Saturation on the master

[Synthack]

.........

[pixel85]

There's no need but when it works it works.
There's no one recipe and like it was mentioned in another topic, that people want "that sound" but they ignore fact that it's not a tool but producers/mixers/engineers way of doing stuff that makes "that sound". So while one say that saturation shouldn't be used, another use it and makes "hits" and vice versa.
I myself can recommend IKM Tape 80 (dirtier) or 99 (cleaner) for EDM. I'm impressed of what it does and no other "saturation tool" can give the same effect.
Try different saturators, find your own sound and stick to it. Saturators like EQs and compressors have its use in any stage of music production.

The trick of saturation effect on master bus is to make it sounds like there's no "saturation effect" in a meaning of distortion. Except if it's harder type of EDM then why not

I guess I would probably avoid it for fear of adding too much and ruining the mixer.

This is why I like IKM Tapes. They don't sound like distortion/overdrive effect. You have to drive them pretty hard for that and it doesn't sounds good (imo). Those tapes have "sonic print" but not like a typical tape plugins which are made to degrade sound (retro/lo-fi) with distortion, wow, noise etc.
Anyway, I think that tape saturation is the safest on master bus. Then saturators with like minimum mix level 1,2,3...10%


But then you can find sometimes interviews with successful artists who put "real" distortion on master bus like MGMT - Electric Feel (dunno if album name is the same)

[DJ Warmonger]

Something like a studio tape saturation plugin might work nicely on certain types of music, but I'm not really sure about EDM.

I use iZotope Ozone's Analog Tape and it does wonders for trance. Gives great clarity to a dense mix. What tape saturation does, on top of general harmonic enchancement, is the reduction of clicks and noises - but without removing high frequencies as such. Due to physical limitations of tape it kinda works as a slew limiter.

I assume you are kidding. To give my tracks that "analog warmth".

People do it. They add the likes of a tape sim or something similar. I never have but I am trying to understand why this is a thing.

Afaik it's common practise in EDM:

https://www.edmprod.com/distortion-saturation-guide/

Oh my, this guide is oustanding! Just like I'd do it myself

[legendCNCD]

For house, use tape

[AC222]

I think the trailer and tutorial guy, Dan Worrall did a plugin called Cassette By Waves Factory that is highly touted. Not quite an emulation of a tape machine but can yield tasty lo fi sounds.

[andymcbain]

For house, use tape

Waves Kramer Master Tape is popular among house producers, or so I'm informed

[El°HYM]

House & also Techno producers actually still use real Tape unto this Day. Its a significant part of their Sound - Aesthetic. Yet, also true that quite some also like Kramer or J37, especially in the Dub - Techno scene. My Tip would be TB ReelBus to be honest, as it can also add that little final Touch some Tracks need at the end.

[AC222]

House & also Techno producers actually still use real Tape unto this Day. Its a significant part of their Sound - Aesthetic. Yet, also true that quite some also like Kramer or J37, especially in the Dub - Techno scene. My Tip would be TB ReelBus to be honest, as it can also add that little final Touch some Tracks need at the end.

Sounds like you know your stuff! Do you see tape used in synthwave?

[El°HYM]

Not sure, as I dont know much about that Genre at all. From the Era its supposed to 'recreate' I might say yes.

[AC222]

Thanks boss!

[pixel85]

House & also Techno producers actually still use real Tape unto this Day. Its a significant part of their Sound - Aesthetic. Yet, also true that quite some also like Kramer or J37, especially in the Dub - Techno scene. My Tip would be TB ReelBus to be honest, as it can also add that little final Touch some Tracks need at the end.

Sounds like you know your stuff! Do you see tape used in synthwave?

Absolutely! Synthwave is all about 80s, and what gets you there better than devices/emulations that were used then? Tapes, console saturations, even VHS and cassette degradation effects. All of it is part of Synthwave sound.

[MogwaiBoy]

Yeah if you are going for any kind of lofi aesthetic (synthwave / study music lofi hiphop, hah) then anything goes just about... vinyl, tape, VHS degredation etc.

Otherwise I do use saturation on the master sometimes, but very subtle.. like 5% of that Saturn "3D Magic" preset, or TAUPE with just a couple of very low harmonics, or Spectre high end lift with de-emphasis instead of a shelf EQ.

Remember that when you send it off for mastering, and they compress through analog gear... that's technically saturating.

[kritikon]

I don't mind a bit of saturation on groups, but haven't ever done it on the master. Quite like it on drums and even drum+bass group. Have to bear in mind that so many mastering type plugins already produce various types of distortion and warmth, that even more pretty quickly turns into a fuckituperizer not a warmifier.

AND...I'm a bit suspicious about some plugins. This week downloaded that Softube Saturation Knob...now when you crank it up it certainly does something, but tbh not yet sure it's any better than even the included Cubase ones (which are actually quite good). Softube have a good name it seems, which is why I tried it. Firstly not sure it was worth the effort getting iLok just for a freebie (massive d/l and a pita...I'll likely get rid of it and iLok). Second, the obvious thing is a huge volume boost with the knob at zero...1.5 dB or thereabouts. Suspicious in the extreme. It might be processing at zero so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, but it set my hackles up instantly...the old make it louder trick to fool novice ears. There is no way on earth it's difficult to make a plugin null volume at base.

Also it makes it a pita to work with...difficult to a/b compare with anything else because the dynamics of your track instantly change the moment you dial it in. You have to dick around with faders before you even use it. BAD, BAD, BAD. I wouldn't let anything like that anywhere near a master fader. TBH the instantaneous bad impression of it has pretty well already decided it and I won't touch Softube with a bargepole again. Shows how a company has to tread carefully. Try to fool me once, you will never fool me again.

Horses for courses, but saturation on a master? Not for me, though it definitely has its uses.

[kritikon]

And...remember there are those old farts among us who used tape/desks/analogue FX etc extensively in the past. Yeah we used to record hot, but tbh a lot of that was gainstaging to minimize noise. You wouldn't believe how quickly we all stampeded to digital when it became a) available/affordable, and b) obvious how it reduced both distortion and noise.
Half of all your attention in h/w days was reducing noise, increasing clarity. So now want to decrease clarity and increase noise...nah, not having it.

[Bodhisan]

That’s great. I feel the same way about sleeping out in the woods in a tent.