This list will cover the best and hottest picks for saturation plugins in 2023.
As musicians and audio producers, we will never cease to be amazed at how good our equipment can sound. Be it live or in the studio, we love the gear that sounds great, especially the vintage ones.
Saturation is often an imperative element in music production, especially at the mixing stage.
The vintage units used over the decades to enhance, shape, and create warmth on many types of instruments are the main inspiration, and skillful developers and dedicated audio companies are the ones that make the original sound more accessible to everyone, sometimes for free.
In a nutshell, here are the best saturation plugins for 2023:
6. Tone Projects – Kelvin Tone Shaper
7. PSP Saturator (Not MixSaturator)
9. IK Multimedia Tape Machine 99
12. Black Box Analog Design HG-2MS
But now let’s dive into a full list to learn more:
Top 12 Saturation Plugins In 2023 (Best Mixing & Mastering Tools)
1. SSL Native X-Saturator
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
X-Saturator provides a wide variety of saturation effects that come straight from analog hardware designs.
When we talk about saturation, we mostly mean the warmth generated in hardware consoles. This type of saturation is usually third-order saturation, caused by transistor circuits. Conversely, a tube or valve circuit generates second-order saturation, which sounds “warmer” in low amounts.
SSL Native’s X-Saturator can generate both types of saturation and anything in-between. This flexibility lets you create various saturation styles, ranging from vintage tube hardware to modern outboard gears.
Furthermore, you can drive the saturation mildly to create slight warmth or produce full-on trashed distortion with high settings. Let’s have a look at its user interface and key features:
Key Features:
- Harmonics Control
The Harmonics parameter lets you select between second and third-order harmonics. It changes the saturation style from tube to transistor. Similarly, you can set the knob somewhere in the middle to create unique, unheard-of sounds. I prefer using second-order harmonics to emulate vintage instruments while treating acoustic recordings with transistor-style third-order harmonics. If it sounds too bright, bring down the parameter towards second-order. - Distortion
The Shape knob controls whether the saturated sound has hard edges or soft edges. A harder edge helps the sound cut through the mix better, although it may make the sound harsher. A neat way to get a phatter sound while also creating enough high-frequency harmonics is by driving the stage higher using the Drive knob while turning down the Shape parameter. It sounds awesome on synth leads. - Level Control
If the saturation generates too much distortion without driving it, you can turn down the Input Gain on the left of the user interface. Similarly, if the distortion isn’t enough, try turning on the +6 dB gain button at the middle right of the plugin. And control the saturation amount using the Depth parameter. Finally, you can use the Mix parameter for parallel processing.
Compatibility:
SSL Native X-Saturator is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.12 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
Random saturation can worsen the sound rather than improve it. So, an analog-modeled saturation engine is necessary to ensure your sound stays within the mix or cuts through it, depending on your settings.
X-Saturator conveniently provides two types of saturation in a single plugin. Furthermore, you can set your saturation style anywhere between tube-style and transistor electronics style. It’s an uncommon feature that makes this plugin stand out among many others. And you can find this plugin on sale quite frequently, which helps make the price reasonable.
Related Reading:
4 Best Saturation Pedals Available (Tone Shapers & Tape Saturators)
2. Waves Abbey Road Saturator
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Abbey Road Saturator delivers a unique saturation character by combining two classic EMI tools: a Compander and console saturation chains.
Winner of the 2021 NAMM TEC award, this plugin can bring some great features to your DAW that are present at the heart of the iconic EMI studios. The combination mentioned above of a Compander and a console saturation brings to the table all the subtlety of the original unit.
A Compander was initially designed to reduce noise in telecommunications, compressing the signal before the transmission and expanding it on the receiving end.
In 1962, the EMI Central Research Laboratories invented a tape noise-reduction system called the TG12321, emphasizing the high frequencies and adding more air to the tracks before sending the signal to the saturator. Producers like Peter Brown and Geoff Emerick used this quite a lot, and now it’s available for your use too.
Key Features:
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- Compander
As mentioned earlier, the Compander was meant to reduce noise in an audio signal but later was further developed to enhance the high-end of the signal. This is the feature that makes this plugin so different from others. Lower ratios can add soft clipping at low frequencies, and the same soft clipping can happen when dealing with higher values. This is essential to tame the overall filtering before it saturates the signal. - Pre and post EQ
If a Compander is not enough, maybe these two equalizers will satisfy you. The “Pre EQ” section deals with the frequencies before the Compander and saturator, with low, mid, and high filters. The “Post EQ,” however, is crucial for dealing with the signal just before it reaches the output – the last chance to tweak even more precisely the frequencies on your signal with the very same filters. - Stereo modes
This switch near the “Input” knob can deal with three stereo processing modes. The “M” indicates that the middle of the stereo image is distorted, while the sides are not processed. In “S” mode, it’s the other way around: the sides are distorted, and the middle of the stereo image is not processed. Finally, the “ST” mode brings the entire stereo image together.
- Compander
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.14.6 to 12.0.1 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or higher (64-bit only). It comes as a V13 Waves plugin in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats. Minimum 8GB of RAM required.
Summary:
Saturation might be one of the key elements to a good analog recording, and plugins like this try to mimic the significant innovations that the past audio gear has brought us over the decades.
Blending a saturator with a rare component like the EMI TG12321 creates a very authentic and unique characteristic in this software, dealing with features like stereo imaging modes and pre/post equalization. Talking about mojo and a plethora of controls, Abbey Road Saturator is indeed among the best plugins out there that will enhance your production’s quality.
Related Reading:
Top 20 Waves Plugins (For Mixing & Mastering)
3. Arturia Tape MELLO-FI
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Inspired by the iconic Mellotron, this plugin brings the tape simulation and all its desired imperfections straight to your computer.
The famous unit, which excels as one of the earliest sampling devices ever produced, has gained fame through classic songs like “Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles. The grainy and lo-fi character of the Mellotron is brought to life on this plugin by Arturia, in all its glory.
Distributed between three main modules, the Arturia MELLO-FI recreates that old-school atmosphere present in these instruments with a dedicated preamp, a tape module ready to adjust the perfect tone, and a filter. A tape stop feature is also present to make it even closer to the authentic feel of these machines.
Key Features:
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- Tape controls
In this section, you’ll find the heart of the plugin, which makes it sound like a tape. Distributed between four knobs, the quality and design of the tape sound can be easily molded. For example, the “Flutter” knob directly impacts the pitch of the recording by mimicking the rotations of a tape motor, which can also be visually seen on a little screen above the controls. Similarly, the “Wow” knob also alters the pitch but at a slower rate than the previous knob. The “Wear” control, as it might suggest, deals with the amount of degradation in a tape, and, lastly, the “Mechanics” knob controls the amount of tape motor noise in the signal. Combining these four elements can create the perfect recipe for an authentic vintage sound. - Preamp
The preamp module features three primary controls: “Drive,” “Tone,” and “Noise.” At this stage, the signal can be manipulated and processed similarly to the genuine preamp of a Mellotron. The “Drive” knob deals with the amount of distortion applied to the original signal, and this value can easily be monitored via the VU meter. Underneath it, there’s a switch for a gain-compensated boost, which will make it sound even crunchier. The “Tone” knob allows you to change the color of the original sound by damping the high frequencies. Also, you can altogether bypass it out of your signal chain by pressing a switch underneath the control. Lastly, the “Noise” knob adds a tape noise texture to the overall sound, sometimes even capturing the aspect of a vinyl sound. - Tape stop
This great function is present to instantly bring that classic tape stop effect to your track, a ubiquitous tool used in sampled recordings that can be added to your instrument while you play. You can either click on the exposed wheel or on the “Play/Pause” switch underneath it to have it activated and can be triggered in an “Instant” or “Fast-Forward” style (abrupt or slightly fading out the effect). - Filter
This control deals with the high-pass and low-pass filters that might apply to your signal. You can rapidly shape the high or low-end spectrum and tame any undesired frequencies created or enhanced by any previous controls by twisting this knob.
- Tape controls
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.13 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 8.1 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2.4, VST3, AU, NKS, and AAX plugin formats and requires Open GL 2.0 compatible GPU.
