Black Diamond Distortion
Key Features
- Four editing modes for creating distortion: Harmonic (slider-based harmonics), Spline (anchor-point curve shaping), Brush (pixel-by-pixel drawing with textures), and Equation (mathematical formula input)
- Companion Black Diamond Probe plugin reverse-engineers the distortion character of any memoryless hardware or software unit and exports it as a .tfunc preset
- Novel harmonic algorithm maintains higher crest factor than traditional Chebyshev polynomials, producing distortion that is both harmonically rich and mix-friendly
- Community-driven preset library of captured hardware distortion curves that grows over time as users contribute
- Equation Mode lets you define distortion through mathematical formulas for precise control over nonlinear behavior beyond what manual curve drawing can achieve
- Curated preset library includes classic hardware-inspired distortion designs out of the box
Description
Black Diamond Distortion by Aspen Instruments is a distortion plugin that can simulate virtually any other distortion, whether software or hardware. It ships with a companion plugin called Black Diamond Probe that reverse-engineers the transfer function of any memoryless nonlinear device and sends it as a preset to the main plugin.
The plugin offers four distinct editing modes for building distortions from scratch. Harmonic Mode provides sliders that control which harmonics the distortion excites, using a novel algorithm that maintains a higher crest factor than traditional Chebyshev polynomial approaches for mix-friendly results.
Spline Mode lets you reshape the transfer curve using draggable anchor points with an algorithm optimized to use as few anchors as possible, so each adjustment has a broad impact on the waveform.
Brush Mode adds texture and irregularity by letting you draw the curve pixel by pixel, with roller and texture brushes for smoothing or adding controlled randomness. Equation Mode is the most powerful, allowing you to define distortion directly through mathematical formulas for precise control over nonlinear behavior.
The developer is building a community-driven library of captured .tfunc presets from classic and unique hardware, so the preset collection will grow over time. BPB highlighted the hardware capture workflow as the standout feature, describing the concept as genuinely novel.
Both Black Diamond Distortion and Black Diamond Probe are available in VST3 and AU formats for macOS (10.15+) and Windows (10+). The macOS installers are signed and notarized.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of devices can Black Diamond Probe capture?
Probe can capture any memoryless nonlinear device, meaning its output depends only on the current input. Most distortion, saturation, and waveshaping effects work well. Devices with time-dependent behavior like compressors, preamps with EQ, or tape saturation with hysteresis will produce approximations rather than exact captures.
What is the difference between the four editing modes?
Harmonic Mode is the simplest, letting you dial in harmonics with sliders for quick musical results. Spline Mode gives you direct curve control through draggable anchors. Brush Mode lets you draw freehand for textured, irregular distortion. Equation Mode is the most powerful, allowing mathematical formulas to define the distortion algorithm precisely.
Can I share captured presets with other users?
Yes. Captured distortion curves are saved as .tfunc preset files that can be shared. The developer is building a community-driven library of these presets from classic and unique hardware gear.
Is Black Diamond Probe required to use Black Diamond Distortion?
No. Probe is a separate companion plugin used only for capturing distortion from other devices. Black Diamond Distortion works independently with its four built-in editing modes and preset library.
