Ruina

Name: Ruina
Author: Noise Engineering

by Noise Engineering · Distortion · Stereo multi-distortion

Not rated yet

Ruina is a free stereo multi-distortion from Noise Engineering with seven distortion types, wavefolding, octavizing, phase shifting, multiband saturation and filtering.

It is "built on digital distortion algorithms," not emulations, and comes with 1,000+ presets in the free Freequel bundle.

Best for: Drums, Vocals, Keys & Synths, Guitars. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Rock & Indie, Metal.

Keywords: wavefolding, free, synths, vocals, electric guitar, destructive, drums, gritty, multi-band, aggressive, bass, bright, colored, creative, gentle, macro controls, MIDI-controllable, mixing, modular, percussion, strings.

What it does

Ruina is a free stereo multi-distortion from Noise Engineering, the Eurorack module company. The developer describes it as built on digital distortion algorithms, with "no emulations here", and recommends it for vocals, percussion, synths, strings and guitars.

Seven distortion types: a range the developer says runs from gentle, nuanced colour to obliterating a signal.
Wavefolding and octavizing: fold the waveform back on itself for bright harmonic textures, or add octave grit.
DOOM: a dedicated control that Noise Engineering puts in the product's full name, alongside the folding and octave stages.
Tone shaping: phase shifting, multiband saturation and filtering sit alongside the distortion stages.
Modulation: internal LFOs and macros for movement, and every control is automatable.
MIDI and presets: MIDI learn on all parameters and more than 1,000 presets.

Ruina is free as part of Noise Engineering's Freequel bundle, together with the Sinc Vereor and Virt Vereor synths. Updates are free for the life of the product.

Source: Noise Engineering product page

When to use it

Ruina is the pick when you want aggressive, clearly digital distortion with movement, for free. Compared with FabFilter Saturn 2 it has no analog-style tube or tape models and much less multiband routing, but it costs nothing and its wavefolding and octave stages head to stranger places. It sits closer in spirit to iZotope Trash and D16 Devastor 2, which also lean towards heavy sound-design distortion, while being free and offering 1,000+ presets to start from. Unlike Soundtoys Decapitator, it is not aimed at subtle analog colour.

Best for: aggressive drum and synth distortion, wavefolded leads, octave grit on bass and guitar, and mangling vocals.
Genres: electronic, industrial, experimental, rock and metal.
Look elsewhere if: you want analog-modeled warmth or subtle tape colour; Saturn 2 or Soundtoys Decapitator suit that better.

Where to buy

Noise Engineering: Free (Free; downloaded as part of the Freequel bundle with Sinc Vereor, Virt Vereor and Ruina.)

Tutorials and reviews

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