Summary:
An excellent option for any producers searching for a tool that brings the classic lo-fi vintage aspect of a tape recorder to your sound. This is a faithful reproduction of a classic sound profile from a famous instrument, and Arturia nailed remodeling it, as usual.
The variety and subtle alterations each control can bring showcase how sensitive this effect is, having the power to change any track processed through it drastically.
Related Reading:
Top 14 Arturia Plugins For Musicians
4. Baby Audio TAIP
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Baby Audio’s aspiration to innovate is showcased one more time with this beautiful AI-powered tape effect plugin.
Unlike the previous plugins mentioned up to this point, TAIP isn’t supposed to recreate any specific circuits but rather explore a new and original version of the famous tape effect. You can colorize, saturate, modulate, compress, and distort any audio you want with much character and quality.
As the name implies, TAIP is a plugin that depends on an AI-powered engine to work, and this is an example of how the future of music technology lies within artificial intelligence. This plugin proves that by bringing the desired elements of a tape recorder machine in a new and refreshed way, it’s possible to have an innovative and modern tape sound.
Key Features:
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- Auto-gain
You can count on a dedicated “auto-gain” option that automatically sets the output level of the preamp section to be more consistent with whatever values you input on the “Drive” control. This means that the overall distortion to the signal will be firmly adjusted and controlled, independently from the amount of gain boosted. - Adjustable interface
Working for long hours in audio productions may be tiresome to your eyesight, and you can customize this plugin’s interface to comfort you better. On the top left corner, you’ll see three different options for theme – white, gray, and black – that can be changed very swiftly. Having a night mode turned on might be very beneficial to your eyes. The window is also fully resizable to fit your screen the best way possible. - Limiter
This plugin contains a brick wall limiter at the output section, right at the end of the signal chain. Even if you turn your volume up to 11, it’ll be prevented from clipping at your DAW. An excellent tool that automatically helps you sweep better the sound you want. For example, you can use the “Output” control to compress your signal further, expanding your possibilities even further. - Models & input
Centered at the bottom of the controls, two switches can help shape the tape sound. The “Input” selection offers an extra push at the gain drive with the “Hot” option, going further than the “Drive” knob goes. At “Model,” however, it’s possible to simulate the effect of two tape machines running in series with the “Dual” mode – and also a “Single” one for keeping things regular.
- Auto-gain
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.7 or higher and Windows 7 or higher. It comes in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
Baby Audio is a brand that often reinvents and modernizes standard concepts and techniques of music production. With TAIP wasn’t any different.
The artificial intelligence that runs the engine is developed with inspiration from the old units mixed with modern digital features, such as the storage of presets or how it deals with gain staging. This is an excellent option if you need something classic but with a bold tendency toward reinventing itself.
Related Reading:
Top 6 BABY Audio Plugins To Get (And Freebies)
5. denise God Mode
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Another plugin inspired by iconic hardware from the past, but with a refreshing modern interface and updated take on how saturation works.
The Pultec EQ was a passive tube equalizer from the 1950s. It featured a “push-pull” technology that motivated the denise team to recreate it. In a nutshell, the EQ would “push” the gain for a specific frequency range into its tube circuit to have it “pulled” back again, smoothing out the overall frequency response. The result is a sound with boosted frequency ranges added to it – the famous “warmth” so much sought after.
It does bring the same kind of sound vibe of the original unit into play, further developing it with the infinite capacity of the digital world. Combining these worlds can be crucial to “push” specific frequencies to saturation more efficiently than ever, aiming specifically at their values. This can enhance their response and resonance.
Key Features:
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- Three drive types
- Each drive can be dialed in simultaneously with the exact amount you configure. The drives can be chosen and mixed within three main types: “Tape,” “Warp,” and “Buzz.” The first type is the smoothest, featuring the algorithm mentioned below. The second can show a more confident character, while the last is based on wave-shaping and can be pretty aggressive. Finally, the side-chain option available allows you to use another track to modulate the amount of saturation at the “Tape” setting.
- Multi-band distortion
This is a saturator plugin intertwined with equalizer parameters, so, logically, they decided to have a nice screen showing you the nodes on the graph. With linear phase filters, you can blend in the wet and mix signals as you please with enormous precision and without phase issues. The multi-band distortion aspect of this effect is the main appeal here, and it’s crucial to have every frequency sounding as best as possible. - Panning
God mode allows you to pan the wet and dry signals independently. This not-so-usual feature allows for a more creative stereo placement, resulting in exciting sounds. The “Split” mode at the upper right corner allows to enhance the stereo image or create a new one from a mono source, as well. - Tape Analog VM™ algorithm
The “Tape” drive type is the only one to feature this algorithm. It was earlier developed and included on denise’s Bad Tape plugin, which is supposedly its evolution. This algorithm emulates the smoothness in old tape machines while pushing it to its limits at the same time. Since you’re dealing with digital values, you can go for transparent tones even when set to maximum gain, getting the perfect blend between analog and digital.
- Three drive types
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.7 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
As always, denise brings a modern recreation of an old sound we all love and cherish. The fantastic possibilities uncovered with the digital advances are present on this plugin and can significantly assist when breaking the production routine. Push the limits even further than previously imagined while retaining the vintage aspects so coveted by professionals.
6. Tone Projects Kelvin Tone Shaper NEW*
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Kelvin Tone Shaper is a unique saturation plugin that uses a proprietary algorithm to provide high-quality analog-style saturation.
It offers a range of different saturation types, including Tape, Tube, and Transformer, and allows you to blend these types to create your custom sound. One of the standout features of the plugin is its flexible dual-stage saturation. The plugin blends multiple saturation types to create your custom sound. You can also adjust the amount of saturation for each stage, giving you fine control over the level and character of the saturation.
Another great feature is its ability to preserve the natural dynamics of your tracks while adding warmth and color. That allows you to enhance the sonic characteristics of your tracks without sacrificing their natural dynamics and transients.
Key Features:
- Intuitive Interface
With a simple and intuitive interface, the plugin lets you quickly dial in the perfect saturation for your tracks. The plugin’s controls are labeled clearly and provide visual feedback, making it easy to understand and use. - Push/pull EQ
Allowing you to boost or cut the gain of specific frequency bands while simultaneously adjusting the gain of the opposite band, the equalization technique in the plugin creates a unique “push/pull” effect, which can be used to sculpt the tonal balance of your tracks creatively and musically. - Presets
You get a range of presets designed by professional mixing engineers, making it easy to get started with the plugin and explore different sonic possibilities. - Unique Saturation Characteristics
Kelvin Tone Shaper offers unique saturation characteristics that can enhance the sonic characteristics of your tracks in a way that is distinct from other saturation plugins. You can combine its ten different saturation modes to create interesting effects. - Harmonic Exciter
The plugin includes a built-in harmonic exciter, which can add high-frequency detail and sparkle to your tracks. In addition, it also includes M/S processing capabilities, which allow you to apply saturation to the mid or side components of your mix independently. This can be useful for fine-tuning the stereo image of your tracks. - Output Limiter
The plugin includes a built-in output limiter, which helps to prevent clipping and ensures that your tracks stay within a safe, dynamic range.
Compatibility:
It is available in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats, making it compatible with most major DAWs on both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Summary:
The Tone Projects Kelvin Tone Shaper is a powerful saturation plugin that provides a range of unique features for enhancing the sound of your tracks. Its powerful push/pull equalization allows for precise tonal shaping, and its intuitive interface and low CPU usage make it a popular choice among professional mixing engineers. The plugin is compatible with a wide range of DAWs and operating systems and is available in multiple plugin formats, making it easy to integrate into your existing workflow.
7. PSP Saturator (Not MixSaturator)
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
A combination of refined algorithms and inspiration comes from great saturation units that come in a beautiful interface and offer an abundance of controls.
PSP Audioware brings a new plugin to their catalog, dedicated to assisting you with the most common saturation processes and offering plenty of presets to start working right when you open it for the first time. With an intuitive set of controls displayed at the interface – which resembles vintage studio gear -, each knob twist is precise and full of character.
You can saturate any sound by adding harmonics, taming the frequencies, and dynamic processing to simulate an analog circuit as best as possible. Allied with that, you have three algorithms, distributed between eight saturation types.
