugin's main features, let us hear a few examples of this great plugin used on the drum mentioned above loop. So, here is how our drum loop sounds processed like an early 80's sampled kit.

~Drum Loop - Early 80's type of drum kit

The following example represents how this drum loop can sound more crunchy.

~Drum Loop -Crunchy drum kit

One widely known use of the bit crusher effect is the ability to replicate early video game sound. Here is how it's easy to replicate that with Decimort 2. For this purpose, I will automate the frequency knob.

~Drum Loop -Early video game sound

You can achieve all this and more with this great plugin. I strongly recommend using it on the drums and various other instruments.