Output Thermal multi-stage distortion plug-in: features and spec-based rating

Output’s Thermal is a multi-stage distortion plug-in from Output in which a circular XY pad moves the texture of the distortion. It has 19 distortion algorithms, 9 built-in effects and more than 250 presets (ready-made settings).

A saturation plug-in adds a faint distortion, as if the sound had passed through analog gear, to add thickness and warmth.

In this article we compare Thermal with 12 saturation plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Summary

Among the 12 saturation plug-ins, Thermal is rank A. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and A is second from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.8.

Strengths

• Range of texture (4 points): you can choose from a wide range, from subtle warmth to strong distortion.
• Per-band processing (4 points): you can change the distortion for lows and highs, so the sound is less likely to get muddy.

Who it suits: people who want to quickly add distortion with variation to synths and drums.

Main features of Thermal

Stack 19 kinds of distortion

Thermal is a distortion plug-in in which you can stack 19 distortion algorithms recreating analog and digital behavior, several stages deep. Besides adding harmonics and roughness, it can change the shape of the volume and apply FM (frequency modulation). Effects, modulation and stereo width adjustment are also included.

An XY pad changes the sound quickly

Moving the round XY pad on screen moves several parameters of the stacked distortions together. Presets are guided to suit the kind of sound you put in. Detailed settings are made on the Advanced page.

Choose the band to distort

You can decide the frequency range to distort by dragging handles on the waveform display. Turning on Band Split lets you split the bands with a crossover filter and process them separately. For each stage, Width & Tone also adjusts the stereo width and the tone.

Where it is useful

• Adding moving distortion to a synth or drum loop with the XY pad
• Distorting only a certain band of a vocal to make an effective phrase
• Leaving the lows of a bass and adding distortion only to the mids and highs

Rating by criterion

Range of texture: 4 / 5

We check the range of distortion types you can choose, from subtle warmth to strong distortion.

You can choose from 19 distortion algorithms recreating analog and digital behavior (4 points because it does not have 20 or more).

Per-band processing: 4 / 5

We check whether the distortion can differ for low and high pitches.

You can choose the band on the waveform and turn on Band Split to enable a crossover and distort the bands separately.

Mix and tone control: 3 / 5

We check whether you can adjust how much is mixed with the original sound, and the tone.

Tone (highs and lows) and stereo width (Width & Tone) can be adjusted for each stage.

How we score (Saturation plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Range of texture	The range of distortion types you can choose, from subtle to strong	Choose from 20 or more kinds of distortion	Choose from 5 or more kinds of distortion	2 to 4 kinds	1 kind	—
Per-band processing	Whether the distortion can differ for lows and highs	Multiband processing of up to 6 bands	2 to 3 bands	—	—	No per-band processing
Mix and tone control	Control of how much is mixed with the original sound, and of the tone	Mix, tone, dynamics and more can be adjusted for each band	Both mix and tone are available	One of the two	—	Not mentioned on the official page

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: adding thickness and presence to vocals and backing tracks. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Range of texture" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

Thermal screens and images

Thermal system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 and 11 / Mac (Mac OS X 10.14 or later)
Plug-in formats	VST, VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
Other	It cannot be used in software that cannot load other companies’ plug-ins, such as Audacity
Trial	7-day free trial (a trial of Output One)
OBS (streaming)	Works as it is (VST2 is listed)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026. How to use plug-ins in the OBS streaming software is explained in How to use VST3 plug-ins in OBS.

Compared with other saturation plug-ins

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• Saturn 2: features and rating (rank S)
• Decapitator: features and rating (rank B)
• MSaturator: features and rating (rank C)
• Radiator: features and rating (rank C)