Help me understand saturation and its uses please

[Mind Riot]

I don't really get why everybody's obsessed with saturation of all these different types and why it seems like every plugin has to have saturation built into it, but primarily I haven't really been able to find authoritative information on what circumstances would call for the use of saturation, and why, and how much, and what type.

Moving to digital recording from tape back in the day was amazing and pristine noiseless recordings were pure bliss.

Now I'm not saying I don't like saturation and I don't want to use it. I'm just asking for some help in understanding it better so I can use it properly, because I feel like I'm just guessing when I use it now.

When should I use saturation, and for what reason? What kind of situation calls for it? What problems does it solve in mixing? How much should be used, is it a light, subtle effect or an obvious, powerful change?

Thanks to any and everyone who's kind enough to share their knowledge.

[kritikon]

Mostly I don't. Like you say - there's some kind of weird obsession with saturation that I don't get either. It's pretty well harmonics + compression (I.e. distortion) and I don't want that anywhere near mixes and anything else that I don't want distorted. But if people like distortion, that's their business. You don't have to use saturation anywhere but you can choose to. I find it can give drums a bit more fizzle, and it can be useful for making basses a bit more present. But for me it's a pita effect because I hate the sound of it when you compress afterwards. Which makes it more difficult for levels when you saturate after compression. As for mixes...we used to avoid distortion like the plague back in the day. It seems like people today believe we all ran hot tapes to saturate the fk out of everything- we did NOT. It's a myth.

It's down to taste though. E.g. the old harmonic enhancers/exciters, some used to love them. I hated them - I could always tell by those nasty harsh, grating hats when exciters were used. Awful things. Yet I like other types of enhancers. It sounds like some saturate every channel...their choice I suppose but it was NOT a vintage method at all, utter bullshit. So, if you like distortion, saturate whatever you want. Personally I mostly like digital recordings for what they are - clean and clear. Doesn't mean I don't use analogue gear and some "analogue" processes, but selectively for specific reasons only. But you'll no doubt have some comments here about how distorting everything makes it wider and clearer... No it doesn't, never did.

[chk071]

It sounds good.

[MadDogE134]

'saturation' is basically the addition of harmonics based on the fundamental frequency of the source. the 'additions' can be either even, odd and/or both. the addition of the harmonics/tones/frequencies beefs up or thickens the original source. if overused it does actually impact the source as many call 'compression' but it is not... it just sounds that way due to the lack of dynamics (highs and lows) in the source tone. there is no compression because the addition of the harmonics do not attenuate the original source in any way. but... to the ears it sounds like it is compressing because the lower frequencies are raised up.

imo people use saturation way too much

cheers

[paramita123]

As far as I understand and hear it, saturation is like an effect and a spice.
It can add pepper to a sound by making it more gritty, warmer or adding sizzle.
It can also work effectively as a compressor by balancing the volume across spectrum (I'm no expert I might be saying this wrong, but that lovely dude Greg from House of Kush explains that so well)

Saturation can also make sounds louder without raising peaks. That's the reason why I bought HG-2 MS from PA as it's so effective in beefing up sounds.

Overall it can really improve sounds. I love the right saturation on pretty much any sound source.

A good free sat plugin is Burier. Simple and effective.
Krush is great too for creative fun.
I use Apogee Soft Limit in pretty much every of my songs.

Check out House of Kush for more. Love that dude.

[Synthman2000]

Void

[paramita123]

Seems many here diss saturation.
I'd say it's been on countless top records as it seems tape recordings did add saturation.
Also like everything it's about balance. Just what's needed. Crap music with tons of processing is just polished crap.
A great song without the right spice can be flat too.
In the spirit of openness, try what you want, see what you like, broaden your horizons, let others enjoy what they wish to enjoy.

[xamido]

Saturation have become the buzzword because how music nowadays is also different than music of the old days.

Everything is distorted and loud now. And you need to use saturation to get that kind of sound.

Drums distorted, basses distorted, synths, and most of all Vocals are all distorted now. It is what it is. What was once considered noise, is now the norm.

[Mind Riot]

If I need to make a sound source louder without the peaks overloading I'll just use a clipper. Clean, transparent, simple, done. Like it was never even there. Like ninja.

[Erik_Lucas]

Realizing a lot lately that, in the past, I would use saturation for its' compression. Nowadays I just use a compressor.

[martiu]

if there is no saturation, delete it

[Mind Riot]

if there is no saturation, delete it

Finally! A simple, straight answer.

I'll be back directly boys. Gotta go wipe a hard drive or two.

[aberration123]

I don't really get why everybody's obsessed with saturation of all these different types and why it seems like every plugin has to have saturation built into it, but primarily I haven't really been able to find authoritative information on what circumstances would call for the use of saturation, and why, and how much, and what type.

Moving to digital recording from tape back in the day was amazing and pristine noiseless recordings were pure bliss.

Now I'm not saying I don't like saturation and I don't want to use it. I'm just asking for some help in understanding it better so I can use it properly, because I feel like I'm just guessing when I use it now.

When should I use saturation, and for what reason? What kind of situation calls for it? What problems does it solve in mixing? How much should be used, is it a light, subtle effect or an obvious, powerful change?

Thanks to any and everyone who's kind enough to share their knowledge.

[enCiphered]

Saturation can add a warm and rich color to audio. It can emulate the pleasing harmonics and distortion that vintage analog equipment, like analog tape machines or tube amplifiers, produce. This can make digital audio sound less sterile and more... organic if you want.
It can help to add depth and dimension to audio and as MadDog already wrote, it introduces additional harmonics to the sound, which can make it fuller and more interesting. This can be particularly useful for instruments or vocals that sound thin or lack character, grit and presence in the mix.
Saturation can also help glue different elements of a mix together.

[martiu]

if there is no saturation, delete it

Finally! A simple, straight answer.

I'll be back directly boys. Gotta go wipe a hard drive or two.

nice, now you will have more space for worthless kontakt library's
dont forget, next time you record something use your sausage fattener plugin on max
you gotta bring those additional harmonies for some fatness