0.2.2 Beta
Four-band distortion / VST3

4xD
VST3 plugin

Free multiband distortion for drums, bass, synths, guitars and other audio. Four bands, five global curves and a wet/dry mix. VST3 for macOS and Windows, currently in beta.

Beta downloads
The 4xD 0.2.2 Beta plug-in window: input and output gain sliders with meters, five distortion shape buttons, band solo buttons, a global wet/dry knob, a spectrum display showing an input and output signal across four coloured bands divided by edge handles E1 to E5, and drive and level knobs for each band.
4xD 0.2.2 Beta · plug-in interfaceFour-band interface
About 4xD

4xD is a free four-band distortion VST3 plugin for macOS and Windows. It runs inside your DAW.

Inside the plugin

Four bands.
Independent control.

Shape each band with Drive and Level, then blend the result with the original signal.

Distortion & control

  • Four bands with per-band Drive and Level
  • Five global distortion curves with transfer icons
  • Draggable Edge, Drive and Level controls on the spectrum
  • Band solo, global Wet/Dry and input/output gain

Workflow & metering

  • Realtime input/output spectra inside the plugin
  • Peak meters and RMS metering
  • 41 factory presets
  • Resizable interface and project-saved settings
01 / Downloads

Beta downloads

Download 4xD 0.2.2 beta for Apple Silicon Macs or Windows x64.

Version 0.2.2 beta · Released 20 October 2026. VST3 host required; no standalone app. No Intel Mac, native Windows ARM, AU or AAX build. No signup required.

02 / Release history

Release notes

Changes, fixes, known issues and downloads for each version.

Beta4xD 0.2.220 October 2026 · Edge editing update
03 / Installation & help

Installation & help

4xD runs as a VST3 effect in your DAW. This beta is not yet fully verified in hosts; hands-on testing in Bitwig, Live and Cubase is ongoing.

What do I need to run 4xD?

Mac: Apple silicon (M1 or later), macOS 13 or later, and a VST3-compatible host. Windows: Windows 10 or 11 x64 and an x64 DAW with VST3 support.

There is no standalone app, Intel Mac build, native Windows ARM build, AU or AAX version.

How do I install the Mac beta?

Close your DAW. Open the .pkg installer and follow its prompts. Restart your DAW and rescan plugins if needed, then find 4xD among your VST3 effects.

Plugin location: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/4xD.vst3

This beta is unsigned and not notarized. macOS cannot verify it is free of malware. Only proceed if you trust the source and are confident the download has not been tampered with. After an opening attempt, Apple describes an app-specific Open Anyway option in System Settings → Privacy & Security. Do not override a warning that the software is harmful or damaged, or disable system security protections.

Apple’s guidance on safely opening apps ↗

How do I install the Windows beta?

Close your DAW. Run the .exe installer, review the administrator prompt and follow the installer. Restart your DAW and rescan plugins if needed, then find 4xD among your VST3 effects.

Plugin location: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\4xD.vst3

This beta is unsigned. Windows may show an unknown-publisher or SmartScreen warning. Only proceed after verifying and trusting the download source. Device or organisation policy may prevent installation; do not disable security protections to bypass a block.

Microsoft’s SmartScreen guidance ↗

Quickstart
  1. Insert 4xD on an audio or instrument track. Choose a factory preset or Default.
  2. Use Input to control the level driving the processing.
  3. Set the E1–E5 band frequency bounds. Drag an edge or type in its Edge field and press Enter. Escape or leaving the field cancels an unfinished edit.
  4. Adjust Drive for distortion and Level for band balance. The graph’s D and L controls adjust the same values.
  5. Choose Shape to set the global distortion curve.
  6. Use Solo Band to hear one band, then All to return to the full signal.
  7. Blend with Wet/Dry: 100% is processed, 0% is dry. Set Output for the final mix level.
What does the freeware licence allow?

4xD is closed-source freeware for personal and commercial audio use. Unmodified installers or complete bundles may be shared free of charge with the licence and third-party notices intact. This is a summary; the full terms are in the licence included with the installers.

Is there an audio demo on this site?

No. The image above is a static interface design preview. Realtime spectra and audio processing run inside the plugin, not on this website.

How can I report a problem?

Use the feedback form. Include your OS and processor, DAW and plugin versions, sample rate, buffer size, preset and steps to reproduce the issue when reporting a bug.

04 / Feedback

Feedback &
bug reports

Include your plugin version, operating system, processor and DAW. Sample rate, buffer size and preset help reproduce audio issues.

Reports are stored privately and read only by the 4xD developer. Your email address is optional and used only to reply about this report. To limit spam, the form uses Cloudflare Turnstile and keeps a one-way hash of your IP address, not the address itself.