When and why would I use a saturation plug in?

[ghostwhistler]

I downloaded a freebie plug in called IVGI2 by Klangheim. It's one of these. I'm sure it's useful but when I apply it I can't really hear any difference unless it's too much at which point it's too distorted. I can't really tell what the parameters do. Why would I use this (not being snide)? What should I do with such an effect and do I need it?

Thanks

[excuse me please]

From iconcollective dot edu: "This unique effect makes sounds fuller, punchy, and louder. Saturation also adds depth, presence, character, color, and warmth. Moreover, it does an excellent job of “gluing” groups of sounds together."

What can I say? At some point you are gonna hear it or... you don't. It's all very subtle in my perception.

[whyterabbyt]

why would you use a tool you dont understand and cant hear a useful benefit from?

because all the cool kids are doing it?

[DMG68]

Saturation can help to give a more analog sound. If you were to put it on all your tracks and groups/busses and keep it just below where the effect is obvious, then bypass all, you should notice a difference. Subtle is the key for this, although there are times when you may want it more obvious, in which case you can push it into light distortion.

I push saturation harder on organ and clavinet, sometimes guitar - depending on the guitar part and tone, and on drums. I keep it lighter on most everything else. Vocals can sometimes take a fair bit of saturation too. You’d have to experiment and get your ear accustomed to it. If you don’t notice a difference with it subtle then maybe you don't ‘need’ to use it at all. There is the extra benefit of it taming peaks, which is nice. It can also help a sound be heard a little better in a mix at times, but you may have to push it a bit for that effect.

[Dark Fiber]

I downloaded a freebie plug in called IVGI2 by Klangheim. It's one of these. I'm sure it's useful but when I apply it I can't really hear any difference unless it's too much at which point it's too distorted. I can't really tell what the parameters do. Why would I use this (not being snide)? What should I do with such an effect and do I need it?

Thanks

What genre of music are you mixing? A little background will probably lead to a better answer.

[ghostwhistler]

why would you use a tool you dont understand and cant hear a useful benefit from?

because all the cool kids are doing it?

I don't.

[ghostwhistler]

I downloaded a freebie plug in called IVGI2 by Klangheim. It's one of these. I'm sure it's useful but when I apply it I can't really hear any difference unless it's too much at which point it's too distorted. I can't really tell what the parameters do. Why would I use this (not being snide)? What should I do with such an effect and do I need it?

Thanks

What genre of music are you mixing? A little background will probably lead to a better answer.

the best answer is in the link in my signature. It's what I'd call proggy electronica a bit 'soundtrack-y'.

[jackoo]

Saturation (if used moderately) can gently alter the spectra of your instrument in a way that usually it may add higher order harmonics to the original sound. This may have the effect that the sounds becomes a little brighter, and has frequency components distributed among a wider range of frequencies.

Think of a sine wave. This is completely soft, has only one frequency. If you saturate it to death it becomes a square wave which has also other harmonics and sounds brighter (but this an extreme example). If overused.. than your tracks will sound ...well... "distorted"

[an-electric-heart]

I only really use it on high-hats and cymbals, to kind of make those really high frequencies sparkle.

[Aloysius]

You could look up YT for some ideas. What are YT people using it for? Read a review. What does the reviewer recommend it for? Etc.

One example. May not be the best. It was the first one that showed up in my search.

[Dark Fiber]

Saturation (or soft clipping) is also a good method to enlarge the crest factor (the meat) of your tracks & buses. Which in turn makes it easier to achieve louder mixes.

[fese]

I kinda agree that especially with IVGI, it is hard to find a sweet spot, most of the time it is rather subtle, but when it breaks up, it doesn’t sound very nice on most material, especially if it is transient heavy.
It is my absolute goto for distorted reverbs, though. On organs or electric piano sounds it can be good, too.

[GaryG]

I downloaded a freebie plug in called IVGI2 by Klangheim. It's one of these. I'm sure it's useful but when I apply it I can't really hear any difference unless it's too much at which point it's too distorted.

Yeah, I empathise, often I'll only hear a difference when I push something to extremes. I'll demo 'character' compressors or tape emulations and really struggle to hear the effect until maxed out. I tried that bx-masterdesk freebie last week, all I know is it made things suck when I finally could hear a difference...

So... I don't have golden ears, much more interested in creative effects (delays, granulators etc), I have a small collection of saturator and compressor plugs that I can appreciate (IVGI2s big brother SSDR is my goto for sat/distortion funnily enough) and am just happy with that.

As to when to use, fattening up thin things generally with some comp too. Drums, DIed guitar etc.

[excuse me please]

Well, put a few sat plugs on the master bus and use no sat in the mix. Then fiddle around with the plugs and the on/offs switches.

[Aloysius]

Oh yeah! Don't forget to read the manual as well.

http://klanghelm.com/docs/IVGI2-manual.pdf

An example of some useful information from the manual:

HF+: saturating and compressing high
frequencies more (adding tape like
warmth, or use for smooth de-essing),
also bringing back some highs with an
ultra smooth high shelf filter