Pixelator - Unique Bitcrushing Plugin

Pixelator - Unique Bitcrushing Plugin

Regular price $49.00 Sale price$19.00
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Pixelator is an ultra-precise bitcrusher plugin created by JST for sound design and music production. This bitcrushing solution was created with input from producers, sound designers, and musicians to ensure that each mode allows you to create low resolution audio and bit crushed sound with unique sonic characteristics and maximum accuracy.

It’s also incredibly effective for sonic exploration and 8-bit/chiptune-style music!

What is Bitcrushing?

Bitcrushing is a sound effect that is created by reducing the number of bits used to represent a sound wave. Bitcrushing can be used to create a variety of effects, such as making a sound distorted, crunchy, or lo-fi. The easiest way to achieve these effects is through the use of a bitcrusher plugin like Pixelator. In music, bitcrushing is often used to create a distorted or crunchy sound. It can also be used to create a lo-fi sound, which can be desirable for certain genres of music, such as hip hop and electronic music.

In movies and TV, bitcrushing is often used to create tension, unease, or danger. It can be used in place of clippers like JST Clip on explosions and other loud noises and is often added to film scores to tie the music back to the environment.

In video games, bitcrushing is often used to create a retro or nostalgic sound or as a layer to maximize the impactfulness of sounds as you might hear in movies. In recent years, bitcrushing has become increasingly common in first-person shooters like Battlefield and Call of Duty.

5 Bitcrushing Modes

Pixelator offers five unique algorithms for bitcrushing, defined as mothat you can select from within the plugin. With two Sample & Hold options, two Liner options, and a unique Zero Pad mode, you’ve got lots of choices when it comes to how you manipulate your audio.

Sample & Hold I

Sample and hold is a technique used to reduce the sample rate and bit depth of audio. It works by repeatedly sampling the audio signal at a lower rate and then storing the value of each sample in a register. The register can only hold a certain number of bits, so when the audio signal is sampled at a lower rate, the values of the samples are rounded down to the nearest value that can be stored in the register. This process of rounding down the values of the samples causes the audio signal to be degraded in quality.

Sample & Hold II

The alternate Sample & Hold mode follows the same process as Sample & Hold I, but instead of rounding down to the nearest value that can be stored in the register, it holds and repeats the maximum value encountered in the previous block, applying this maximum value to subsequent samples until the start of the next block.

Linear I

This mode applies linear interpolation within each block of audio, introducing more high-frequency loss as sample division is increased and bit depth is reduced.

Linear interpretation is a method of converting high-fidelity signals to low-fidelity signals by sampling the high-fidelity signal at regular intervals and then converting each sample to a low-fidelity value. This method causes high-frequency loss in audio because the low-fidelity values are not able to represent the full range of frequencies in the high-fidelity signal.

The higher the Sample Division, the more distorted the representation of the audio will be.

Linear II

Like Linear I, this mode uses a form of linear interpolation to bitcrush audio. Instead of rounding down the values as Linear I does, it rounds up instead — behaving similarly to how Sample & Hold II does.

As with all modes, more sample division and lower bit depths create a more processed sound.

Zero Pad

In Zero Pad mode, a different algorithm is applied that starts a new block using the input samples directly and pads the remaining space within each block with zeros. This is an effect that is commonly offered in other bitcrushers — offering a unique audio experience for any sounds processed through it.

What You'll Get

  • Single-User Perpetual iLok Software License
  • Audio Plugin in AAX, AU, & VST3 formats
  • User Manual

Requirements

  • Mac or Windows computer with supported OS and supported DAW
  • FREE iLok Account (iLok dongle NOT required - Computer, iLok 2/3, iLok Cloud activation supported), 3 activations provided

Supported Operating Systems

  • Windows 7 or above (64 bit only): AAX, VST3
  • macOS 10.14 or above (Intel, or M-Series. 64 bit only): AAX, AU, VST3

Supported DAWs

  • Cubase
  • Reaper
  • Pro Tools
  • Logic
  • Garageband
  • Ableton Live
  • Studio One
  • FL Studio
  • Digital Performer
  • LUNA

Legal

© Joey Sturgis Tones. All rights reserved.
VST3 is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
Mac OSX and Audio Unit are trademarks of Apple, Inc.
AAX is a trademark of Avid, Inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc.

Benefits of Using JST Plugins

One-Time Purchase, Lifelong Benefits

No recurring fees. Buy once and the plugin is yours forever. No hidden charges, no annual renewals. Just pure, uninterrupted creativity backed by a lifetime of software updates.

Affordable Excellence

Top-tier sound shouldn’t break the bank. With JST, you receive premium quality without the premium price tag. And for those looking for even greater value? Dive into our specially curated bundles and amplify your savings alongside your sound.

Low Latency & CPU Friendly

JST plugins are engineered to be light on your system, ensuring smooth playback and recording sessions. With JST, elevate your sound without compromising your computer's performance.

PRODUCER / ENGINEER
JOEY STURGIS

JST was founded by music producer Joey Sturgis. He has also co-founded URM Academy, Drumforge, Riffhard and has contributed massively to music creators all over the world.

  • 5x RIAA Gold Certified Records
  • 100+ Albums Produced
  • 50+ Plugins Designed
  • 8+ Million Album Sales
  • 4+ Billion Global Streams

Customer Reviews

Based on 11 reviews
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E
Evan Slavic
Eh

The sound quality is decent, but the plugin is limited in what it can do. If you adjust the bit depth/mix it sounds muddy and not good. The "modes" are hardly different from one another, and difficult to get pleasing results.

Every time I open the plugin, even on a small project, my DAW crashes. My computer is built to handle heavy CPU loads. I'm a bit bummed I dropped 20 bucks on this when there are many better bit crush plugins for free. Just my honest opinion, I love other JST plugins - just not this one.

J
Josh
not too shabby

I have fun using this when automated to fade in and out. now the controls seem very sensitive and only tend to sound good on one end of the dial. using it may require more knowledge of what it's actually doing. but when I automate 2 knobs at once it sounds killer.

R
Roma Yeenvie
Simple to use, great to hear

This one is a really good sounding pixelator with a great flexibility parameters. Also i like that visual panel with a sound wave. I have used this plugin for my opening song of EP, sounds great, you can find it useful for some 8-bit fx, fade in, fade outs, you can use it even on guitars and you will get an interesting result.

E
Ertugrul Gul
Jst makes awesome plugins always

As I said they make awesome plugins, this one is really good too. But I post this comment for winning 49 dollars of prize mainly everybody knows and do that :)

G
Grant Patrick
So Versatile

Honestly I never thought I'd use this plugin. I got it when JST was having a sale because I wanted to try something new. Boy was I surprised. This plugin just adds a nice extra element to any instrument or sound I have. I adds so much to the mix and I couldn't be happier with that purchase!