Bitcrusher: Breaking the Rules of Digital Sound

The world of digital sound is a marvel of precision. Everything is perfectly structured: every frequency has its place, and every harmonic is predictable. But sometimes, what a track needs is not that neatness. Sometimes what you're looking for is chaos, a sense of controlled disintegration. This is where the Bitcrusher comes in.

This effect takes the clear, detailed sound that is inherent in modern music and breaks it into pieces, adding a dirty, fragmented texture that can radically transform a production.

This effect is part of my arsenal when producing music, and, I can tell you that while its application may seem simple, mastering the bitcrusher can lead you to create unexpected and exciting sonic environments. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into what the bitcrusher does, how you can use it to create magic in your tracks, and some tricks I've learned along the way to give your music that spark of grit and character you didn't know it was missing.

Read more: Bitcrusher Makes a Welcomed Splash in Soundtrap

What is Bitcrusher?

Let's cut to the chase: bitcrusher is an effect that reduces the bit depth and sample rate of an audio signal. In other words, it turns a clear, detailed sound into something degraded, lo-fi, and sometimes even unrecognizable. 

The trick is that you can control exactly how much you want to degrade the sound. You want a lo-fi vibe, like an old 8-bit video game? Or maybe just a touch of digital distortion to give your drums a little edge? You can do that too.

When you reduce the bit depth, you're basically taking resolution out of the sound. Think of an image file that is initially in HD resolution and then reduced to 240p. Fine details are lost, edges become rough, but that may be just what you are looking for. 

The sample rate, on the other hand, controls how many times per second the waveform information is recorded. By reducing it, you eliminate precision in the high frequencies, which generates aliasing and that distorted touch that sounds so characteristic of bitcrusher.

Bitcrusher History: From Mistake to Style

The bitcrusher was not always an “effect”. Originally, it was a technological limitation. In the 80s, when the first video games used 8-bit audio, the low resolution of the sound was not an effect you applied whenever you wanted, but a consequence of the lack of processing power. However, when we reached the 90s and early 2000s, genres such as glitch, chiptune and drum and bass began to take advantage of these limitations as an art form. What was once a flaw had now become a style.

Listen to songs like Aphex Twin's “Come to Daddy” or anything by the band Atari Teenage Riot. The bitcrusher became a key player in these styles, creating chaotic soundscapes that capture that sense of digital decay. These artists didn't just use bitcrusher, they took it to the extreme to create jarring transitions, unexpected breaks and atmospheres that seemed to come from a broken future.

You can also listen to songs like “Short Circuit” by Daft Punk, you will notice that towards the end of the track, the sound starts to degrade progressively, applying a bitcrusher that transforms the electronic elements into more raw and lo-fi textures. This creates a striking transition and adds emotional depth to the closing of the song.

Essential Bitcrusher Parameters

Understanding the key parameters of a bitcrusher is essential if you want to get the most out of this effect. Depending on the plugin you are using, you will have access to different controls, but, in general, the three most common parameters are:

1. Bit Depth

As I mentioned earlier, reducing the bit depth degrades the quality of the audio. With fewer bits, each sample of the signal is less accurate, which introduces that raw sound. For a lo-fi style, reducing to 8 bits or less will give you that retro feel, but if you go any lower, towards 4 or even 1 bit, you'll start to hear some pretty extreme glitch artifacts. Use it wisely on synthesizers to give it a bit of dirt, or apply it to drums to get a sound that almost screeches.

2. Sample Rate

Lowering the sample rate has a similar effect, but affects the high frequencies more. The lower the value, the more compressed the high frequencies become, creating an aliasing effect that adds a harsh and sometimes disorienting touch to the sound. This can be useful for creating punchy transitions or for making an instrument stand out in the mix in an unpredictable way.

3. Mix

Some bitcrusher plugins include a mix parameter, which allows you to control how much of the effect you apply to the signal. This is essential if you want to use the bitcrusher in a subtle way, adding just a touch of degradation without completely losing the original character of the track. This approach is particularly useful on vocals or guitars, where you may want to preserve clarity while adding a lo-fi touch.

Creative Applications of the Bitcrusher

1. Redefining the Drum Groove

One of my favorite uses of the bitcrusher is on drums and percussion. When you have a beat that is already well structured but you want to add a little dirt or chaos to it, the bitcrusher is your best ally. 

