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AEAfter EffectsPRPremiere Pro

Rowbyte Bad TV

by Rowbyte·VFX

Images © Rowbyte. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Rowbyte Bad TV is listed in the Toolfarm library as a distortion effect that generates its result straight from parameters, with a Vertical Sync offset and varied scan lines covering common old-TV artifacts across After Effects and Premiere Pro.

What is Rowbyte Bad TV?

Rowbyte Bad TV is a distortion effect for After Effects and Premiere Pro from Rowbyte. It recreates the look of old television signals by generating distortion directly from the parameters you set, so no displacement maps are required.

The plugin produces a Vertical Sync offset that causes the jumpy motion associated with old TVs, and it draws scan lines of varied thickness to give a DV Tape effect. Manual Time Control and Horizontal Sync Control add further handles over the result, and the plugin includes Floating License Compatibility.

Rowbyte Bad TV runs on both Mac and Windows and supports After Effects from CS6 through 2024, along with Premiere Pro from CS6 through 2020. The effect is listed on Toolfarm, and a demo video is available to preview the distortion in motion.

Who is Rowbyte Bad TV best for?

Rowbyte Bad TV is best for after Effects and Premiere Pro artists building old-TV and signal-distortion looks without displacement maps.

How much does Rowbyte Bad TV cost?

Rowbyte Bad TV is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Automatically creates distortion based on the input parameters
  • No displacement maps required
  • Vertical Sync offset that causes the jumpy effect seen in old TVs
  • Scan lines of varied thickness for a DV Tape effect
  • Manual Time Control
  • Horizontal Sync Control
  • Floating License Compatibility

Tags

#After Effects#Premiere Pro#distortion#old TV#scan lines#VFX#Rowbyte

Frequently asked questions

Which After Effects versions does Rowbyte Bad TV support?

Rowbyte Bad TV supports After Effects from CS6 through 2024, spanning CC, CC 2014, CC 2015, CC 2015.3, CC 2017, CC 2018, CC 2019, and the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 releases. It runs on both Mac and Windows. If you are on a newer After Effects release than those listed, check the developer's page to confirm current host support before installing.

Does Rowbyte Bad TV work in Premiere Pro?

Rowbyte Bad TV works in Premiere Pro across CS6, CC, CC 2014, CC 2015, CC 2015.3, CC 2017, CC 2018, CC 2019 and 2020, on both Mac and Windows. The same effect that runs in After Effects is available in Premiere Pro, so you can apply the old-TV distortion directly in your Premiere sequences. For host versions beyond those listed, refer to the developer's page for the latest compatibility details.

Does Rowbyte Bad TV need displacement maps?

Rowbyte Bad TV does not need displacement maps. The plugin automatically creates its distortion based on the input parameters you set, generating the effect from those values rather than from a separate map. Alongside the distortion, it produces a Vertical Sync offset for the jumpy look of old TVs and scan lines of varied thickness for a DV Tape effect, with Manual Time Control and Horizontal Sync Control available as additional controls.

Is Rowbyte Bad TV free?

Rowbyte Bad TV is listed as free in this catalog. Pricing and licensing terms can change over time, so this listing may not reflect the current arrangement from the developer. The plugin also includes Floating License Compatibility for teams that manage licenses on a shared server. For current pricing, licensing options and download details, check the developer's page directly before you commit to using it in a project, since terms set there take precedence over this listing.

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