BLEASS Fusion

Name: BLEASS Fusion
Price: 19.9 USD
Author: BLEASS

by BLEASS · Distortion · Wavetable waveshaper distortion

Not rated yet

BLEASS Fusion is a distortion that uses wavetables as waveshapers for saturation, distortion and sound mashups.

It runs as a VST3 plugin on Windows and macOS for $19.99, with a separate iOS version.

Best for: Bass, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Hip-Hop & Trap, Metal.

Keywords: sound design, bass, rhythmic, single-band, smooth, surgical, synths, AUv3/iOS, dirty, drums, experimental, gritty, harsh, built-in mix knob, mixing, randomize, samples & loops.

What it does

BLEASS Fusion is a waveshaping distortion that uses wavetables as its transfer curves. The developer says it "harnesses the limitless flexibility of wavetables", so one plugin can go from smooth saturation to very dirty distortion and odd sound-design mashups.

Wavetable waveshaper: the chosen wavetable sets how the signal is bent; moving through the table morphs smoothly between distortion characters.
Wavetable library and import: it ships with a bank of wavetables (MusicRadar counted 67) and you can import your own.
Folding: wavetable folding in symmetric and asymmetric modes adds harsher, richer harmonics.
Two filters: Filter 1 offers high-pass, bell and notch; Filter 2 offers low-pass, bell and notch. Each can sit before or after the shaper.
Modulation: two LFOs with Time, Shape and Smoothing controls, an envelope follower and a 16-step pattern sequencer with randomization. Each modulator can reach up to two destinations.
Mix and output: input gain, wet/dry and output smoothing; the master output gain is not saved with presets, which keeps your safety headroom when browsing.

A demo is available.

Source: BLEASS product page

When to use it

Fusion stays single-band, but its wavetable approach means one shaper can morph between tones, and the sequencer makes rhythmic distortion easy. Saturn 2 and Rift, the deeper rated distortions, split the signal into bands and offer much richer modulation than Fusion, at several times the price. Trash and Thermal also give many distortion styles, with more routing than Fusion. Fusion is one of the cheapest ways to get modulated, sound-design distortion.

Best for: bass and synth distortion, rhythmic sequenced grit on loops and drums, and experimental sound design on a budget.
Genres: electronic, bass music, hip-hop and heavier styles.
Look elsewhere if: you need multiband control or deeper modulation routing (Saturn 2 or Rift), or a classic amp or tape colour; dedicated saturators fit better.
Tip: point the pattern sequencer at wavetable position, fold amount and filter cutoff for rhythmic, moving distortion.

What producers say

Reviewers found it a very flexible distortion for the price, with the modulation limits as the main drawback.

MusicTech gave it 8/10, praising the "limitless distortion tones", wavetable import, pre/post filters and the pattern sequencer for "really juicy, rhythmic effects".
MusicRadar called it "a hugely pliable distortion processor" and praised the modulators, filters and the low price.
Criticisms: no built-in limiter against sudden loud peaks, only two destinations per modulator, and a sequencer locked to host tempo with no free-running mode.

Where to buy

Best Service: $19.90
BLEASS: $19.99
Plugin Boutique: $19.99
PluginFox: $19.99
AudioDeluxe: $19.99

Tutorials and reviews

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