Key Features:
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- Shapes
Right below the large “Saturation” knob, there’s a “Shape” switch with eight variable settings. This is a collection of saturation types, going from left to right on a scale from less intense to a very distorted sound. A versatile tool like this is essential to suit every need when applying saturation. With “Soft Valve,” “Med Valve,” “Hard Valve,” “Warm Tape,” “Modern Tape,” “Ram,” “Soft Clip,” and “Hard Clip,” you can dwell into both valve and tape characters very quickly. - Band-processing controls
Divided between two sections, the dedicated band-processing controls are distributed straightforwardly. At the “Low” module, you’ll find a dedicated knob to set the frequency value, a “Level” knob to adjust the volume, and a “Warmth” setting designed to give some consistency to the low-end. At the “High” module, there’s also a “Level” knob and a “Freq” control, but this time aimed at higher frequencies. The “Softness” control, equivalent to the “Warmth,” delivers a concise shaping to the high-end spectrum. Using these two unique knobs at each section can easily set the shape of your frequencies. - Linking
There’s an entire section dedicated to the input and output controls on the bottom. This can be essential when dealing with gain and saturation, but a particular configuration should’ve been in every similar plugin. On the left of the “Input” and “Output” controls, there’s a small chain symbol that represents a “Link.” When this option is activated, the input and output volumes are locked and relative to each other, allowing for an ultra-precise instant configuration of your signal level values. - Output modes
A small switch located at the right of the “Output” knob can cover two output modes. The first, “SAT,” allows saturation to be applied to the output signal. The second, “LIM,” brings a limiter to help you control a signal with lots of peaks or dynamics. Both will influence how the “Output” knob works and drastically impact the way your signal is manipulated. - Open it up
At the same bottom section, there’s a very tiny “Open” button at the right. This fantastic feature lets you open the plugin up, just like you would a real tape machine. A section of what would be the circuit of the plugin is shown when you click it, and some controls can be tweaked to enhance your sound even more. It contains a “Fat” mode, a side-chain high-pass filter, a smoothing control, a make-up control, and another high-pass filter that can be routed to “pre” or “post” in your signal chain.
- Shapes
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.10 to 12.01 (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
This can be one of the most complete saturation plugins on our list, regarding the number of tools present and what you can do with them. Each parameter can be tweaked clearly, without a large number of knobs to scare newcomers. The attention to detail is extreme, with special mention to the “Open” option that allows you to peak into the “hardware.” The algorithms working here dramatically benefit the result, which can be extremely close to what genuine equipment would deliver.
Related Reading:
Top 9 PSP Audioware Plugins For Music Production
8. Waves BB Tubes
More Info & Download (Trial Available)
Waves BB Tubes is a plugin designed to emulate the sound of tube amplifiers known for their warm, rich tone.
The plugin can add character and warmth to various audio sources, including guitar, bass, and vocals, and can create a sense of space and depth in a mix due to the harmonics it adds. It has controls like Beauty and Beast, pre and post-saturation, sensitivity, a dry/wet mix knob, a transformer, and more.
Key Features:
- Presets
The plugin comes with a library of presets that can be used as starting points for your sound design. These presets are designed to provide a range of sounds that can be used in different contexts, such as rock, blues, and country music. - Modes
The Waves BB Tubes plugin has two distinct modes, called “Beauty” and “Beast” modes, which are designed to provide different types of tube emulation. The Beauty mode is designed to emulate vintage tube amplifiers’ warm, smooth sound, and the Beast mode, on the other hand, is designed to emulate the more aggressive and distorted sound of modern tube amplifiers.
It is intended to add a more pronounced distortion and saturation to audio recordings. It can create a wide range of overdriven and distorted sounds, whereas the Beauty mode adds more subtle effects. - Flexibility
The mix control feature allows you to blend the processed audio with the original audio, giving you more flexibility in shaping the final sound. This feature allows you to add just the right amount of warmth and character to the audio without altering the overall balance of the mix. - Transformer switch
The transformer switch in the Waves BB Tubes plugin allows you to choose between different types of transformer emulations, which can help to shape the overall tone and character of the sound. The switch provides the ability to switch between classic, modern, and custom transformer emulation, giving you more control over the plugin’s sound, such that it works in conjunction with the Beauty and Beast mode, allowing you to achieve even more unique sounds by combining the different transformer emulations with the different tube emulations.
Compatibility:
The plugin is available in VST, AU, and AAX formats, making it compatible with various digital audio workstations (DAWs) and operating systems, such as Windows and Mac.
Summary:
Overall, the plugin is a versatile tool that offers a range of features for adding warmth, various kinds of distortions, and character to audio recordings. Whether you’re looking to add warmth to a guitar recording or add depth and richness to a vocal, the plugin offers a wide range of possibilities for sound design and audio enhancement.
9. IK Multimedia Tape Machine 99
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
IK Multimedia brings another superb reproduction of classic studio gear to its catalog: a bundle dedicated to the glory of tape machines. Still, you can buy them individually.
Known for great plugins such as Amplitube, IK Multimedia never misses when talking about faithful recreations of legendary sounds. The T-RackS Tape Machine Collection is a bundle that includes four different tape machine simulations, and Tape Machine 99 is one of them.
This plugin is a recreation of the Revox PR99 MK II, a classic rack-mount stereo tape recorder produced by Studer in the 1980s. It was engineered initially around a hybrid design that would feature a unique stereo simulation and an excellent frequency response.
Key Features:
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- Faithful reproduction
This plugin was developed with a mix of dynamic convolution and physical modeling, focusing on capturing the complex interplay of effects during the audiotape recording process. Essentially, this was a measure to mimic every smallest detail of the original unit, with lots of character and response. - Tape formulas
There are four tape formulas present on all plugins from this bundle. This means that you can choose between four tapes commonly used since the old days. The “250” (modeled after the 3M/Scotch 250) provides a slightly more warm and saturated tone, while the “GP9” (based on the Quantegy GP9) captures higher levels of signal with minimal distortion and compression. The “456” and “499” are based on the Ampex 456 and 499 tapes. The former may be the most classic sound of a tape, with a warm and round tone, while the latter can also deal with a tremendous amount of signal and bring an uncompressed and “digital-like” recording quality to your production. - True stereo
Every tape machine has the slightest and subtle level, EQ, and distortion differences between left and right channels. This is due to components, the actual circuit, and many more variations from one unit to another. Some say it’s an essential part of the analog recording experience, so this feature is present on the plugin. If turned on, this option can create an unbalanced stereo imaging and faithfully reproduce this feature in your mix. However, if by any means you need perfect identical left and right channels, this option can easily be disabled. - Modeling
Since it’s all about the smallest differences this effect can bring to your tracks, you can even simulate the irregularities in the movements of the tape. The “Transport Modeling” option creates various degrees of sonic alteration that could happen while the tape moves inside the unit. From slight de-tunings to a characteristic “flavor” to the overall output, this is an excellent well-reproduced feature that summarizes the essence of why tape machine units are so sought after.
- Faithful reproduction
Here, Creative Sauce talks about Tape Machine 99 at 14:57. Anyway, we recommend you check it from the beginning.
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.10 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
The essence of this plugin is to bring a particular kind of saturation to your productions, that being the effect derived from old tape machine units. While this is a reproduction of the Revox PR99 MK II, other plugins like Tape Machine 24 and Tape Machine 80 offer recreations from other units and bring the same effect, but with a different taste. What matters is that, in any of these plugins, you will introduce the great analog character of these machines right to your DAW, in no time, with straightforward controls and all the options required to make it sound unique.
Related Reading:
20 Best Tape Emulation Plugins (Real Hardware Emulations)
10. Audified U78 Saturator
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
The original circuit of the U73b model is explored within this brilliant saturation plugin by Audified, with particular attention to all the details of the circuit.
The U73b compressor produces a unique kind of saturation, which many producers seek. It’s arguably more accessible and cheaper to have a plugin alternative to the hardware running perfectly into your DAW, and with this plugin, you’ll see how close it is to the actual unit.
This is inspired by a valve-type saturation, which can tell how the plugin works. Valves are the kind of component that can breathe new life in your tracks, and their warmness and punch are present here. From crunchier claps to burning strings, massive drums, to rich-sounding guitars, all can be achieved at a knob’s twist.
