Cactus is a distortion plugin designed with simplicity and flexibility in mind. With just three knobs, a waveform editor, and intuitive features, you can craft anything from subtle warmth to heavy, crushing distortion. Here’s a guide to help you get the most out of Cactus.
The Interface
The Knobs
- Drive Knob: Controls the intensity of the distortion. Turn it up to add saturation or crank it for aggressive tones.
- Mix Knob: Balances the clean (dry) and distorted (wet) signals. Use this to blend your original sound with the distortion.
- Gain Knob: Adjusts the final output volume to ensure your mix stays balanced, no matter the distortion level.
The Waveform Editor
The waveform editor is where the real magic happens. It allows you to customize your distortion by drawing your own curve.
How to use it: Simply click and drag your mouse on the editor to draw the curve. The curve directly controls how your sound will be shaped.
The Preset Manager
Cactus includes a collection of expertly crafted presets for quick inspiration. These presets range from subtle warmth to intense, crushing distortion.
Loading presets: Use the dropdown menu to select a preset or quickly cycle through them using the arrow buttons.
The Auto-Gain
Distortion can significantly alter your sound’s volume, and finding the perfect gain level can be tricky.
The Auto-Gain feature adjusts the output volume automatically, maintaining a consistent balance. It’s especially handy when experimenting with extreme distortion settings.
The Volume Helper
Prefer manual control? The Volume Tab gives you a visual guide to manage gain.
It displays input volume (white) and output volume (orange), so you can easily see how the distortion affects your sound.
Tips
Press Shift
Hold the left Shift key while adjusting the knobs, and you’ll see the waveform stretch dynamically in the editor.
This feature visually represents how the Drive, Mix, and Gain knobs shape your sound.
Experiment!
The waveform editor is your playground. Don’t hesitate to try unconventional shapes—some of the most creative results come from experimentation.
That’s It!
You now have everything you need to start using Cactus. Dive in, explore the presets, experiment with the waveform editor, and shape your sound like never before.
Get Cactus now and let your creativity run wild!