Free · Version 1.1.0 · Windows only
Hot Potato: Free boost and distortion plugin
Hot Potato is a free boost and distortion plugin for Windows, with six knobs and 12 presets that run from gentle boosts to 808 crunch, punchy kicks and Reese bass. Roasting hot, not edible.
Free
Hot Potato comes in the free bundle with Fuzzboy and MakeItLoud, and the button adds the whole bundle to your cart. See what's in the free bundle
What Hot Potato does
Boost drives the signal into a soft saturation stage, and Tone sets how hard a sine-shaped waveshaper folds it, so higher settings add more harmonics. Power brings that sound in through a second saturation stage: at 0%, the default and the Init preset, Boost and Tone have no effect. Clip Amount sets a hard-clip ceiling: lower settings clip harder, and the level is turned back up afterwards.
In and Out set the level going in and coming out, and the bypass switch takes out the whole effect.
Presets
The installer adds 12 presets, which load from the preset bar at the top of the plugin. Presets you save go to the same folder, C:\Users\Public\Documents\Direkt Software\Hot Potato\.
- 808 Boost, 808 Crunch and 808 Ringer
- Magic Kick and Punch Kick
- Guitar Bonk and Guitar Booster
- Reese Multiplier, Distinct Humm, Gentle Boost and Warm Crunch
- Init
Controls
What each control does.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Boost | Drive into the first saturation stage. Heard only when Power is above 0%. |
| Tone | How hard the sine waveshaper folds the signal; higher adds more harmonics. Heard only when Power is above 0%. |
| Clip Amount | Hard-clip ceiling. Lower clips harder; the level is restored afterwards. |
| Power 0 to 100% | Drive into the second saturation stage, which brings in Boost and Tone. At 0%, the default, they have no effect. |
| In | Input level. |
| Out | Output level. |
| Bypass | Switches the effect off. |
“Hot Potato and Fuzzboy are must haves for guitar players. They both sound unique and dirty in their own way.”
Specs and requirements
What you need, and what you get.
| Version | 1.1.0 |
|---|---|
| System | Windows (64-bit) |
| Format | VST3 |
| Presets | 12, installed with the plugin |
| Price | Free |
Questions about Hot Potato
Short, straight answers.
Is Hot Potato free?
Yes, on its own or in the free bundle with Fuzzboy and MakeItLoud.
Does Hot Potato run on macOS or Linux?
Not at the moment. The current download, version 1.1, is a Windows installer with a 64-bit VST3.
What is it good on?
The presets point the way: 808s, kicks, Reese bass and guitar. Start from 808 Crunch or Punch Kick, then set Clip Amount to taste.
Get Hot Potato free
Free
Hot Potato comes in the free bundle with Fuzzboy and MakeItLoud, and the button adds the whole bundle to your cart. See what's in the free bundle