Key Features:
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- Perfect modeling
Modern designs sometimes tend to copy the old gear in every capacity. Even so, the newest technology advances can get us even more closely to the perfect simulation of these old gears we love so much. Audified‘s passion for these types of equipment is visible through the dedicated mix of vintage circuit values with modern software modeling, capturing the essence of the analog character in the final sound result. - Saturator controls
Based on the iconic compressor, these controls are responsible for shaping your sound. The “Gain” knob controls the amount of saturation at the input signal, and the three other knobs can help tailor the sound to perfection. The “HiPass” and “LowPass” controls can set the frequency values to be allowed through in an entire range from 30Hz to 8kHz. However, the “Tone” knob can be used to darken or brighten your sound, acting as a second type of filter. - Metering
A switch can alter a VU metering of the input or output signals in grand fashion and vintage style. It makes monitoring the decibels and overall distortion easier and can better tame the saturation with the “Output” control. There’s also an “Auto-gain” switch available to make this refinement more automatic at the output section.
- Perfect modeling
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.11 to 12 (64-bit only) and Windows 7 to 10 (32 and 64-bit). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
Faithful reproduction of a classic compressor, the U78 Saturator is a wonderful plugin with much dynamics and color attached to it. While other plugins might bring more options to tweak your sound, this one wins by how wonderfully the sound aspect is recreated.
The modeling of this software was done by a team that knew what sounds they wanted in the first place, so they did a great job simulating the valve-style character of the unit.
Related Reading:
Top 12 Saturation Plugins (Best Mixing & Mastering Tools)
11. Softube Overstayer M-A-S
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Or Buy Here (Support Integraudio)
A versatile plugin that offers saturation, peak-bending, tone sculpting, and harmonic shaping with high-fidelity details at the power of your fingertip.
The Overstayer Recording Equipment was designed, developed, and built by Jeff Turzo in Los Angeles. With a handmade appeal to it, these units were initially intended for Jeff’s personal use.
As the word got around, he eventually started fabricating more units in 2009. Since then, Overstayer has gathered a very loyal fanbase amongst producers and audio geeks.
This plugin is 100% based on the hardware, offering the same saturation and peak-bending capabilities present on the equipment. You may find this plugin very suitable for adding energy to your tracks, as well as gluing buses and enhancing the quality of your mixes.
Key Features:
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- Filter controls
The three switches featuring various boosts or cuts can increase the quality of your signal before it runs through the plugin’s “circuit.” The top button can boost the highs, the middle one can boost the lows, and the last can cut the lows. These quick settings can be conducive to cutting out excessive mud in the low-end or trimming the high frequencies better. - Dual and 2nd modes
The “Dual” button at the right of your screen enables the second stage in series to the signal path, spreading the load amongst both stages. The result is a complex and lively harmonic character brought to your track. However, the “2nd” mode shifts the circuitry’s response toward more substantial secondary harmonic content, thus brightening your distorted signal in a much more organic method – just like the actual unit would. - To dry or not to dry
This control underneath the “Mix” button is a feature not so commonly seen: it automatically allows the input to adjust the dry and wet signals’ levels together. This can save you some good hours while trying to balance both signals. Allied with the neighbor “Auto” switch that allows for auto-gain at the output stage, you can tweak your signal in a much more precise way.
- Filter controls
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.13 up to 11.6.1 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 (64-bit only). It comes in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
Softube Overstayer M-A-S does justice to the hardware it’s supposed to mimic. The harmonic richness and overall high level of attention to every control algorithm create a very unique-sounding swiss-army knife that will push the limits of saturation as we know it. The dedicated filtering options and the modes that deal with gain-staging take center stage in this wonderful software.
Related Reading:
Top 12 Softube Plugins For Music Production
12. Black Box Analog Design HG-2MS
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Adding colorful tube saturation with M/S processing has never been easier and done in a more powerful way than the Black Box HG-2MS does.
Black Box Analog Design is known for developing the critically-acclaimed HG-2 Saturation Processor unit and later a plugin version. After a while, they decided to bring the updated version of this plugin, the HG-2MS.
With the Brainworx Tolerance Modeling Technology™, this plugin showcases the brilliance and imagination of its developers being risen to another new level. The HG-2MS is a mid/side version of its older brother, including More Saturation options and a wider variety of colors with its refreshed filter section. The sonic refinement is at its best here, with more than enough for your everyday needs.
Key Features:
-
- Brainworx Tolerance Modeling Technology™
This is a brand new technology developed by Brainworx’s team to enhance the authenticity of your productions. It emulates the subtle variations between each module or channel in an actual hardware unit. This is caused by the components and all parts involved in each section. The final result is an organic and characteristic feel to your sound, recreated with this brilliant modeling technology. - New filter section
Improving its quality from its older brother HG-2, the filter section has been revamped and updated. You have “HighPass,” “BandPass,” “Flat,” “BandStop,” and “LowPass” modes to choose from, with a complete 20Hz-20kHz frequency range in each of them. For instance, this allows you to determine where exactly to set your band-pass filter. As a bonus, the “HighPass” and “LowPass” have a unique control called “Octave” that deals with slope control in 06, 12, 18 24, or 30dB. - Solo function
This function is a new one, not present in many saturation plugins. Switching the “Solo” button on, you will get the saturation soloed for you to hear better what’s going on there. This allows you to precisely listen to the saturation and how the filters are behaving towards it.
- Brainworx Tolerance Modeling Technology™
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.9 to 11 (64-bit only) and Windows 7 to 10 (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, AAX DSP, and AAX Native plugin formats.
Summary:
Many producers love and cherish both the HG-2 unit and its plugin counterpart. The HG-2MS brings revamped features, an astonishingly well-made modeling technology, and great tube-like quality saturation with exquisite settings and refined controls on this updated version.
The 12AX7 tubes were modeled with perfection and brought the same aggression and warmth as they would in real life, and even separate gain controls for the virtual 6U8A pentode and triode tubes were included. Definitely one of the more modern and robust options available today.
Related Reading:
Top 11 Plugins On Plugin Alliance
Best Free Saturation Plugins 2023
Linda Audio Instavibe
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Linda Audio’s Instavibe is a multifaceted saturation plugin.
Its remarkable features, including tube distortion and harmonic enhancement, cater to enhancing your audio’s tonal warmth and depth. In addition, the plugin houses an integrated EQ, customizable noise generation, a unique set of modulation tools, and additional utilities like Undo/Redo and A/B comparison options.
Each feature has been carefully designed to offer increased control over your sound, an indispensable tool in any audio engineer’s arsenal.
Key Features:
- Saturation
The Linda Audio Instavibe’s primary feature is its advanced saturation options. It can reproduce the desirable tonal warmth of tube distortion and serve as a subtle harmonic enhancer, adding an extra layer of richness and depth to your audio. - EQ
The plugin offers an integrated EQ with three distinctive profiles, each contributing a unique tonal curve. The additional Modes B and C introduce an extra edge of distortion for that desired crunch. The EQ function also offers a turn-off feature, LF and HF boost options for resonance control, and an Age parameter allowing precision EQ narrowing. - Noise Generation
Linda Audio’s Instavibe stands out with its noise-generation feature. It offers five distinct noise types: two varieties of audio cassette noise, two versions of vinyl record static, and the soothing hum of brown noise. Dynamic noise level control with the input signal is possible, and it also enables you to adjust the noise pitch, providing a versatile tool for sound design. - Modulation Tools
Instavibe boasts robust modulation capabilities, providing ‘wow’ and ‘scratch’ fluctuations to bring a touch of analog irregularity to your digital sounds. The stereo modulation width is adjustable, allowing precise control over the stereo image. Additionally, the quad chorus feature with an adjustable delay helps craft a spacious, textured sound. - Additional Functionalities
Rounding off its feature list, Instavibe includes practical utilities like Undo and Redo options for hassle-free editing. The A/B comparison tool allows for instantaneous evaluation of different settings, and the plugin comes with 15 ready-to-use presets, perfect for beginners and quick inspiration.
Compatibility:
Linda Audio Instavibe is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.12 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
In conclusion, Linda Audio’s Instavibe is more than just a free saturation plugin; it’s a powerful sonic sculpting tool that adds significant value to any production setup. With its intuitive controls, diverse tonal palette, and unique vibe alteration feature, Instavibe is perfect for those seeking a simple yet versatile tool for enriching their sound, whether adding subtle harmonics or creating a bold, saturated tone.
