Stagecraft Software has launched a limited-time freebie deal on Overdrive 5, a distortion plugin for macOS and Windows, which is currently available for free to the first 1,000 users.
Overdrive 5 features five high-quality distortion types, each with a variable scaling control that lets you dial in everything from subtle saturation to aggressive, snarling distortion.
You can mix and match the different distortion modes (labeled Dist B through E, plus a Fatten knob) to create a broad palette of tones, ranging from smooth and musical to gritty and chaotic.
I like the interface. It looks clean and modern, with three distinct sections: distortion, EQ, and compression. After the initial distortion phase, you can shape the tone further using a four-band equalizer and a built-in compressor.
The EQ lets you isolate and enhance different frequency bands (Low, Mid, Mid-Hi, and Hi), while the compressor is visually intuitive and capable of driving the signal even harder for additional grit and sustain.
I really liked the modulation and built-in automation potential here. Every parameter can be automated, which opens up a lot of creative sound design possibilities.
It’s cool for producing bass-heavy electronic tracks and works great as a tool to dirty up synth lines. You can get a ton of variation just by modulating the distortion types or EQ levels over time.
On the downside, Overdrive 5 is a bit CPU-hungry.
On my (admittedly aging) MacBook Air M1, it demanded a fair bit of power, especially when multiple distortion types were engaged along with compression. It’s worth noting, though, that the sound quality does hold up. The distortion I was able to get with this is full of character, punchy, and flexible in terms of tone.
Presets are supported, but I ran into a small issue where some factory presets got moved to the user preset area just by browsing around. It didn’t break anything, but it was a bit confusing. Hopefully, that gets patched soon.
The plugin also features live waveform and frequency displays, which are both helpful and fun to look at. The modulation tab, although I didn’t go super deep during my short test, is definitely the plugin’s strongest selling point and a powerful tool for building evolving, animated effects.
Overdrive 5 is available in VST3, AU, and AAX formats for macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) and Windows, 64-bit only. You’ll need to act fast because only 1000 licenses are being given away for free.
After that, the price goes back to $39.99. You can sign up on the Stagecraft Audio website to get Overdrive 5 for free.
Get the freebie: Overdrive 5 (approximately 1,000 free licenses are available at the time this article is published)
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Last Updated on June 19, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
