Thermal vs Fury vs Rift vs Coldfire vs Dent

VST, AU, AAX, CLAP, etc. Plugin Virtual Effects Discussion
RELATED
PRODUCTS

Post

I'm doing the dreaded clean install of my OS, and im trying to keep "redundant" plugins to a minimum lol, also to eliminate having to choose later down the line, so I'm trying to only install one or two general distortion plugins - Don't judge me (or do), I own all of these cause I'm a hoarder.
I already installed Saturn cause I use that for mixing a lot, looking to install a second one for more "sound design" purposes.

Which ones of these do you prefer, and why? Maybe you can help me choose
I like the versatility of Thermal, but i dont like the UI. Same for Rift, i love the sound, but somehow its a bit more cumbersome to use than the others, but i guess i could get used to it. Fury by heavyocity is a great allrounder, but maybe a bit more basic. Coldfire is also an option. Also love dent, but feel like its not so versatile, but what it does is wicked. I cant pick!

Post

I'd go for Cyberdrive...

Post

Which of these 5 did you use most prior to the new install? That's probably your answer.

I have no experience with the others, but do use Rift as my go-to creative distortion. If designing from the blank init patch, Rift is pretty easy IMO. That's how I use it. However, if you prefer staring from an existing preset, it's a can be challenging to reconfigure because most of the presets have all kinds of modulation happening. Finding some element you want to alter within that preset can be difficult to track down.

I also use the pretty much everything in Minimal Audio suite, including Current. So that would also make Rift an obvious choice, over a onesy-twosy pluging from some other dev. So if your'e heavily invested in Output or Arturia, that might cause you to lean Output or Coldfire.

Post

I only have Rift,though I had Cold Fire before but sold my FX 4 collection license. These two would be my pick,I’m not sure which one I like better but Rifts bipolar functionality is pretty cool,it’s my go to distortion now.

Post

This is why I have so many distortion plugins haha.

Out of these, I've used Rift, Dent, and Coldfire. I thought Rift was the easiest to build patches and do complex modulations, but Coldfire had better sounding algorithms- but Dent had a better tape algorithm.

I really like the sound of Coldfire, but I never really get crazy with it- I think that's where Rift really shines.

Post

What about the new Trash?

Post

I would personally make an effect rack of all 5 together for ultimate design but still really only being technically a single plugin because racks of effects only count as 1 effect, it's the law

Post

Rift

Post

Rift seems to be the one most people like here. I do use current and i like some of the other minimal effects, so maybe i'll just install that :)

Post

To me, they are all quite different and I'd re-install all of them. It's too personal a deicison to ask in general, I think.

Post

plexuss wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 11:20 pm To me, they are all quite different and I'd re-install all of them. It's too personal a deicison to ask in general, I think.
probably is yeah. only i can solve this "problem" :D

just wanted to ask around what people prefer to use, to maybe tip my decision.
i like a lot of people struggle with just having too many plugin options to choose from, which clogs up my brain sometimes

Post

It sounds like you want a good workflow but if Rift is "cumbersome" I don't know what to tell you since it has one of the fastest workflows. It starts off with a simplified waveshape-only view (with optional multiband), then you can switch to the full view if you want the rest of it. Can you articulate more about your issues with it?

Post

Quote
Last edited by LaserLobes on Tue Jan 27, 2026 4:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

Post

LaserLobes wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2024 3:22 am
worldfever wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 11:23 pm
plexuss wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 11:20 pm To me, they are all quite different and I'd re-install all of them. It's too personal a deicison to ask in general, I think.
probably is yeah. only i can solve this "problem" :D

just wanted to ask around what people prefer to use, to maybe tip my decision.
i like a lot of people struggle with just having too many plugin options to choose from, which clogs up my brain sometimes
Yeah, I agree that it really is so personal. What kind of music are you making?

I recently did a massive downsizing of my ridiculous plugin list and kept Coldfire as my catchall/do-it-all distortion plug. I like Coldfire because it sounds great, is versatile, and it’s easy to use. For me at least.

I tend to saturate with other tools as opposed to all out distortion mayhem though.
yeah, i like coldfire as well. i make all kinds of music, from more experimental club music to ambient, and also work as a sound designer for ads. Generally i dont often use distortion as a creative effect, but sometimes I really want it. And i do like all these distortion plugins! but im just so sick of even having to think a couple seconds about which ones to use while i am making music, i just want to load something and make do with it, and do the decision process now, which is also why im doing a massive down-sizing of my plugin list :D

Post

I’m so much slop
Last edited by LaserLobes on Tue Jan 27, 2026 4:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

Post Reply

Return to “Effects”