Shred, Smash, and Crush Your Mixes Instantly to Boost Your Sound Design [043]

I’ve wrestled with lifeless tracks more times than I can count. You sit there, staring at the screen, wondering why your drums feel limp or why your synth refuses to growl.

It’s frustrating. For electronic music producers, our sounds are our stories, and sometimes the tools we’ve got just don’t cut it. Here comes Obliterate, the free OTT distortion filter from Newfangled Audio that shreds your sounds like a wild wrecking ball.

Obliterate isn’t polite. It doesn’t ask for permission. It’s designed to tear your sounds apart and reassemble them into something raw, something alive. And if you’ve been stuck, struggling, or plain uninspired, it might just be the chaos you need.

Watch my Video: Obliterate Sound Design

In the video above, you can hear a few sample sounds created with Obliterate.

1.) For this project, I processed a synth arp using Obliterate in a parallel setup. One audio track remains unprocessed, while the second is shaped with Obliterate to introduce a contrasting texture.

2.) Since Obliterate can be very aggressive and powerful, I applied an EQ to the processed track to soften some of the high, sharp frequencies.

3.) Additionally, I added Valhalla DSP's Supermassive reverb to make the sound feel more spacious and less direct.

4.) To enhance the dynamics, I automated filter shapes 1 and 2, creating more variety throughout the piece.

Take a listen and see if Newfangled Audio's Obliterate fits your sound design needs.

Use Obliterate when Subtle Doesn’t Cut It

Imagine you’ve crafted a punchy kick and snare combo, but they’re… boring. They’re functional, sure, but they’re not telling anyone to jump out of their seat. You’ve tried layering. You’ve EQed the life out of them. Nothing sticks. Use Obliterate.

Using the “TOO MUCH” distortion algorithm, I dragged my kick through the mud. The result? A searing, over-the-top beast that suddenly had the attitude I’d been chasing. Layering a distorted version underneath the clean kick turned the mundane into monstrous. The snare? Same deal. I pushed it through the “TOO MOST” setting, dialed in some high resonance, and suddenly it was ripping through the mix.

Obliterate’s built-in frequency and resonance controls let me shape the destruction. I’m not just slapping distortion on a sound; I’m sculpting its madness.

Basslines That Roar

You know the feeling: your bassline’s got the notes but not the growl. Obliterate’s filters can be a game-changer here. Morphing between Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, and even Notch modes to shape your sounds.

Here is an example. I had this sine wave sub-bass—clean, deep, but flat as cardboard. Obliterate’s aggressive distortion algorithm gave it teeth. Twisting the filter cutoff while cranking the resonance sent it roaring. Suddenly, it wasn’t just carrying the low end; it was commanding it.

Creative Challenges, Obliterate it

Problem 1: Flat Dynamics

Sometimes, no matter what you do, your mix sounds like a gray wall of sound. Obliterate’s absurdity cuts through. Adding subtle layers of distorted textures—just tucked in the background—can create depth and excitement. Think of it like adding a splash of hot sauce to a bland dish.

Problem 2: Lack of Character

Ever crafted a sound that just feels… basic? Obliterate’s chaos is your antidote. By blending its aggressive distortion and resonant filters, you can turn plain synth pads into swirling, gritty atmospheres or transform polite arpeggios into snarling beasts.

Problem 3: Stuck in the Same Patterns

When you’re creating day in, day out, it’s easy to fall into habits. Obliterate forces you to embrace unpredictability. The “bug” in its design—the very thing that made it “mutate” over seven years—feels like it’s alive. And when you let it loose, it pushes your sound into wild, uncharted territory.

Tips for Taming Obliterate

Obliterate is a beast. Use it sparingly. Here’s what worked for me:

1. Parallel Processing: Blend its distorted chaos with your original sound. This keeps things punchy without obliterating clarity.

2. Automation: The plugin thrives on movement. Automating the filter cutoff or distortion level creates dynamic, evolving textures.

3. Experimentation: Obliterate’s two destruction algorithms offer different flavors. Try both. Push buttons. Twist knobs. See where the madness takes you.

4. Volume level: Pay attention to your ears, some presets increase the volume extensively thanks to the distortion.

A New Kind of Angry

Obliterate isn’t here to make your mix pretty. It’s here to punch holes in the rulebook, to make your tracks feel alive. It’s not for every moment in every song, but when you need to unleash chaos, this plugin delivers.

Whether it’s giving your drums bite, making your basslines jam, or conjuring otherworldly soundscapes, Obliterate is your partner in destruction.

Cheers Marcus

Electronic Music Mixing and Mastering Engineer