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Saturation and distortion are the secret sauce to complete and professional mixdowns. Full Stop!
Saturation excites the frequencies of whatever it’s placed on, adding new harmonics to the sound, warmth, punch, body, and much more to your synths and drums. This makes it the go-to tool of top-level producers looking to make basic soft synths like Serum and Vital sound big and analog – almost as if they were played and produced on expensive mixing consoles of the previous decades.
Looking to master plate reverb in production? Explore ‘How Producers Should Be Using Plate Reverb for Space, Modulation, and That Pro-Grade Polish’ – elevate your sound here. ️ ️ ️
And to help you snag a few extra plugins for your collection, we decided it was time to crunch the numbers, ask the questions, and find out which saturation plugins are the most popular and most often seen in the producers’ studios at all levels. So let’s dive into the list of the seven most popular saturation plugins in 2024 (at least so far).
Decapitator by Soundtoys
Decapitator is a classic saturation plugin offering five modes: Tube, Tape, and Solid State. It also features tone controls that allow you to shape the character of the saturation, as well as a mix control that lets you blend the saturated signal with the original signal. Decapitator is a versatile tool that can add warmth, depth, and character to everything from drums and bass to vocals and synths.
Keen on the latest music production tools? Check out ‘Six New Forward-Thinking VSTs All Music Producers Need to Know About in 2024’ – explore the cutting-edge here
SoundToy’s suite of plugins is accessible of the best bundles a producer can buy. Decapitator is the one I find myself returning to on almost every channel or track I produce. Better still, the presets that come stock on this saturator are second to none, and if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to add more beef and life to your drum bus, look no further than the “Drum Fattener 2” preset.
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Radiator by Soundtoys
Radiator is another saturation plugin from Soundtoys that emulates the sound of classic tube-based preamp circuits. It features two different tube models, tone controls, and mix control, allowing you to dial in just the right amount of saturation and character for your tracks. Radiator is perfect for adding warmth, grit, and harmonics to anything from guitars and drums to vocals and keyboards.
Guitar Amps get nowhere near enough credit these days as most people think that standard saturation and distortion are better than the steady-state coloration and constant hum many guitar amps bring to a sound. But for those in the know, there is no better tool to help round out and beef up your sound.
And for those looking to hack into this hidden secret of music production, there is no better starting point than SoundToy’s Radiator.
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RC-20 Retro Color by XLN Audio
RC-20 Retro Color is a unique saturation plugin that emulates the sound of vintage recording equipment, such as tape machines, vinyl records, and VHS tapes. It offers six different distortion modes and other processing effects like noise, wobble, and filter effects, allowing you to add vintage characters to your tracks. RC-20 Retro Color is perfect for anything from lo-fi hip-hop to vintage synth-pop.
Whenever you can stumble on a plugin that can accomplish a multitude of different goals in a single device, that’s when you know you’ve struck gold. Not only does RC-20 add a tasteful saturation, but it can also add reverb, wobble, movement, modulation, vinyl noise, and more!
I see this plugin being used in many different streams and studio situations, and it’s less expensive than you would think!
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Harmonics by Softube
Whether you’re working with guitars, vocals, drums, bass, or synths, adding some extra grunt can take your sound to the next level. But too much distortion can wreak havoc on your dynamics, leaving you with a muddy, indistinct mess. And too little can leave your tracks feeling weak and uninspired.
Enter Harmonics, the distortion plugin that’s changing the game. With not just five but five amazing analog distortion models, Harmonics is the ultimate solution for adding character and edge to your sound. But what truly sets Harmonics apart is its innovative approach to dynamics. By analyzing and preserving the details of the input signal, even after heavy distortion is applied, Harmonics ensures that your sound stays crisp, clear, and full of life.
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SSL Native X-Saturator
With unparalleled distortion characteristics, this plug-in adds an incredible range of analog-style even- and odd-order harmonics to your sound. Whether you’re looking for valve saturation, transistor saturation, or a blend of the two, the SSL Native X-Saturator has you covered.
But that’s not all – with complete control over the edge of your distortion, ranging from smooth to complex, you can fine-tune your sound to perfection. And with a wet/dry knob for parallel processing, you can easily find the perfect balance for your mix.
Get ready to be blown away by Solid Slate Logic’s fantastic sound and flexibility. Say goodbye to dull, lifeless tracks and hello to an exciting world of dynamic, expressive, and fully realized sound. The possibilities are endless with this incredible tool at your fingertips.
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Black Box Analog Design HG-2MS
With the MS version of the Black Box, you’ll have access to an incredible range of options, including Mid-Side, Mono/Stereo, and More Saturation options. And with TMT – Brainworx’s patent-registered “Tolerance Modeling Technology” – you can achieve an even greater level of control and precision, with US Patent No. 10,725,727 backing it up.
But that’s not all – this incredible tool also includes a variety of digital-only controls, such as Input Gain, Density, Calibration, Air, and Mix. And with separate gain controls for virtual 6U8A pentode and triode tubes, you can fine-tune your sound to perfection.
The parallel saturation circuit lets you select one of two modeled 12AX7 tubes, each with a unique character and voice. And with a saturation frequency selector, you can add rich, generated 12AX7 harmonics to your sound.
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FabFilter Saturn 2 by FabFilter
FabFilter Saturn 2 is a versatile multi-band saturation plugin, boasting a diverse array of distortion modes and a highly adaptable multiband system. Its detailed controls, encompassing drive, mix, and feedback, empower you to tailor the saturation’s essence in multiple dimensions. Renowned for its ability to infuse warmth, distortion, and distinct character into various elements, from drums and bass to vocals and synths, Saturn 2 excels in crafting exclusive effects and textures in your music.
Notably, Waxman, known for his releases on David Hohme’s Where The Heart Is Records, praises its capabilities: “One of the best features of Saturn-2 is that it’s a multiband saturator so that you can affect extremely specific frequency bands with different saturation and modulation.”
Delve deeper into Waxman’s insights on Saturn 2 and discover more about its transformative impact on sound production by exploring the full interview. Plus, experience the essence of Waxman’s music embedded alongside, further illustrating Saturn 2’s profound influence.
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Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
