Output Thermal

Output Thermal: Interactive Distortion Plugin

Output Thermal is a distortion plug-in built around three parallel stages, each starting from one of nineteen analogue and digital distortion types and split across its own frequency range. A circular XY pad morphs between the stages in real time, so you can dial in anything from gentle warmth to total destruction with one gesture. It ships with over 250 Thermal presets and nine built-in effects. Mac and Windows, in one purchase.

What’s Inside Output Thermal

• Three-stage engine: three parallel distortion paths, each targeting a chosen frequency band for multiband grit.
• Nineteen distortion types: a mix of analogue-modelled and digital algorithms, from soft saturation to hard clipping.
• Interactive XY pad: morph between the three stages live, mapping the whole sound to one movement.
• Nine built-in effects: filters, modulation and more, plus a master compressor and filter to shape the output.
• Mid-side and width control: distort the sides differently from the centre and control the stereo image.
• 250+ presets: a deep library with a waveform display for targeting the exact frequency range.

Who Is Output Thermal For?

Sound designers use this distortion plugin to build aggressive, layered tones no single algorithm gives them. Trap and hip-hop producers put it on 808s to add harmonics that survive a phone speaker. Electronic and bass producers reach for it on leads and growls where they want grit with control. Mixing engineers use gentle settings to add warmth and glue to drums and buses.

Formats and Compatibility

Thermal ships in VST, VST3, AU and AAX, all 64-bit. On macOS it loads into Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig and Reaper, and the AAX build covers Pro Tools. On Windows the VST3 build covers FL Studio, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One and Reaper. It runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel, and one purchase covers both platforms.

System Requirements

• macOS: 10.14 or higher, Apple Silicon M1+ or Intel Core i5+
• Windows: 10 or 11, Intel Core i5 or AMD equivalent
• RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
• Disk space: around 430 MB on Mac, 185 MB on Windows
• Formats: 64-bit VST, VST3, AU and AAX; internet needed once for activation

How Producers Use Output Thermal

Trap producers split Thermal so the low stage adds warm tube grit to an 808’s body while the top stage bites the click, keeping the sub clean and the transient sharp. Bass and dubstep producers morph the XY pad across a growl for movement that a static distortion cannot give. On a drum bus, engineers use one gentle stage for glue, much as they would reach for a saturator like FabFilter Saturn 2, then push the mid-side control to widen the overheads. Because each stage targets its own band, you can destroy one part of a sound while leaving the rest untouched, which is the whole point of a three-stage design.

Why Buy Output Thermal From VST Vault?

• Instant digital delivery: your download link lands in your inbox within a minute of checkout.
• Mac and Windows in one purchase: one order, both installers.
• Priced in pounds: no currency-conversion guesswork at the till.
• Every order invoiced: a clean receipt for your records.
• Real support: message us on WhatsApp or at [email protected] and a person answers.

Questions Producers Ask

What is Output Thermal?

It is an interactive distortion plug-in with three parallel stages, each drawing on nineteen analogue and digital distortion types and working on its own frequency band. A circular XY pad morphs between the stages live, and nine built-in effects plus a master section finish the sound, so it covers everything from subtle warmth to extreme, layered distortion.

Is Thermal good for 808s?

Yes, it is a favourite for 808s. Because the engine is multiband, you can add tube-style grit to the body of the 808 while keeping the sub clean and biting only the click on top, so the distortion translates on small speakers without turning the low end to mush. Plenty of trap presets ship ready for exactly this.

What does Thermal do that a normal distortion does not?

Two things: it runs three distortion stages in parallel across separate frequency bands, and it lets you morph between them in real time on an XY pad. That means you can shape a different flavour of Thermal distortion for the lows, mids and highs of one sound and automate the blend, which a single-band distortion cannot do.

Ready to buy Output Thermal? Browse more Audio Effects at VST Vault, or head to Bundles for more in one purchase.