Hello guys, I am working in the box like most of us. But I've realized that digital world is way too clean compared to analog world. Getting a perfect, exact same sound after all of my interventions to the sound ruins my sleep, keeps me awake at nights. For example; I was working on puremix's tutorials recently and i noticed vocal is way more clean to the real reference.

Here is mine: https://vocaroo.com/16ttuGlGXtro

and here is the original song

I don't want to crank all the way up saturation, but maybe i should do it. i do not know. Anyway. Do you know any good analog/tape saturation plugins? I've got some cool stuff but real ones could be good too.

 

I'm using Fabfilter's Saturn 2, seems to be doing the job to me.

 

I've seen that plugin but it seems frightening with multiband and with all that buttons. Fabfilter's plugins are famous with their transperency. Does Saturn 2 satisfy your ears fair enough?

 

Overloud Sculptube, Vertigo VSM-3, Wavesfactory Spectre

 

all the kush audio plugins are massively slept on - thanks to R2R i discovered them and became a paying customer,
i really recommend the Omega bundle, and the Novatron, such a delicious saturation!

also needless to mention Decapitator, timeless classic

 

Nembrini

https://www.nembriniaudio.com/collections/tone-character

 

gonna check it out.

i heard them but never listened them before. I will try them out too. maybe trial or something

 

psp vintage warmer
soft tube saturation knob
tone booster plugins are what i use and yea fab filter stuff

 

Honestly, after testing all saturation plugins out there, I always come back to Saturn 2.

This thing is deep. It has so many features and it takes a while to master, but once you get a hold of it, you wont need anything else, really...

It does tape, tube, transformer and everything else in between, and it does it well...And with its modulation tools, man...

But, again, you must take your time to learn it. It is a complex plugin.

 

It can do complex things, but it's not hard to do the basic stuff. Lots of presets too.

 

Easy, with few controls: Softube Saturation Knob (free), Klevgrand LUXE, BPB Saturator (free), SoundToys Radiator and Little Radiator, Klanghelm IVGI, Airwindows Tape

Medium amount of controls: Klanghelm SDRR2, ChowDSP ChowTape (free), SoundToys Decapitator, Kazrog True Iron, PA Black Box Analog Design HG-2, Elysia Phil's Cascade, Softube Harmonics, SSL X-saturator, Slate Digital VTM, Softube Tape, Airwindows ToTape6

Alot of controls: Fabfilter Saturn 2, U-he Satin, iZotope Ozone Exciter, d16 Redoptor 2, PA Vertigo VSM-3, Wavesfactory Spectre, BX Saturator V2

I suggest you start with the easy ones if you don't want to have a ton of controls. Saturation Knob, LUXE and BPB Saturator are my favorites among the very simple saturation plug-ins!

 

Most of those plugins do the same thing in the end, you can use a hundred and still not find that flavor that you seek. My recommendation is get a good simple one, put an eq before and after it, and shape the saturation with the eqs, just putting on a saturation plugin won't cut it.

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2021

Wavesfactory Spectre is very easy to use and does the job well,
pity Fabfilter didn't come up with such plugin

another favourite GEM (pun intended) of mine is Overloud's DOPAMINE, then there's SCULPTUBE and also TAPEDESK

 

There is this one preset in Fabfilter Saturn 2 (i think in older Saturn as well) called "The Tube bM" under the "COLOR" category in the presets selection.
Boost the DRIVE at the control section and the DRIVE at the modulation section to taste. Balance with VOLUME for proper gain staging.

I've been abusing that on every track for quite some time already. It also add some kind of movement. So good!

also, I love the SPL TwinTube for quick saturation.

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2021

i uses these two a lot : Kazrog True Iron, PA Black Box Analog Design HG-2 <-- can transform your drum like beast!

 

I couldn't agree more.

Most developers just grab a standard saturation algorithm, add some compression, a simple EQ move here and there, wrap it in a fancy GUI and market it as the latest and greatest innovation in the industry.

I wonder for how long they are still going to be able to milk this cow...

I can't think of bigger snake oil scheme than the audio plugin industry.

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2021

I could recognize three differences between your version and the vid, none of them has to do with saturation.
In your mix the vocals

1. are louder
2. are less compressed (maybe use upward compression, or a rider)
3. have more low mids

So, instead of trying 1001 new saturation pluggies, you may like to check this at first.

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2021

@No Avenger Are you actually suggesting to learn your tools instead and building a skillset to know which plugin to pick? Are you actually insane? Everybody knows the correct way to do it is to install 10.001 plugins, click through every preset and use the one you like.

And if you don't find any, just create a thread in an audio forum ask for more plugins to download and try more presests on. That's the only efficient way of handling pro audio shit in 2021. Everybody knows that. Get up to speed, man.

DISCLAIMER: For everybody who missed the course on sarcasm. The text above is sarcasm.

 

Last edited: Feb 9, 2021

noticed that as well, thought it would be impolite to point that out. im not brave enough, im no tiger.

 

Saturn 2 (complex, but great) Spectre (work like a boostonly equalizer) True Iron (subtle, transformer emulation) maybe try Big Al from Neold, dropped on Sistersite few hours ago!
For the first 2 recommendations, play with oversampling/quality modes!

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2021