Saturation on the master

[Unaspected]

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 ?

Like tape, it introduces hysteresis - as we are dealing with magnetic force and flux density. So it can pair quite nicely with tape effects as well as introducing a certain something ahead of many other plugins.

Transformers also roll off lows so they can be used to tighten up sounds.

I wouldn't call it subtle. Yes it can be as subtle as you like and unless you are metering whilst playing with it, you might be unaware just how much you can transparently clip a signal with it. But it can get into really nasty sounding distortion easily enough if you want that kind of thing. Maybe it could be perceived as subtle because the sweet spot range is so wide.

You can use it for tone, taming peaks and giving more presence and bite to sounds.

[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 ?

Like tape, it introduces hysteresis - as we are dealing with magnetic force and flux density. So it can pair quite nicely with tape effects as well as introducing a certain something ahead of many other plugins.

Transformers also roll off lows so they can be used to tighten up sounds.

I wouldn't call it subtle. Yes it can be as subtle as you like and unless you are metering whilst playing with it, you might be unaware just how much you can transparently clip a signal with it. But it can get into really nasty sounding distortion easily enough if you want that kind of thing. Maybe it could be perceived as subtle because the sweet spot range is so wide.

You can use it for tone, taming peaks and giving more presence and bite to sounds.

They roll off lows like a highpass ? I assume we are talking inaudible lows like under 20 ?

[Unaspected]

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 ?

Like tape, it introduces hysteresis - as we are dealing with magnetic force and flux density. So it can pair quite nicely with tape effects as well as introducing a certain something ahead of many other plugins.

Transformers also roll off lows so they can be used to tighten up sounds.

I wouldn't call it subtle. Yes it can be as subtle as you like and unless you are metering whilst playing with it, you might be unaware just how much you can transparently clip a signal with it. But it can get into really nasty sounding distortion easily enough if you want that kind of thing. Maybe it could be perceived as subtle because the sweet spot range is so wide.

You can use it for tone, taming peaks and giving more presence and bite to sounds.

They roll off lows like a highpass ? I assume we are talking inaudible lows like under 20 ?

I believe the bandwidth can be extended using feedback so it depends on the circuit design as to how much a transformer might impact on the sub end.

[string6]

I personally use saturation on master very rarely. But some people like it. There are a few saturation plugins made specifically for the master bus.
I think this list has some - https://apartmentrecording.com/saturation-plugins/

[Spring Goose]

I use Kush Blyss

[noiseresearch]

If then apShaper by apulsoft
- flexible filter-routing system to decide where to shape
- a set of different algorithms
- a modulation system
- high quality oversampling

[excuse me please]

Dunno if it's me, but I do know sometimes a plugin comes with an init setting which is quite "hot".

"Hot" in this sense means it could be "too hot" quickly; if one does not realize the settings are "hot" already when it comes to the specified purpose of a specific plugin.

Just saying that SlickEQ free ed. - for instance - comes with an init of +6 dB saturation..

[Ikaz7]

Dunno if it's me, but I do know sometimes a plugin comes with an init setting which is quite "hot".

"Hot" in this sense means it could be "too hot" quickly; if one does not realize the settings are "hot" already when it comes to the specified purpose of a specific plugin.

Just saying that SlickEQ free ed. - for instance - comes with an init of +6 dB saturation..

The saturation in Slick EQ is very subtle though. The +6 dB don't correspond to a gain increase of 6 dB, rather it's related to the internal gain staging, which in turn affects the saturation stage.

[excuse me please]

Dunno if it's me, but I do know sometimes a plugin comes with an init setting which is quite "hot".

"Hot" in this sense means it could be "too hot" quickly; if one does not realize the settings are "hot" already when it comes to the specified purpose of a specific plugin.

Just saying that SlickEQ free ed. - for instance - comes with an init of +6 dB saturation..

The saturation in Slick EQ is very subtle though. The +6 dB don't correspond to a gain increase of 6 dB, rather it's related to the internal gain staging, which in turn affects the saturation stage.

I know; they both have separate level indicators. But if one drops SlickEQ first in their master chain, the effect is IMHO not so subtle. I can hear it quite clearly.

In my book "quite clearly" on the master bus is something quite different than "subtle".

"Subtle" means that my ears can barely hear it.

[LFO8]

I personally use saturation on master very rarely. But some people like it. There are a few saturation plugins made specifically for the master bus.
I think this list has some - https://apartmentrecording.com/saturation-plugins/

Pfff … this list doesn’t even mention HG-2 MS

[Ikaz7]

Dunno if it's me, but I do know sometimes a plugin comes with an init setting which is quite "hot".

"Hot" in this sense means it could be "too hot" quickly; if one does not realize the settings are "hot" already when it comes to the specified purpose of a specific plugin.

Just saying that SlickEQ free ed. - for instance - comes with an init of +6 dB saturation..

The saturation in Slick EQ is very subtle though. The +6 dB don't correspond to a gain increase of 6 dB, rather it's related to the internal gain staging, which in turn affects the saturation stage.

I know; they both have separate level indicators. But if one drops SlickEQ first in their master chain, the effect is IMHO not so subtle. I can hear it quite clearly.

In my book "quite clearly" on the master bus is something quite different than "subtle".

"Subtle" means that my ears can barely hear it.

Thanks for sharing your personal definition of "quite clearly" and "subtle" with the world.

[excuse me please]

Dunno if it's me, but I do know sometimes a plugin comes with an init setting which is quite "hot".

"Hot" in this sense means it could be "too hot" quickly; if one does not realize the settings are "hot" already when it comes to the specified purpose of a specific plugin.

Just saying that SlickEQ free ed. - for instance - comes with an init of +6 dB saturation..

The saturation in Slick EQ is very subtle though. The +6 dB don't correspond to a gain increase of 6 dB, rather it's related to the internal gain staging, which in turn affects the saturation stage.

I know; they both have separate level indicators. But if one drops SlickEQ first in their master chain, the effect is IMHO not so subtle. I can hear it quite clearly.

In my book "quite clearly" on the master bus is something quite different than "subtle".

"Subtle" means that my ears can barely hear it.

Thanks for sharing your personal definition of "quite clearly" and "subtle" with the world.

This thread is not about my opinion but why the OP does not like saturation on the master, however.

[Azbest]

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.

It doesn't have to be. You can push it into heavy distortion. Very versatile effect.

[excuse me please]

So I guess we are there, because in the digital realm one could easily use 5 plugs for adding let's say, don't make it too wild, +0.8 dB of saturation.

[Synthack]

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