Synth enthusiasts often overlook the effects falling under the “Distortion” or “Saturation” umbrella.
Truth is, these are effects that can do a variety of things to any sound they are fed, and have a powerful and almost unique secret weapon: they create harmonics of the upper kind, as exemplified in the video below.
Harmonic and Compression through Distortion and Fuzz
Here’s a practical demonstration of how saturation—specifically, a blend of distortion and overdrive—introduces upper harmonics into an audio signal, enriching its tonal character.
This phenomenon enables you to harness these effects not just to add grit and character to your tracks, but also to brighten and compress them simultaneously—the heavier the distortion, the greater the compression and the brighter the tone. The creative possibilities are vast, especially when applying these effects to drums!
Saturation vs. Overdrive vs. Distortion vs. Fuzz vs. Wavefolding
Those who need guidance navigating the nuances of distortion-related effects should check out this section of our video:
The Best Distortion Pedals for Drums
In this article, we explore six of our favorite distortion pedals for use with drum machines. From straightforward analog preamps to versatile multi-algorithm workstations, and even more experimental options featuring bitcrushing and wavefolding capabilities, there’s something here for every sonic palette.
JHS Colourbox V2: a Top Notch Preamp/EQ
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The JHS Colourbox V2 offers a vintage-inspired take on distortion, bringing the iconic channel strip of a legendary Neve mixing console right to your fingertips. It’s the perfect starting point for our exploration, as the earliest forms of distortion—long before pedals existed—were born from overdriving console preamps. In fact, the very first fuzz tone was famously captured through a malfunctioning channel strip, marking the beginning of a sonic revolution.
A mono and fully analog pedal, the Colourbox is equipped with three (red) gain knobs, but it’s the one on the right, labeled Step, that truly drives the circuit into saturation. Its five distinct settings boost the signal by +18 dB, +23 dB, +28 dB, +33 dB, and +39 dB, respectively. This range allows you to dial in everything from subtle overdrive to nearly fuzz-like tones, offering a spectrum of tonal possibilities. When the bottom-right toggle switch is in “Hi” mode the circuit will distort more easily.
The blue knobs are console-style a 3-way parametric EQ, while the gray knob is a high pass filter.
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BOSS OD-200: All the Flavors of Distortion
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Combining analog and digital technologies, the BOSS OD-200 is a versatile, multi-algorithm pedal with preset capabilities, offering a contemporary take on distortion. With 12 distinct modes, it provides an expansive range of tones, from precise emulations of classic amps and pedals to more experimental and extreme sounds.
Although not parametric like in the Colourbox V2, the built-in 3-band EQ allows for some level of tone shaping, making it adaptable to any instrument or musical context. Additionally, its switchable noise gate—ideal for taming guitar noise—can be creatively repurposed by synth and drum players to achieve sharp, staccato effects.
The dedicated Boost footswitch is another standout feature, perfect for elevating synth levels during solos or adding emphasis to louder sections of your performance, and it can be routed to be placed before or after the distortion.
The OD-200 is Midi compatible and can store four presets.
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Red Panda BitMap 2: An Experimental Distorter with Wavefolding
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The Red Panda Bitmap 2 is primarily a creative stereo bit crusher and sample rate reducer, capable of applying fractional bit reduction and sample rate modulation using triangle, square, and random LFO waveforms, as well as envelope control over the sampling rate or wet/dry mix.
However, the V2 version introduces several new features that transform it into a uniquely distinctive distortion effect. Among these is a drive knob that not only delivers traditional saturation but also ventures into waveshaping and wavefolding—two innovative digital distortion techniques that manipulate the waveform to produce more complex tones. Wavefolding, in particular, can generate strikingly intense sounds, which might explain why the Bitmap lights up a “danger” icon when this feature is engaged!
All these functions can be blended together to create some truly wild electronic drum and synth tones, and – when necessary – the ever-useful Mix knob allows you to reintegrate some of the clean signal to make them more musical. V2 is Midi compatible and can store 4 presets.
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Chase Bliss Clean: A Compressor that Distorts
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Drums and punchy synth sounds depend heavily on dynamics, and compression is the go-to effect for shaping that aspect of audio. The Chase Bliss Clean can function as a standard stereo compressor but also has a “darker” side that pushes it into territory closer to a distortion pedal, adding grit and character while still managing dynamics. This dual nature makes it a versatile tool for both subtle control and bold tonal transformation.
Clean has a master limiter at the end of its signal chain; a switch called “Dusty” turns it into an overdrive. The more you turn up the WET and DRY knobs the gnarlier it gets. You can also hit Clean as hard as you want at the input stage to create extra distortion, it’s built for that.
This pedal allows you to craft intensely distorted and dynamically altered drum sounds, and then tame these extreme tones by blending back in some of the original signal through the Dry knob. This technique, often referred to as parallel compression, takes on a unique twist here, allowing for what could be described as “parallel distortion”—a creative blend of clean and processed signals for a more controlled yet textured result.
It also features two distinct EQ modes, one of which affects the sounds differently according to their volume, giving, for example, a frequency boost to louder sounds grow while letting quieter ones sound more natural. This can give drums a unique kind of movement.
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Empress Zoia: Build Your Own Distortion Effect
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The Empress Zoia is a compact, stereo powerhouse that functions as a versatile grid of musical possibilities. With its array of virtual modules, it allows you to build instruments, effects, and utility tools from the ground up. The manufacturer aptly describes it as “essentially a modular synthesizer in pedal form.” Among its many modules are dedicated ones for overdrive/distortion and fuzz, each offering a variety of algorithms.
For the overdrive/distortion module, you can choose from plexi, germ, classic, or pushed modes, while the fuzz module provides options like efuzzy, burly, scoopy, or ugly. But what truly sets this pedal apart is its ability to let you design custom effects by interconnecting modules, offering unmatched sonic flexibility and creative freedom—all while delivering top-notch sound quality and an intuitive interface.
Patches can be saved as “supermodules” to streamline your workflow or generate random functions for inspiration. Regular updates with new modules ensure the Zoia stays fresh and evolving. It also boasts MIDI I/O, CV and clock inputs, and the ability to send CV out via the ring of a TRS cable. For those diving deeper into modular setups, there’s even a Eurorack version available.
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Meris Ottobit Jr: Advanced Vintage Sonic Manipulation
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Not exactly a distortion pedal, the Meris Ottobit Jr is a stereo “Audio In >> Video Game Out” device that lets musicians employ synthesis techniques and bitcrushing to create new audio textures that often can sound distorted or sonically compromised.
Sample-rate and bit-reduction circuits are combined with tap tempo, LFOs, envelopes, a very synthy low-pass filter, and both amplitude (AM) and frequency modulation (FM).
On top of that, the Stutter function creates a repeating, chopped-up effect by capturing a short snippet of audio played through the pedal and then rapidly playing it back multiple times, adding rhythmic glitches or rhythmic texture to any vaguely percussive audio; it can be controlled to vary the speed and length of the stutter repetition, allowing for a wide range of sonic possibilities from subtle to extreme.
It also features a sequencer and Midi and CV compatibility.
Other Great Distortion Pedals Synths and E-Drums