With no cost to download, Instavibe is easily a top contender in the arena of the best saturation plugins, promising an elevated creative experience for music producers and audio engineers alike.
Chow Tape Model
The Chow Tape Model was made as part of a school project by the developer.
The Chow Tape Model is a great-sounding and musical-free tape emulation that takes the idea of physical modeling and applies it to a tape machine. This plugin can add heat and glue to your master bus, apply smoke vibes to your key loops, and do anything in between, making up for a versatile, helpful piece of freeware.
It gives you access to many different parameters and fine-tuning options to nail down the exact sound of tape you want. This plugin stands out because it’s not limited to emulating a specific tape machine; instead, it emulates the physical characteristics of tape and gives you access to dial in the tape sound you’re looking for.
Key Features:
- Absolute control over sound:
Use physics-based settings to adjust every aspect of the sound. You can do just about anything with this plugin, from the spacing and azimuth to unreal tape speeds. - Sound design tool:
With so many parameters, the only limit with this plugin is your creativity in what you can do with this powerful freeware. You can play around with different setups with any sound source and be amazed by the results. - GUI:
Despite having so many controls, this plugin’s graphic interface is perfectly organized and easy to follow. In addition, it has a helper which explains each function as you step over them to get you on the same page quickly.
Compatibility:
Tape Cassette 2 is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST 2/3, and AU formats.
Summary:
Chow Tape Model is an impressively powerful free plugin by Chow DSP that you can use in audio engineering and music production situations. It has several tonal controls and qualities that make it, in some aspects, a lot better and more versatile than almost any other plugin in this list, either paid or free.
Try out the Chow Tape Model plugin and be amazed by what it can do.
Analog Obsession SweetDrums 4.0
Shape your drum track in a heartbeat with the simple twist of a single knob.
Simplicity is a commodity much valued when dealing with mixing audio. Tweak in the perfect tone for any instrument can be a proving task, especially when talking about drum kits. For this reason, Analog Obsession decided to create a plugin as simple as possible to achieve perfect drum saturation, and here we have SweetDrums 4.0 to make it come true.
Key Features:
-
- One simple control
Aside from the “Input” and “Output” mandatory knobs, SweetDrums 4.0 also has a “Process” control where the magic happens. Combining analog modeling with digital processing will blend equalization and saturation coming out of this knob. As simple as possible, you need to turn this control up to tighten and add warmth to your whole percussion section and be good to go. - Circuit modeling
Most saturation plugins are trying to recreate the effect heard on the physical hardware, so modeling is imperative. Analog Obsession’s team, as the name suggests, sure knows a great deal about studio equipment to summarize an entire effect up to a single knob. This is all due to the components and the circuit of classic units being an inspiration for this plugin. Having a good-sounding freeware digital reproduction like this deserves kudos.
- One simple control
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.15 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST, VST3, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Again, plugins like this don’t necessarily need to be only used in drum tracks. Nothing can dictate how you can use effects, and exploring is crucial. If you follow Analog Obsession’s suggestion, though, you’ll have a pleasant surprise to hear how good your drum track may sound.
It’s a light, simple, clean, and good-sounding free effect that should be amongst your sound design tools.
Related Reading:
29 Best Analog Obsession Plugins UPDATED
KIT Plugins Burier
Burier has a distinctive distortion sound and lots of mojo attached to it, a classic combination of saturator and filter.
KIT Plugins designed this audio tool to help you “bury” basically anything you’re up to, a drum track, a vocal sample, or a whole bus; anything will sound good. A wild saturation stage is combined with resonant low and high-cut filters to bring the best flavor possible.
Key Features:
-
- Filters
There are two knobs on the top of the plugin, each dedicated to a frequency range. The “Low-Cut” and “Hi-Cut” knobs have a 12dB per octave slope and Infinite Impulse Responses, with a topology-preserving transform structure. This means that this effect was meticulously crafted to respond just like an actual circuit but with the best algorithms instead of components. - Bury it
The central, big knob is responsible for the amount of saturation. Its distortion is very consistent and full of character, primarily because it’s modeled after an unspecified circuit – a real one, full of components and singularities. The algorithm’s response is similar to the genuine gear, which may bring life to anything you put through it.
- Filters
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.11 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST3, AAX, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Burier is a solid option for anyone looking for a free plugin with much personality. The overall distortion tone you get from it is an excellent aspect of this plugin, with all the basic configurations required to get a good sound.
It’s not complex nor too heavy, and, incredibly, this software is free. Again, the tone and warmth you’ll get are amazing, one of the best on this list. Definitely worth checking out.
Related Reading:
30 Best Free Plugins For DnB, EDM, EBM, IDM & Experimental Music
Klanghelm IVGI 2
An exciting plugin that reacts dynamically to the input signal, delivering a natural saturation or dense distortion in no time.
This is the second version of the IVGI plugin by Klanghelm – by the way, you can use the original and this second version at the same time if you’d like to -, equipped with the same controls but a renewed algorithm. This freeware software has many parameters to set while retaining a compact and pleasant visual interface.
A dedicated “Trim” knob controls the input level, the “Drive” knob deals with the saturation, and the “Output” knob sets the post-circuit volume. These three settings should get you into saturation territory, but a dedicated “Response” knob will also help you tame the frequencies on your signal.
At last, the “Relaxed” switch will bring a variation of the original IVGI algorithm, so you have one more sound profile character to choose from.
Key Features:
-
- X-Talk
IVGI 2 has a great control dedicated to the crosstalk effect. This used to happen in vintage units quite often. Essentially, the signal from one track can be leaked to another, like a bass going into the drums. Modern software can’t replicate this, so controls like “X-Talk” are an excellent addition to achieve a more old-school and vintage-oriented color in your productions. Of course, you can disable it by setting the knob at zero. - Asym Mix
This is a kind of transparency tool to make your distortion signal as clear as possible. At 0 value, you’ll have symmetric saturation, with a strong compression character; if you turn it up to 10, an asymmetric distortion with a more clean and transparent profile will be brought up. This can be a good way of getting a notable distorted effect without grainy or fuzzy aspects. - VU meter modes
There are three options available: the “In” deals with the volume of the “Trim” knob, the “Out” monitors the “Output” control, and the “Out-In” option will display the RMS difference between both input and output. It’s an excellent way to properly gain stage your track with a simple visual tool.
- X-Talk
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS in 32 or 64-bit and Windows in 32 or 64-bit. It comes in VST, VST3, AAX, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
With quite a few nice features, IVGI 2 is a pleasant update from its predecessor. It has functions, like the crosstalk and the asymmetrical distortion, that are not usually included on freeware plugins and can be extremely useful. There are few controls, which is good because it focuses on what the plugin is supposed to, without much hard work on the process.
SNFK Music OrangeFlavor
As simple as possible, OrangeFlavor deals with saturation in the most straightforward way possible.
Sean Funk is the mastermind behind this elegant plugin. Inspired by Steve Duda, the creator of Serum ad Xfer, he started creating plugins during the lockdown and offers several plugins and preset packs for free. They’re all open-source and available on their GitHub page.
With just two settings, “Drive” and “Output Gain,” you can control both drive and output volume and have your saturation as it is. There’s also a frequency visualizer to help you get a more accurate idea of how the harmonics behave. And that’s it, no more settings to dwell into.
Key Features:
-
- Unique algorithm
OrangeFlavor features a unique anti-aliasing algorithm. It allows you to have the best color in your signal and was developed with a distinctive character in mind to get only the best possible sounds out of the plugin. It works automatically, and you don’t have to set up anything. - Gentle looks
With two simple controls and a small screen next to them, this plugin is one of the most lightweight in terms of complexity. The looks are very minimalistic, which can be very straightforward in terms of workflow. Trusting the algorithm of this software is essential and may bring pleasant surprises to you.
- Unique algorithm
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS and Windows (64-bit only). It comes in VST3 and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Some folks may dislike the lack of available controls, perhaps fearing being too restrained at setting the values. This can be limiting as to what the plugin can do and may require additional tools to improve its quality, but the bad sound quality is definitely not a trait on OrangeFlavor. It’s simple, basic, and gets the job done without interference from many knobs and switches.
