is a saturator without autogain worth it in 2023?

[_leras]

Yeah it's much more about the tone to me. If I'm happy with how it sounds great, then I do the volume to sit it right.

Yes it can thicken and make a sound louder but that's secondary to me

[jamcat]

This poll is lacking the option I would select:

☒ I dislike automatic gain compensation immensely and avoid it whenever possible

[imrae]

For saturators and distortion I like having linked input-output, or an equivalent compensated gain control. This doesn't lead to any ambiguous choices or surprising movement; it's simple, predictable and helpful.

With this setup, driving the gain hard actually makes the signal quieter which helps with hearing what is being removed from the signal and choosing a meaningful threshold. Then a little manual output adjustment is needed for A/B testing.

[kevvvvv]

exactly

[legendCNCD]

I think Saturn 2 has a function to link gain somehow, hmm.. I have to check it has been quite the time I've used it

[HOTF]

I can live with it but it's an annoyance for sure

[HOTF]

This poll is lacking the option I would select:

☒ I dislike automatic gain compensation immensely and avoid it whenever possible

Must plugins with auto gain compensation still lets you manually dial it in. I think its a very nice feature for cranking the drive knob without adding 15 db of volume for no reason. I will still manually adjust output gain but im least im already in a reasonable ballpark.

[kostabanderas]

I think Saturn 2 has a function to link gain somehow, hmm.. I have to check it has been quite the time I've used it

Alt+click (and turn)

[jamcat]

This poll is lacking the option I would select:

☒ I dislike automatic gain compensation immensely and avoid it whenever possible

Most plugins with auto gain compensation still lets you manually dial it in.

Here are some that don’t let you turn off autogain:

SSL 4000B
Arturia Pre 1973
Arturia Pre TridA
Arturia Pre V76

What this means is none of the above plugins function like a real preamp. A preamp has the singular job of increasing the gain (level) coming in. Distortion is merely a side effect of that, and is directly correlated to the increase in dB.

Being the first thing a mic signal encounters, everything else that follows is affected by that volume level, and responds differently depending on how loud it is. How it hits a compressor is affected. How it hits tape is affected.

So how do you accurately reproduce those relationships (with correctly correlated preamp distortion) when that distortion is decoupled from the preamp’s primary function of setting the level to be passed to everything that follows?

When the distortion is decoupled from the volume boost that causes it, you tend to go overboard. By a lot. And then your mix sounds like garbage.

The increase in volume serves as a reality check.

[kritikon]

Methinks you're completely missing the point of these plugins. Nobody is using them to increase gain, they're using them for all of that magical distortion fairy dust "analogueness'. Gain has absolutely nothing to do with it. They're PLUGINS, not hw. Who gives a toss what hw preamps are for when they're not using hw?

[jamcat]

Perhaps you didn’t read what I wrote then, because I spelled out quite plainly how I use them and why, as well as why it’s bad to use them in an inauthentic way.

So, yes, I am using them to increase gain. A properly modeled preamp will not increase the gain across the spectrum evenly, and it will increase harmonic distortion along with the gain. But its primary purpose is still to drive the signal into the next processor. It’s just doing it in an authentic way.

Here’s a simple experiment: use a plugin such as a Lindell Audio console that gives optional gain compensation. Follow this plugin with something like the an IK TR5 Tape Machine, or a properly modeled LA-2A.

Turn up the gain a good bit, with gain compensation turned off on the preamp model, and listen to how the tape and/or compressor respond. Now engage the gain compensation and listen again.

You should already know what’s going to happen. But if you don’t, this should be an eye-opener.

[kritikon]

That's utter bollocks. Can't be arsed even explaining the obvious fallacy involved.

[CinningBao]

Hilarious! "My process is better than yours" - "No it isn't, mine's clearly better" - "No it isn't, I understand things better than you" - "No you don't, _I_ understand them better" <repeat to fade>

Just go and make music guys and stop trying to one-up each other, please?

[Daru925]

I turn two knobs in opposite directions at rougly the same speed and call it a day^^
Autogain is handy but as an on/off option.

[jens]

Perhaps you didn’t read what I wrote then, because I spelled out quite plainly how I use them and why, as well as why it’s bad to use them in an inauthentic way.

So, yes, I am using them to increase gain. A properly modeled preamp will not increase the gain across the spectrum evenly, and it will increase harmonic distortion along with the gain. But its primary purpose is still to drive the signal into the next processor. It’s just doing it in an authentic way.

Here’s a simple experiment: use a plugin such as a Lindell Audio console that gives optional gain compensation. Follow this plugin with something like the an IK TR5 Tape Machine, or a properly modeled LA-2A.

Turn up the gain a good bit, with gain compensation turned off on the preamp model, and listen to how the tape and/or compressor respond. Now engage the gain compensation and listen again.

You should already know what’s going to happen. But if you don’t, this should be an eye-opener.

lol...