Best low cpu distortion plugins?

[Ou_Tis]

Right now I'm using Echoboy with the delay turned off or minimized. Any suggestions for good alternatives? The lower the cpu the better. Not taking up much disk space would be also be a plus.

Notes on options turned up in search:
Kazrog True Iron
distortion that comes with JamVox III (apparently crappy presets, intended for guitar)
AirWindows BussColors4 (preamp emulation?)
maybe AirWindows Spiral/Spiral2 and Density/Density2
Camelcrusher
possibly Devil-Loc?

I'd prefer something that's capable of harsher distortion and has multiple distortion types.

[Tricky-Loops]

Grind or Kombinat Tri by Audio Damage?

I was about to recommend the Melda Waveshaper but I think the CPU load might be higher?

[gondii]

Why not try Decapitator? I don't think it's too bad, but I might be wrong. Kilohearts is pretty low CPU and they have a few distortion plugins, namely distortion (has several types), phase distortion and faturizer. I believe that Berzerk by Waves is also not that intense? Also d16 have a couple of great distortion plugins, not sure how CPU hungry though...

[JerGoertz]

I'd prefer something that's capable of harsher distortion and has multiple distortion types.

Sounds like Trash 2 is right up your alley... And it's been given away and/or on special at pluginboutique recently. Might even still be on offer there.

[gondii]

I was also thinking about Trash2, it's excellent. But not low on CPU right...?

[JerGoertz]

I don't remember it being CPU-heavy. It's pretty old, so I would expect the opposite, but maybe this isn't the case?

Edit: I also have to recommend the Nembrini Audio stuff. Sounds fantastic and the CPU hit is reasonable IIRC.

[jp008]

The best distortion or waveshaper plugin I've ever used was Maul by FXpansion. Good luck finding a copy though, since it was discontinued long ago. I've tried almost all the VST amp simulators, even the newer Helix stuff, but I think Maul still destroys every one of them. Although, I still don't know how some of those guys on Youtube get such good guitar sounds. That's why I totally got away from it because the only conclusion I could come to is, they're combining the VST amp simulators with actual tube amps, Kempers or Axe FX and then mastering it with some type of higher end gear. Otherwise, I think it's impossible to get such good sound. They're obviously not telling everyone the whole story or they seem like plugin salesmen to me..

[chk071]

The best distortion or waveshaper plugin I've ever used was Maul by FXpansion. Good luck finding a copy though, since it was discontinued long ago.

A magware version was available from Computer Music once (seems like it's quite cut down though):

[drdriller]

melda multiband waveshapper, you'll never need any other distortion plugins..

https://www.meldaproduction.com/MWaveShaperMB

[drdriller]

Grind or Kombinat Tri by Audio Damage?

I was about to recommend the Melda Waveshaper but I think the CPU load might be higher?

as with other melda plugins, cpu load is low, btw waveshapping is a basic process which do not take cpu (it's just a gain transformation)

[Sahul]

If you look around I guess you can still get Waves Berzerk for free or next to nothing. Not bad on CPU, and ten different distortion characters to choose from.

[El°HYM]

Just a few coming into my Mind:
https://vst4free.com/plugin/3168/ PreFET by Accentize (*)
https://vst4free.com/plugin/2274/ FuzzPlus3 by Audio Damage
https://vst4free.com/plugin/2112/ HeadCrusher by Audio Assault
https://vst4free.com/plugin/3081/ Liberty by We Love Walter
https://vst4free.com/plugin/1855/ PhreePhuzz by LVC-Audio
https://vst4free.com/plugin/3072/ SN06-G by Sender Spike
https://vst4free.com/plugin/2876/ SpaceScraper by Rebel Audio
https://vst4free.com/plugin/2478/ Krush by tritik
(*) Might be a bit more demanding on the cpu, yet worth to check!