Dystopian Waves has released Drox, a free Max for Live device for glitchy, real-time audio manipulation in Ableton Live.
If you’re into creative sound mangling, this one’s worth checking out. I don’t personally use Ableton Live, so I haven’t tested Drox, but it looks like a really fun tool for anyone who enjoys glitch processing, rhythmic destruction, or adding unpredictable movement to audio.
Sadly enough, that sounds exactly like me, haha. But Ableton Live never really clicked with me, so I won’t be using this one.
Our writer James recently covered Spectral Wobbler from the same developer, and if you liked that one, Drox will likely be up your alley.
Drox brings together glitch, jump, and stutter effects under one interface. You can simulate tape-style dropouts and physical imperfections, perfect for adding lo-fi texture or a vintage feel.
There’s also the option to introduce CD-skip effects, and this is supposed to help inject unexpected rhythmic variation into your loops or live sets.
The stutter engine appears to be the most chaotic part of the package. You can trigger rapidly repeating segments that evolve with randomized pitch, filter, and playback tweaks.
There’s also a master section that controls the wet/dry mix and even lets you reverse the processed audio. It seems particularly useful for experimental producers, cinematic composers, or anyone looking to break away from clean audio.
The interface looks intuitive, especially for a tool that brings this level of creative unpredictability. And since it’s a Max for Live device, it’s ideal for live performers who want something dynamic and flexible on stage.
If you missed Spectral Wobbler, that one was all about real-time spectral modulation. With Drox, Dystopian Waves continues the trend of pushing Ableton-based sound design tools into strange and exciting territory.
Drox is available now for free but requires Ableton Live Suite (or Live Standard with Max for Live). It’s a Max for Live device and runs exclusively on macOS and Windows within Ableton Live. You can grab it directly from the developer’s website.
Download: Dystopian Waves Drox (requires Max for Live)
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Last Updated on August 18, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
