Saturation on the master

[Synthack]

.........

[zerocrossing]

I personally don’t tend to use it unless I’m specifically going for something that’s got a kind of “pushed” sound. I love to use saturation on various tracks, or even the drum bus, but on the 2 bus? Usually not for me. I’m much more about using a light compressor as a “glue.” I’m sure there’s probably a bit if saturation happening in my go-to plugins (Most likely DMGAudio’s TrackComp 2.

[Unaspected]

Mixing into saturation 'feels' different to mixing with no dynamic processing ahead of the signal. Then, as with mixing into a group buss with saturation on it, the faders also have some control over tone and compression.

[Skyfall72]

When the mix is done right in the first place saturation then becomes totally optional.

Using too many plug-ins destroys the mix already so saturation at master buss beware

[LeVzi]

I think after all this, i'd only apply saturation on certain tracks if I felt it was warranted.

I did try it on a master bus just to see how it could sound and it wasn't really needed. Can't say it did anything I would want.

And ironically I picked up the SSL Saturator that's on sale atm, which will get used on tracks as and when.

But thanks for all the input, it's good to see what people think and do themselves.

[sokoleski]

True Iron

[jethrobull]

True Iron

Yep!

[Krakatau]

When the mix is done right in the first place saturation then becomes totally optional.

Using too many plug-ins destroys the mix already so saturation at master buss beware

totally agree, i for one,am very sensitive to the details and contrasts of hi-end and timbral frequencies that might be immediately blurred if a saturation, even discreet, is introduced at that level

[sQeetz]

True Iron

Yep!

Yep, too!

[donkey tugger]

I think after all this, i'd only apply saturation on certain tracks if I felt it was warranted.

I did try it on a master bus just to see how it could sound and it wasn't really needed. Can't say it did anything I would want.

And ironically I picked up the SSL Saturator that's on sale atm, which will get used on tracks as and when.

But thanks for all the input, it's good to see what people think and do themselves.

For a good free tape style one I highly recommend this;

https://plugins4free.com/plugin/3058/

[LeVzi]

True Iron

This has been mentioned a few times in different places, its a transformer emulation from what I know of it. So I assume it adds some kind of "colour" to a signal ?

[LeVzi]

I think after all this, i'd only apply saturation on certain tracks if I felt it was warranted.

I did try it on a master bus just to see how it could sound and it wasn't really needed. Can't say it did anything I would want.

And ironically I picked up the SSL Saturator that's on sale atm, which will get used on tracks as and when.

But thanks for all the input, it's good to see what people think and do themselves.

For a good free tape style one I highly recommend this;

https://plugins4free.com/plugin/3058/

I appreciate that, cheers. Always like a freebie. Like that Chow plugin too.

[sQeetz]

True Iron

This has been mentioned a few times in different places, its a transformer emulation from what I know of it. So I assume it adds some kind of "colour" to a signal ?

yep. Quite subtle, though...

[LeVzi]

Yeah I saw that video, he really liked it, I couldn't hear a thing, but that's youtube for you. lol

[sQeetz]

Yeah I saw that video, he really liked it, I couldn't hear a thing, but that's youtube for you. lol

Like I said, it's really subtle.