Analog Obsession CHANNEV (Channel Strip With Tape Saturation)
A channel-strip plugin that can deliver much more than just saturation, with many features and a great vintage look.
Plugins that try to emulate the glorious equipment of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are widespread, and we all love them. Usually, the genuine gear costs way more than “simple” software, so we’re more than pleased to save money and get a similar result without breaking the bank. Even better than that is to get a freeware option for that.
CHANNEV is Analog Obsession’s second plugin on this list, and they make up their names once again. Featuring a mic preamp, de-esser, line-amp, four-band equalizer, compressor, limiter, and tape saturation, this plugin is one marvelous toolbox loaded with all the basic features of a great vintage console.
Key Features:
-
- EQ
The equalizer featured on CHANNEV is very robust. You have variable instead of selectable frequencies, distributed in low, mid, and high sections. While low and high bands have a bell option, mid has a “Hi-Q” option. Aside from that, pre and post-Filters are also included. - Vintage-inspired modules
This plugin retains a vintage vibe to it, with great inspiration. The compressor and limiter modules were based on the anthological 2264 unit, totally independent and with each own’s external side-chain. - The perfect vintage sound
Although the sound character may be excellent, the amount of ways you can control your signal is breathtaking. The tape saturation module is the last one in the signal chain, as you can see on the right side of the interface. This means that before shaping the saturation on your track, you can put it through a preamp, compress, EQ, and limit it before finally adding the distortion to your signal. The chances of getting more dynamics are more significant than ever.
- EQ
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.9 to 11.x (32 or 64-bit) and Windows 7 or higher (32 or 64-bit). It comes in VST, VST3, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Incredibly, this plugin is free. With excellent modeling and particular attention to the circuit’s nuances, CHANNEV is such a fantastic software that should seriously be considered to be, even if not by the saturation it provides, amongst your most trustworthy plugins.
With all the features present here, you may be using some four or five plugins in one. The overall quality is not supposed to mimic any particular circuit but rather have a good variation on its own.
Related Reading:
Top 7 Channel Strip Plugins (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Bonuses
1. IK Multimedia Saturator X
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
One more T-RackS software to feature in our list that can bring to your track the impressive dynamics present only in analog saturation.
This is an excellent plugin to add that analog flavor to your recordings. It can deliver what promises with amazing articulation, from very light dynamics to a nasty wooly distortion. The best thing is that you got covered in both tape and tube-style realms and also in transformer or transistor alike.
Saturator X works as an individual plugin or part of the T-RackS chain. It can blend analog distortion with digital processing without altering the linearity of a signal’s frequency response and harmonic pattern. In a nutshell, you get a well-preserved audio signal that can be changed only by what you dial in at the interface.
Key Features:
-
- Analog modes
At a knob’s twist, you’ll find ten saturation modes that accurately bring the hardware component’s response and the overall behavior of the circuitry. You can choose between “Tape 1,” “Tape 2,” “Master +6dB,” “Master +12dB,” “Push Pull,” and “Class A” in either tube or solid-state, and “Transformer” in “Iron” and “Steel” options. - Brick wall limiter
With a brick wall limiter present at the end of the circuit, you don’t need to worry about clipping at all. This feature will prevent any digital clipping from happening without any controls – just a simple gatekeeper that automatically ensures your track never goes in the wrong direction. - Oversampling
Near the “Brickwall” switch, this effect allows you to choose the oversampling modifier you’d like to be included in your signal. The result is a high-definition sample of your audio, providing an excellent rendering of the harmonics pattern and overall processing quality.
- Analog modes
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
A plugin created to bring the best of the analog world directly to you, IK Multimedia’s Saturator X makes use of both modern and digital technologies such as the processing, allied with analog characteristics such as the diverse saturation modes to choose from to deliver the ideal experience that such hardware would provide. You can expect rich harmonics, warmth, and an old-school vibe added instantly to your tracks or mix.
2. Tone Empire Reelight PRO
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Combining the comfort of having the tools you need at your fingertip with the necessity for the sonic quality of vintage units, we get the Reelight PRO as an incredible plugin option.
The real deal about recreating vintage units in the digital world lies with all the algorithms and their response to the audio signal. It’s not impossible, but for sure, it’s tough to replicate every subtle aspect of functioning hardware in a program.
Tone Empire proves that some companies get what it takes to make this dream come true. The Reelight PRO can get you that old-school vibe based on iconic tape machines with its settings and looks by working with a great IR and physical modeling.
Navigating through the six models available and mixing through the basic controls, you’ll instantly get a warm and classic tone right at your DAW.
Key Features:
-
- Six tape machine models
You can choose between six different models, distributed from “A” to “F” on the lower section of the plugin. All the differences between one model and another can be replicated and brought here. Models covered (from A to F) are the Ampex ATR 700, Studer A 812, Studer A 80, Teac A2300 SD, AEG Telefunken M20, and Revox B77 MK II. - Bias control
The bias control lets you adjust the bias of the machine. This is supposed to simulate the variations between electric current inside an original unit, which we don’t usually get on plugins. It means that your final sound can have a bit more subtle character or a crunchier grip to it, depending on how you configure this parameter. - Crosstalk
In some multitrack tape machines, there’s a “Tape Bleed” option that would make signals from adjacent tracks leak into one another. This creates a definite mono-spatial effect, simply blending the different instrument tracks in an old-fashioned way. The amount of this effect can be adjusted at the “Crosstalk” knob.
- Six tape machine models
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.13 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
The incredible attention to impulse response and physical modeling led to a plugin with the best analog and digital worlds blended. Another pleasant recreation of the sought-after units of the old days, this plugin delivers what it proposes.
The great “Crosstalk” control, allied with the dedicated “Comp” and “Bias” knobs, can excel in getting an old-school sound out of your recordings.
3. IK Multimedia Tape Machine 440
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Another great take of IK Multimedia on a classic vintage unit, Tape Machine 440, brings all the glory from the past straight to your DAW.
The T-RackS Tape Machine Collection was mentioned previously, and only one plugin was left out – but because it deserves to be shown on its own. This bundle can get you the exact sounds found on old analog tape recorders with a large variety of tools to choose from.
The Tape Machine 440 is inspired by the Ampex 440B unit from the late 1960s. Its sound character and soulful color are a remarkable examples of how well IK Multimedia’s team of developers recreated these units.
Key Features:
-
- Bias control
This plugin can be adjusted to singular precision with two sections focused on how the tape machine will behave, dubbed “Record” and “Play.” There’s a “Bias” control in the former section, affecting how warm the final sound might get. This is supposed to emulate the overall power going through the circuit – at a lower setting, it would recreate a more subtle and faint sound, while at a higher setting, it would be warmer and richer in tone, kind of how it’s supposed to behave at full power. Alternating between these values can get your signal to act in the most organic way possible. - High and low filter EQ
A high-frequency EQ control is featured in both “Record” and “Play” sections, but the low-frequency is only featured in the latter. With any of these three knobs, you can alter how much the mentioned frequencies can be damped. Interesting to note that each control can sound drastically different depending on the section you’re dealing with: the “Record” section can feature subtler nuances to imitate better how a real tape would react to this process, for example. - Tape speeds
According to the hardware they’re supposed to emulate, each plugin on this bundle has different tape speed values. In Tape Machine 440, you have 15 and 30 rpm to choose from. Combining it with the four different tape formulas, the final result may be as close as possible to what a real tape could sound like when having the speed altered. The only difference is that you can’t damage the tape – only simulate its decay. - Repro
Acting at the beginning of the signal chain, this “Repro” mode lies in a switch to be chosen along with an “Input” counterpart. The “Repro” emulates the unit as close as possible, in this case regarding the signal chain and how it flows through the circuit. The path should go as this: input > recording amplifier > recording head > tape > playback head > playback preamplifier > output stage. If not selected, the signal will present an extremely transparent overall tone, not simulating this entire chain.
- Bias control
Here you can hear more about the Tape Machine 440 at 10:37.
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.10 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
Tape Machine 440 is an excellent repro of the real deal like its brothers. Although it can be heavy on CPU processing, it delivers what it’s supposed to in great packaging with loads of color and vintage appeal.
