Eventide is giving away its CrushStation distortion plugin for free for a limited time (usually priced at $99, currently on sale for $19).
CrushStation is Eventide’s all-in-one distortion workstation, capable of everything from subtle saturation to complete sonic destruction.
It’s based on the distortion algorithms from the company’s H9 Harmonizer pedal, but with extra tone-shaping tools that make it far more versatile than a standard drive plugin.
You get over 100 presets from notable producers like Richard Devine, Joe Chiccarelli, and Colin Newman, covering everything from bright, airy vocal enhancements to bone-crushing drum destruction.
But the presets are just a starting point. The plugin gives you plenty of control to dial in your own flavors.
Alongside the Drive, Grit, and Sustain controls, you’ll find a 3-band EQ, a one-knob compressor, a noise gate, and an Octave mix section for layering sub and upper harmonics.
The unique Sag parameter is my favorite. It emulates the sound of a dying tube amp, letting you create tight, glitchy, and aggressive tones.
Another feature I fell in love with in CrushStation is the Ribbon controller at the bottom of the interface. It’s basically a big macro slider that lets you morph between two completely different settings in real time, perfect for adding movement to a track.
You also get a Hotswitch button to instantly jump between two snapshots of your sound. These performance tools make CrushStation as useful for live tweaking as it is for static mix settings.
The plugin isn’t just for guitars, either. It’s great for beefing up snare drums, adding presence to synth leads, or giving vocals a gritty edge.
In my tests, subtle settings worked nicely for thickening keys and pads, while extreme settings could obliterate a drum loop in the best possible way.
To claim the freebie, use the code PIRATE100 at checkout on Eventide’s site. You’ll need a free iLok account for activation, but no physical dongle is required.
If you like distortion plugins that go beyond the basics and give you multiple ways to shape and perform your sound, this is a no-brainer while it’s free.
CrushStation runs on macOS (10.14+) and Windows (10+) in VST3, AU, and AAX formats. It’s also available as an AUv3 app for iOS.
Get the freebie: CrushStation (FREE with code PIRATE100)
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Last Updated on August 9, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
