Trash 2

Izotope Trash 2 is a somewhat unique mult-fx, multiband distortion and compression plug-in. It can add very subtle and warm saturation, or hard and aggressive distortion, so it works well with sound design, mixing and mastering.

Trash 2 has sadly been discontinued recently, but Izotope have teased a newer version.

Powerful = overwhelming

Trash is the distortion used on NIN's With Teeth album, so I should like it way more than I actually do. But the workflow just doesn't feel right for me and I didn't find any presets that I loved. I know it's powerful, but it feels overwhelming. I feel like I really need to sit down & teach myself to use it... it feels like homework, not fun. I'd rather reach for Guitar Rig 5 or Amplitube 4, or create some weird hybrid VST plugin chain combination.

Excellent

My favourite distortion plugin. Versatile and intuitive with good experimental capacities. Very recommended.

Why don't you have this plug-in?

I've had this plug-in for years and I haven't even come close to fully utilizing it. The most important feature to milk from this product is the multi-band distortion capability. If done correctly, this means distorting instruments or tracks not just so it sounds like you ran it through a distortion pedal, but to hone in on certain frequencies you want to pull. I've gotten a lot of really unique, warm EQ from tweaking that feature.

The presets which are usually "out of the box" sounding are anything but typical even before you customize them. Just when you thought you've tweaked everything enough to find your favorite tone, one knob creates an entirely unique sound and favorite setting. Then, you can double up your preset with more than one filter bank.

You can make tones that sound like the auditory equivalent of a savage ass beating, or simply shape an already existing tone. I can't stress enough how important this plug-in is for anyone making any type of music.

cool but over the top

looking to fuck up your sounds? Trash ahs got you in spades..... all the spades in the deck and then some! I dock it 2 stars for having too many options. You can waste so much time fucking with this thing without finding the effect you're looking for. Its just too powerful. I feel like that with a lot of isotope plugins. Great sound quality, so powerful but in the end the bury you with options and slow you down. I seldom have time for them. I just wanna make music. Its also a vicious CPU hit.

Unique sounding distortion + filter + delay not limited to cabinets & amps simulation

This plugin comes with tons of presets and so many features that gives you control on all aspects of it's processing chain. What makes it a unique plugin is that it does not pretend to simulate cabinet & amp distortion sound intended for guitars. It's more like a plugin that can process any source through a chain of fully adjustable distortion, compression, delay and/or filter. I use it for any type of inputs like vocals, synths, basses, drumloops, drones... Anything, actually! Trash 2 is so versatile and powerful that it would be a shame to limit it's use as a guitar effect plugin. Try it and browse through the presets, you'll find out how diverse and versatile it can sound.

Leaves Ohmicide in the dust- considering it's also cheaper.

Many forms of distortion, 3 band distortion with corresponding compressors to keep the signal balanced, pre and post filters to make your sound more dynamic (responding to transients)- this is the best distortion plugin ever. Only problem is the annoying static-tails when the input signal stops (although sometimes that makes good effects).

Bizarre but fun

This thing is pretty crazy and difficult to get a handle on, but with the right experimentation it can add excitement to synths or drum patterns. It really requires a lot of playing around to get a grasp for what the different parameters do, but it can add some really weird and fun distortion to your tracks.

Skrillex was right

I love this, there is so much you can do with it if you know what you're doing. Honestly I am not the best in the area of sound design so when I went at this without knowing anything I made some of the most terrible effects I've ever heard but luckily the have a vast array of amazing presets and it's also been fun to learn on the go. Would definitely recommend. The sounds you can make are A1, it's relatively cheap and opens up a new meaning to distortion.

Can rescue a sound by trashing it.

I've put trash on some tracks right before I'm about to delete them, and created sounds that ended up being the staple of the tune.

Working around the presets can be super exciting, to see how much you can change the original sound.

Trash 2 is the type of plugin that makes people hear your sounds and go "how the f**k did they make that?"

Highly recommend.