The same functions of the other plugins in the bundle are present here, but with the expected characteristics that made the Ampex 440B an outstanding tape recorder with a unique sound coveted until today.
4. United Plugins Urban Puncher
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Get the punch flowing in your drum kit or drum loop with this efficient plugin in an easy and not too complicated way.
Sometimes you just can’t get that drum track to sound like it’s supposed to, even after hours of mixing and trying to improve it. This shouldn’t consume your time and inspiration so much, so United Plugins decided to house everything you’d ever need to make it sound right out of the box. Well, a virtual one, at least.
Urban Puncher was developed with percussion in mind, specifically how to make it sound as punchier as possible. It was designed to make any drum hit sound better, immediately taking your loop or recording out of the shadows. Whether the style, if it’s electronic music or a simple rhythm track, your beat will become more vital than ever.
Key Features:
-
- Clean looks
With Urban Puncher, there’s no need to make things more complicated than they’re supposed to. You’ll get a fresh, clean look, with six controls in total. This might seem like a simple plugin, but don’t judge the book by its cover. Having fewer controls at your disposal is an excellent opportunity to trust your ears over what you’re seeing, making every knob’s twist worth trying. - Punch knob
The most visually attractive of all controls, the “Punch” knob will do what the plugin proposes, add punch to your track. It combines dynamic processing, equalization, and transient shaping in a single control, bringing this combo of processes directly into your sound. Combining it with the “Saturation” and the “Output” knobs will create the perfect saturated character. - Destroy mode
This might seem an odd tool to have, but if you want to push the limits of this plugin, this is where you’d go for it. The “Destroy” button triples the value you dial into the “Saturator” knob close to it, so you’ll have a momentaneous boost of distortion added to the signal. This can be an interesting option for sound designers and electronic-oriented productions requiring boldness and extreme configurations.
- Clean looks
Compatibility:
This plugin runs in macOS 10.10 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 8 or higher (32 and 64-bit). It comes in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
If you like experimenting and using interesting new tools to widen your perspective, this is a great plugin to try. Although it’s announced as being tailored for drum tracks, it’s not prohibited to use it in other instruments. A synth or even vocals can reach extreme modifications with it.
The “Punch” knob might be a bit flashy and end up drawing your attention more than other controls, but I’d say that the most innovative control is the “Destroy” button. It’s not the kind of feature you’ll use every single time, but it’s awesome to know it exists and have it there available for you.
Related Reading:
Top 10 Analog Compressors For Mixing & Mastering (On Any Budget)
Conclusion
This is a wonderful time for music producers to be alive. The constant innovations and incredible simulations achieved in the music industry over these past few years are remarkable.
With the help of modeling, processing, and a load of hard work, audio companies have proven that it’s possible to have good-sounding reproductions of classic effects. Going even further, the possibilities for new versions of these same effects are almost infinite. The digital is our friend, just as the analog always has been.
Talking about precise reproductions can often generate a hot debate amongst audiophiles, but we can all agree that these plugin developers tried their best. As for 1:1 reproductions of circuits, a few options on our list might be of interest to you.
IK Multimedia’s T-RackS Tape Machine Collection was featured twice in our list with amazing recreations of iconic tape machine units, the Tape Machine 99 and 440.
Another great recreation is Waves’ Abbey Road Saturator, which is completely inspired by the units available at EMI’s famous studio, as well as Arturia’s Tape MELLO-FI, wholly inspired by the classic Mellotron sound.
The best freeware option would be Analog Obsession’s CHANNEV, with extraordinary detail for the amount of great-sounding effects you’ll get in a single plugin and the fact that it’s inspired by the best analog gear.
Some plugins take the possibilities circuits can offer and expand them even further. They can be friendly tools when dealing with sound design or more modern music projects. Black Box Analog Design’s HG-2MS is just like that, with lots of tools available and unique engines and algorithms running beneath the interface.
Talking about engines, Baby Audio’s TAIP innovates by using artificial intelligence as the primary power source for its plugin, crafting an interesting perception of how tapes work.
The freeware option from United Plugins, Urban Puncher, can get a similar innovative experience by triplicating the amount of gain you dial, perfect for modern and bold productions.
Choosing the perfect saturator plugin might be an impossible task. It’s difficult to say if one can cover all your needs, but certainly, you can have many options to pick from whenever you need one. Each can have a specific flavor and coloration attached to it that can be useful for you, so it’s nice to have plenty of options around.
No matter what you take, it’s always important to make the best use of it and don’t get limited by what people say it’s good or bad. We hope these awesome tools help you find the perfect, warm tone for your mix or track.
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Metering:
Top 5 Audio Metering Plugins (LUFS, RMS, LRA, True Peak)
Top 6 Spectrum Analyzer Plugins – Spectral Analysis Tools
Top 6 Oscilloscope Plugins To See The Waveforms
Top 5 Key Detection Plugins & Software (+ Best FREE App)
Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Kontakt Libraries For All Categories (Synths, Drums, Vocals)
Top 7 Drum Libraries For KONTAKT (And 4 Freebies)
Top 7 Trap Music Kontakt Libraries (And Best Lo-Fi Kontakt Library)
Top 7 Metal & Rock Kontakt Libraries (Best Guitars & Drums)
Top 10 Guitar Libraries For Kontakt (Acoustic, Electric, Bass & Freebies)
Top 7 Trailer Scoring Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Free KONTAKT Libraries For Various Instruments
Top 9 Piano Kontakt Sample Libraries (And 5 Best Free Pianos)
Top 10 Percussion KONTAKT Libraries (And 3 Freebies)
Top 7 Kontakt Libraries For Horror & Thriller Scoring (No VSTs)
Audio Restoration, Calibration & Utility:
Top 6 Noise Reduction Plugins (And 3 Best Free Tools)
6 Best Audio Restoration Plugins & Software
Top 7 Phase Alignment Plugins To Fix Your Bass & Drums
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Instrument Plugins:
Top 6 Vocoder Plugins (Effects & Synths + FREE Vocoder)
11 Best Rhodes VST Plugins (AND 5 Free Rhodes Plugins)
Top 12 Randomizer Plugins Including FREE Plugins
Top 6 Kick Drum Plugins (Best Kick Designer Tools)
Top 12 Woodwind Plugins (And KONTAKT Libraries)
Top 10 Double Bass Plugins (Best Upright Basses)
Top 5 Strings VST Plugins (AND 4 Best Free Instruments)
Top 6 Sampler Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Classical Guitar Plugins & Kontakt Libraries (And FREE Guitars)
Top 12 Sub Plugins (Best 808 & Bass Tools For Massive Low End)
Top 10 Plugins On PluginBoutique (And 7 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Plugins On Plugin Alliance
Top 7 Acoustic Guitar Plugins (And 4 Best Kontakt Libraries)
9 Best Bass Guitar Plugins (And 2 Best Freebies)
Top 6 Electric Guitar Plugins (Best PAID & FREE Picks)
Top 10 Arpeggiator VST Plugins (Best Synths, MIDI Effects & Tools)
Top 10 Modular Synth Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Choir Plugins & Sample Libraries (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
11 Best Percussion & Drum VST Plugins (And FREE Plugins)
Top 8 Piano Plugins (Best Sounding Pianos & 5 FREE Piano Plugins)
Top 6 Organ Plugins Ever Made (And 3 Best Free Organs)
Top 14 VST Plugins For Beginners (And 9 FREE Plugins)
Top 9 Drum Machine Plugins (And Groovebox Plugins)
4 Best Banjo Plugins (Best Banjo Instruments)
The 5 Best Ukulele Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
Top 13 Synth Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Synths Plugins)
Top 13 Sequencer Plugins (Synth, MIDI & Step Sequencers)
The 10 Best Multi-Effect Plugins (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 12 Plugin Bundles For Musicians (Synths, Mixing & Mastering)
Processing & Sound Design:
8 Best Lo-Fi Plugins (PAID & FREE)
Top 11 Plugins For Mixing Vocals (For Home Studio)
Top 12 Saturation Plugins (Best Mixing & Mastering Tools)
Top 6 Pitch Shifter Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Pitch Shifters)
Top 6 Chorus VST Plugins For Musicians (And 3 FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Limiter Plugins For Precise Mastering & Mixing
The 8 Best Filter Plugins For Precise Cuts & Boosts (+ 5 Free Filters)
6 Best Autotune Plugins To Improve & Enhance Your Vocals
Top 10 Transient Shaper Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 7 Enhancer Plugins (For Bass, Drums, Vocals & Harmonics)
Top 6 Flanger Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Flanger Emulators)
Top 7 Phaser Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Phasers)
Top 10 Plugins For Mixing Drums (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 7 Bitcrusher Plugins (And 4 Best FREE Bitcrushers + 3 Bonuses)
Top 6 Plugins For Voice-Over & Dialogue Cleaning (Post Production)
Top 10 Stereo Imaging Plugins (Best Old & Modern Picks)
Top 5 Multiband Limiter Plugins
Top 7 De-Esser Plugins For Better Vocals (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 7 Clipper Plugins (Best Limiter Alternatives)
Top 6 Chord Generator Plugins That Inspire Melodies (+ FREE Tools)
7 Best Exciter Plugins For Mixing & Mastering
Top 7 Channel Strip Plugins (And 2 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Distortion Plugins (And 4 Top Free Plugins)
