Scrubber: The Legendary Jungle and Drum and Bass Sound
Welcome to the world of a unique sound that shaped the face of electronic music in the late 90s and early 2000s! Scrubber by Dunk is not just a VST plugin; it’s a time capsule that allows you to delve into the depths of old-school Jungle and Drum and Bass. Its main function is to reproduce that very same, iconic “Dread-voice” effect, which added mystery, depth, and an unparalleled vibe to tracks.
Created with simplicity and efficiency in mind, Scrubber focuses on one task: to provide you with a tool for easily and quickly creating the effect of a time-stretched, low-toned voice or any other audio sample. This effect has become a hallmark of many classic tracks and is still used by artists who seek authentic sound or want to add a touch of nostalgia and experimentation to their music.
What is “Dread-voice”?
“Dread-voice” is a term that emerged in the electronic music production environment to describe a specific sound that was often obtained when manipulating vocal samples. It was usually a low-frequency, deep, sometimes distorted voice, stretched in time. It was created using early samplers and time-stretching techniques, which at the time were not as perfect as they are today, which gave the sound its characteristic “graininess” and uniqueness. This sound has become an integral part of the atmosphere of Jungle and Drum and Bass, adding a sense of space, hypnotism, and sometimes even ominousness to the tracks.
Scrubber is designed specifically to imitate and simplify the process of creating this effect, allowing modern musicians to easily integrate it into their production processes without resorting to complex settings or outdated equipment.
Scrubber: A Tool for Sound Creators
In essence, Scrubber is a specialized time-stretching tool optimized for achieving a specific sound result. It takes your audio sample (with an important limitation – WAV format only!) and allows you to stretch it in time, simultaneously lowering the pitch or maintaining it (depending on the algorithm, although in this case the emphasis is on changing the pitch). The result is the same deep, stretched sound that you’ve heard in the tracks of your favorite artists.
Features that make Scrubber interesting:
- Specialization in “Dread-voice”: The plugin is specifically designed to reproduce this very effect, which guarantees the authenticity of the sound.
- Ease of Use: The absence of unnecessary functions makes it intuitive. You’ll quickly get the desired result.
- Perfect for Samples: Although the effect is known for vocals, Scrubber works great with any WAV samples – from breakbeats to atmospheric sounds, opening up space for experimentation.
- Authentic Sound: It conveys the spirit of old-school digital time-stretching with all its characteristic artifacts, which adds a special charm to the sound.
Technical Aspects and Compatibility
Scrubber is presented in VST format, which ensures its compatibility with most digital audio workstations (DAW) on the market. However, there are a few important nuances to be aware of:
- Operating System: The plugin is designed for Win32. This means it natively works on 32-bit versions of Windows. If you’re using a modern 64-bit operating system, you’ll likely need a special “bridge” or use a 32-bit version of your DAW to run it.
- File Format: Scrubber supports exclusively WAV files. This is a limitation that also adds to its old-school color. Make sure your samples are in this format before using the plugin.
Despite these technical points, installing and using Scrubber is a fairly simple process for those familiar with VST plugins.
Why is Scrubber worth paying attention to?
For producers who create Jungle, Drum and Bass, Breakcore, or any other genre of electronic music where a deep and stretched sound is needed, Scrubber is an invaluable tool. It allows you to easily add that same “zest” that made these genres so recognizable.
In addition, it’s a great plugin for experimentation. Try applying it to instrumental parts, nature sounds, or even entire mixes (converting them to WAV beforehand) to get unexpected and interesting results.
As a free plugin, Scrubber is a great opportunity to add a piece of musical history to your collection and get access to a unique sound without any cost. Dive into the world of deep basses and time-stretched spaces with Scrubber!
