How to Get Distorted Sounds

Another option: Wait for the DISTORTION module ;-)  ...joking aside, the recommendations of slowscape and tuesdaynightmachines are great! Nevertheless, I'm already thinking about a dedicated distortion modules  with different diodes etc. I'll keep you in mind as beta tester, if you like! You seem the right one for the job :-) 

You can also drive the resonance on your filters to make it scream! That's not distortion, but a way to "mangle" the waveform if all you have is filters.

and let screaming filters through Wavefolder to achieve distorted scream. Would it be something like death metal growl?  Have to actualy try this myself when I'll have the AEM free of current patch. 

First off - it's good to know that there are others interested in getting these sounds. I have a longtime love for goth/industrial/darktech music, and I've been trying to navigate the best way to get distorted sounds with my AE. 

I recently started putting the audio output of the whole synth to an old '90s DOD Metal Guitar Multitap (which has a delay, chorus, and distortion - as well as stereo out). I send all my sounds to the mixer 4-4 module, and then mix/level it the way I want when the distortion on the multitap is on. I've been having a lot of fun adding guitar pedals. 

Edit: 

It's the DOD TR3M Metal Guitar Multi FX
guitarfx.eu/en/multi-effect/1702-dod-tr3m-metal-guitar-multi-effect.html

As others have said, the MM33 has very cool potential for grit! Looping things back into feedback loops can generate some really weird and unexpected results!

A send my reverbed mix through the wavefolder, lot of drive, and fold so it is at its more crispy. Really crazy results!

Here's my atempt. Morbid Angel it is not but industrial? Hell yeah! The changes in the distorted sound come from several different knobs positions on WASP filter (freq and resonance) and WAVEFOLDER (drive) while searching for some sweet spots. Other important ingridients: Deepspace effect on MULTIFX, Spring Reverb and Delay modules and sawtooth output from one of the oscillators send into mod input (set to freq) to add more dirt. There is also bass voice and some drums. All AEM. I include photo of the patch. 

Sweet. I just ordered one of those. Sounds awesome in your vid. Thanks for sharing!

Missed this thread at the time (I think I just received my first starter rack around that point!  ) but like to point out a little self promotion after all these other fantastic tips:

My Quad Boost is a straightforward, guitarpedal inspired (LPB-1 for the nerds) drive circuit. Feed it moderate to high volume inputs, and you'll be able to get classic overdriven/distorted sounds. Not the RAT-style crunchy distortion, but more of the classic, bit mellower distortion with lots of low end.

The Dead Band is actually also very good at distorting sounds, but in a much more aggressive/unstable way. Lots of crackles, weird glitches,.. a good one for experimenting!

You can find both kits here

Demo of both of them destroying the strings of Solina: 


Lugia : I hope to release my 'Five Steps' module in AE format somewhere this summer. I mainly built it with an 'arpeggiator' type module in mind, but it actually features four different comparator circuits, ánd you have access to these comparators' logical output too   they won't have all flexibility of a dedicated module, but i had lots of fun with the breadboard prototype already.

Last note: I managed to get some nice clipping/distorted sounds out of the 2VCA as well, if you feed it a high volume input and turn it all the way up (as is also mentioned on the wiki/store page i think?)