Top 5 Comb Filter & Resonator Plugins | Melda, Kilohearts, Tritik
The 7 Best Vibrato VST Plugins | Audec, Audiority, Melda
The 7 Best Tremolo Plugins | Eventide, Melda, SoundToys, Kuassa…
The 7 Best Harmonizer Plugins | Eventide, Melda, Aegean Music
7 Best Sidechain Plugins (VST, AU, AAX) | Xfer, Cableguys..
Top 10 Noise Gate Plugins (And 6 FREE Free Gate Tools)
The 6 Best Ring Modulator VST Plugins | KiloHearts, Melda
7 Best Autopan VST Plugins | CableGuys, Melda, Waves, Soundtoys
The 6 Best Frequency Shifter VST Plugins
Top 11 Granulizer Plugins For Future Sound Design
29 Best Sound Design VST Plugins
Compressor Plugins
Top 11 Free Compressor Plugins (VCA, Vari-Mu, FET, Digital)
Top 7 Multiband Compressor Plugins (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 5 Diode-Bridge Compressor Plugins
Top 6 Mastering Chain Plugins: Complete VST Solutions
The 7 Best VCA Compressor Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 11 Mastering Compressor Plugins (And 2 FREE Plugins)
Top 10 Opto Compressor Plugins For Transparent Sound
The 7 Best Vari-Mu Compressor Plugins (And 2 Best FREE Tools)
Reverb & Delay Plugins:
Top 12 Reverb Plugins (And 5 FREE Reverb Plugins)
The 6 Best Spring Reverb VST Plugins | AudioThing, GSi, u-he, Eventide
Top 12 Delay Plugins For Music Production In (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 10 FREE Delay Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
The 10 Best Convolution Reverb Plugins
Amps & Preamps:
Top 10 Guitar Amp Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Simulators)
Top 10 Bass Amp Plugins (And 5 Best Free Simulators)
Top 9 Preamp Plugins (For Vocals, Guitars & More!) + Free Preamps
Other Recommended Gear:
Top 12 NearField Studio Monitors On Any Budget
Top 10 Midfield Studio Monitors For Home Recording
Best Biggest Studio Monitors (FarField Monitors)
Top 10 Guitar Pickups for Low Tunings
Top 10 Analog Compressors For Mixing & Mastering (On Any Budget)
Top 12 USB Audio Interfaces Under 150$, 200$, 300$ 400$ (Any Budget)
Top 12 Hardware Equalizers (Analog EQs For Mixing & Mastering)
Top 6 Analog Hardware Limiters
Top 6 Solid State Bass Amps (On Any Budget)
Top 6 Ribbon Mics On Any Budget (For Vocals, Drums & Guitars)
Top 6 Cheap Dynamic Mics For Vocals Under 50$, 100$, 200$ & 300$
Top 6 Chorus Guitar Pedals (On Any Budget)
6 Best 61-Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
9 Best 49-Key MIDI Keyboards Under 100$ & 200$
Top 5 Best 25 Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
Top 12 Acoustic Drums (Best Kits/Sets On Any Budget)
Guitar/Amp Focused:
Can I Put Nylon Strings on a Steel-string Guitar?
Do Electric Guitars Sound Good Unplugged?
Buying Your First Guitar: 2 Things To Know
Are Tube Amps Worth It? (Tube vs Solid-State Amps)
How Often Does A Guitar Need a Setup?
Can I Play Classical Guitar On A Steel-String Guitar?
How often guitar necks need reset?
Can You Play Two Guitars Through One Amp?
Can a 6 String Bass Be Tuned Like A Guitar?
Can I leave My Guitar Tuned Down a Step? Yes, But Is It Safe?
Should I Learn 4, 5 Or 6 String Bass Guitar & Why?
How To Know If your Guitar Amp Is Broken?
How To Fix Distorted Bass Guitar Sound?
Do Fender Guitars Appreciate In Value?
Should You Put Stickers On A Bass Guitar?
How Acoustic And Electric Guitars Are Made?
Is Electric Guitar Too Loud for an Apartment?
Does a Preamp Improve Sound Quality?
If I Learn Acoustic Guitar Can I Play Electric Guitar?
How Many Hours A Day Should You Practice Bass Guitar?
Do I need an AMP/DAC To Run Bookshelf Speakers?
How to Record Electric Guitar Into Logic Pro X?
Do headphones get worse with age?
DAW Related:
Best DAWs For Musicians Available (With FREE DAWs)
What’s The Most CPU Efficient DAW? – 5 DAWs Compared
How To Make Music Without Using A DAW?
Pro Tools Guide: How To Use AutoTune & Pitch Correction?
Ableton Review: Is It Worth The Money? (Cons & Pros)
Logic Pro X Review: Is It Worth It? (Cons & Pros)
How To Use Auto-tune & Pitch Correction In Cubase?
How To Fix Ableton Crackling, Crashing & Freezing? Step By Step
Plugin Related:
What Are Audio Plugins? Different Types of Plugins Explained
What Are The Best Tools To Develop VST Plugins & How Are They Made?
Cost of Developing Audio VST Plugin: Several Factors (With Table)
VST, VST, AU and AAX – What’s The Difference? Plugin Formats Explained
Complete Guide To Noise Gate – What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It?
How To Clip My Drums? Here Is How & Audio Teasers (Before/After)
Complete Guide To Limiter: How To Use It (+ Best Plugins & Analog Limiters)
Mixing With Reverb: How To Add Life To Your Mixes
Linear Phase vs Minimum Phase EQ – Full Guide
Difference Between LUFS, RMS & True Peak Loudness Meters
How And When To Use Algorithmic And Convolution Reverb In Your Mix?
Difference Between Active EQ, Passive EQ and Dynamic EQ
Headphones & Studio Monitors:
Do headphones get worse with age?
Monitors vs Studio Headphones For Mixing & Mastering
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Are Noise-Canceling Headphones Good For Music Production?
Can Headphones Break in Cold Weather?
Why do headphones & cables get sticky?
Can Wearing Headphones Cause Hair Loss?
How Do I know If My Studio Monitor Is Blown?
Side Effects Of Sleeping With Your Headphones On
Do You Need Music Amplifier For Studio Monitors or Studio Headphones?
Do Headphones or Earphones Damage Your Brain?
Can Headphones or Earphones cause Deafness or Toothache?
FarField, MidField & NearField Monitors – Their Uses, Pros & Cons
MIDI & Synths:
Should I Buy A MIDI Keyboard Or Synth? (Are Synths Worth It Anymore?)
Why Is Audio Gear So Expensive? (Especially Synths)
Top 12 Synth Brands – Analog, Digital & Modular Synth Manufacturers
11 Tips How To Choose MIDI Keyboard
Should I Buy MIDI Controller Or Keyboard? Cons, Pros & Tips
Eduardo Cardoso is a musician and audio producer based in São Paulo, Brazil. He studied both music production and theory in college and has successfully launched his career as a solo artist in 2021. With over 10 years of experience with the music business, he currently acts as a session musician, music producer, audio editor, and content creator. Read more..