The key here is to apply the effect in parallel, that is, to keep a clean signal next to a processed signal. This allows you to keep the punch of the original transients while adding that digital distortion. Try it on hi-hats or snares, and adjust the bit depth and sample rate to find that sweet spot where they sound broken up enough but still recognizable.

You can also use it to completely process your drums and give a different sound to certain sections of your track, gaining dynamics and new resources to implement in your productions.

2. Digital Saturation on Synthesizers

Synthesizers are another area where the bitcrusher can shine. Sometimes a synth sounds too “clean” and lacks character. Here, the bitcrusher comes into play to add a scream that brings the sound to life. Especially useful in genres like synthwave or lo-fi house, you can reduce the bit rate until the sound takes on that grainy texture that takes you back to a time when digital music was still raw and experimental.

3. Industrial Guitars

If you're into industrial sounding or experimental metal, the bitcrusher can take your guitars to another level. Not only does it add distortion, but it gives it that futuristic, chaotic feel that's perfect for creating Nine Inch Nails-style walls of sound. One trick here is to apply the bitcrusher after a traditional distortion, which brings out the most extreme harmonics even more and makes the guitar sound like it's on the verge of collapse.

4. Vocals with Character

Applying bitcrusher on vocals is a technique that should be used with caution, but, when done right, the result can be impressive. Adding a touch of bitcrusher to a vocal track can give it a lo-fi color and add an interesting contrast if the other tracks are cleaner. If you're producing something along the lines of indie or experimental hip-hop, this effect can transform a flat vocal into something full of personality. Just don't overdo it, and be sure to mix it well in parallel.

5. Extreme Transitions

The bitcrusher is great for creating unexpected transitions between sections of a song. You can automate the parameters so that, at a key moment, the sound progressively degrades from clear to broken. It's a dramatic effect that, used with care, can keep listeners glued to the track, wondering what will happen next.

6. Bitcrusher on sidechain effect

Setting a bitcrusher in parallel with a sidechain compressor can bring the effect in and out of sync with the kick, creating a rhythmic interplay that adds interest and movement to the mix.

Automation and Modulation: Taking the Bitcrusher to the Next Level.

One of the most powerful ways to use the bitcrusher is by automating its parameters. Instead of applying it statically, you can make the effect evolve over the course of a song. For example, start with a clean signal in the verse and then gradually degrade it as the song reaches its climax. This creates a sense of build and tension that can be incredibly effective.

Also, if your plugin allows it, try using modulation. Some plugins, such as Tritik Krush, offer modulation options that allow you to automatically move the bit depth or sample rate parameters, adding subtle or extreme movement to the sound.

Integrating the Bitcrusher into the Signal Chain

The position of the bitcrusher in your effects chain can significantly alter the final result:

• Before Compression: Applying the bitcrusher before compression can soften some of the aggressive peaks generated by the effect, resulting in more controlled distortion.

• After Modulation: Placing it after effects such as chorus or flanger can intensify the texture and create more complex, harmonically rich sounds.

• On Sends and Buses: Using the bitcrusher on a send channel allows you to mix the processed signal with the original, giving you more control over the level of degradation you want to apply.

It is important to remember that bitcrusher affects mainly the high frequencies, which can quickly make a mix become harsh. To avoid this, you can equalize the signal after applying the effect, cutting high frequencies that no longer provide clarity and leaving room for other elements in the mix.

Bitcrusher by Sountrap

Soundtrap announced the arrival of a powerful new tool, its version of Bitcrusher. A very complete effect with a simple and easy-to-use interface. Its two parameters (crush and downsampling), open the way to experiment and create new sound sensations.

Conclusion

The bitcrusher is more than just a tool for adding distortion; it is a portal to new sonic dimensions that can redefine your music. Its ability to transform and texturize sounds makes it a powerful ally in the search for a unique style. I encourage you to experiment without fear, play with its parameters and discover how this effect can open creative doors you may not have known existed. Remember, in music production there are no strict rules, only infinite possibilities waiting to be explored.

About the author

Odiseo is a music producer and mixing and mastering engineer with experience ranging from music creation as a session and concert musician, beatmaker, live sound engineer, and recording engineer, to audio production for short films, providing a broad perspective on technical concepts and musical skills to take music to another level.