fabfilter Saturn 2 or alternative

[legendCNCD]

This was my experience too. Anyone want to buy saturn 2? =)

[c1c2]

I own Saturn 2 and Impact from Surreal Machines (and then some..):
https://www.surrealmachines.com/transie ... nes-vstau/
Multiband, dynamic control, and a lot more...

[vitocorleone123]

Fabfilter plugins are typically jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none in my opinion. They are super-flexible but don't really do even just one conventional thing particularly well. So I would ask myself "what am I looking for in/wanting to get out of/wanting to accomplish with a saturation plugin, then get a few plugins that do each of these tasks far better than Saturn.

The word "typically" is simply untrue. In my opinion. They make excellent plugins overall that are in the top of class, but with a few near-misses (like Timeless 3).

Heavy distortion is the only thing I find lacking on Saturn 2, for which I'll usually turn to BlueCats Destructor 2. But everything else from subtle to starting to break up it's very good at.

[jens]

I certainly vastly prefer dedicated amp-sims, tape-machines, stomp-boxes and such over it...

[bmanic]

Saturn 2 can do dynamic multiband saturation like no other plugin. It just sounds super good. So yeah, naturally I heavily disagree. Some of it's saturation algorithms are like all other complex ones, practically impossible to duplicate.. so if one happens to like them, then there is no other option. However, the opposite is also true. If one happens to dislike them (that'd be you jens), then it's extremely easy to just skip it and look for something else.

[Liero]

I see Saturn 2 and amp sims and guitar pedals as two quite different styles of tools altogether. To me the latter are fundamental creative tools at the very beginning of any "let's design a sound" type endeavour, whereas Saturn 2 for me is more like a technical problem-solver. I bring out Saturn when an existing track is lacking something or I want something to pop a little in the mix. I bring the guitar pedals out when I'm just experimenting with sounds. Both are useful. And I do think Saturn 2 is in some way too "well-behaved" even at quite extreme settings for crazy stuff.

[Zoopy]

Wavesfactory Spectre

[user_tran]

You could build a combinator and use the stereo imager to split bands.. Then use scream, pulveriser, etc as your saturation sources. I've done this in the past when i used Reason and built really nice multiband saturation combinators.

As for VSTs, sound wise Ozone's Exciter gets REALLY close to Saturn and some of its main algo's. It doesn't have the modulation aspect, but I for example rarely use that in a MB saturation setting. Cableguys Drivershaper (for Shaperbox) also gets close and has the modulation support.

I found Exciter from Izotope very handy actually , thanks , I own also shaperbox now so will have a look.
I've used combinator to do similar effect quite long time ago but have to check again perhaps different devices. Thanks again

[viewero]

I heard Logics new Chroma Glow is a competitor for Saturn 2..

[kraster]

Saturn 2 can do dynamic multiband saturation like no other plugin. It just sounds super good. So yeah, naturally I heavily disagree. Some of it's saturation algorithms are like all other complex ones, practically impossible to duplicate.. so if one happens to like them, then there is no other option. However, the opposite is also true. If one happens to dislike them (that'd be you jens), then it's extremely easy to just skip it and look for something else.

Yeah.

Saturn is like a saturation/distortion toolbox.

Moreso than Arturia's coldfire or Output's Thermal.

All the alternative solutions suggested end up with a kind of "Saturn at home, dear".

I completely disagree with the some people's claim that Saturn cannot do obilteration distortion.

You can absolutely destroy a sound in Saturn if that' your thing.

It has an extremely wide operating range from super subtle to total annihilation and everything in between.

The only thing that you could say is that sometimes it's a bit too powerful and feature rich and something like Kelvin might be the order of the day just for limiting your options to something more streamlined but Satun itself is by far the most capable saturation/distortion plugin around

[vitocorleone123]

Saturn 2 can do dynamic multiband saturation like no other plugin. It just sounds super good. So yeah, naturally I heavily disagree. Some of it's saturation algorithms are like all other complex ones, practically impossible to duplicate.. so if one happens to like them, then there is no other option. However, the opposite is also true. If one happens to dislike them (that'd be you jens), then it's extremely easy to just skip it and look for something else.

Yeah.

Saturn is like a saturation/distortion toolbox.

Moreso than Arturia's coldfire or Output's Thermal.

All the alternative solutions suggested end up with a kind of "Saturn at home, dear".

I completely disagree with the some people's claim that Saturn cannot do obilteration distortion.

You can absolutely destroy a sound in Saturn if that' your thing.

It has an extremely wide operating range from super subtle to total annihilation and everything in between.

The only thing that you could say is that sometimes it's a bit too powerful and feature rich and something like Kelvin might be the order of the day just for limiting your options to something more streamlined but Satun itself is by far the most capable saturation/distortion plugin around

Yes, you can do distortion with it.
It just isn’t as good at it as, for me, Destructor 2.

[UltraPortamento]

The thing I remember not liking about Saturn was when the gain comes up and the volume comes down, it was never all that easy to compensate without overshooting. I was always wondering if it actually did sound better, or if it was just louder, or quieter. A/Bing was so annoying.

That, and it always sounded disappointing when it was maxed out. It just always felt best in the subtle to moderate range of distortion. Other stuff like Pyros, Destructor, or even the free Khs Shaper or IVGI has more character when tearing a sound up.

[whassup]

Saturn is a cool color EQ box with some extra tricks. Plus the great FF interface. My vote goes to Saturn 3.
P.S. For Loudness matching I use ABLM. Does the job fairly good.

[Jac459]

Fabfilter plugins are typically jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none in my opinion. They are super-flexible but don't really do even just one conventional thing particularly well. So I would ask myself "what am I looking for in/wanting to get out of/wanting to accomplish with a saturation plugin, then get a few plugins that do each of these tasks far better than Saturn.

I don't relate to that. Saturn is not doing a lot but it is doing freaking well, frankly I even prefer it to pro Q3, the dynamic joining is just awesome and the control on harmonics is unmatched in my view.

It is not a fabulous creative plugin I believe (I often prefer thermal) but for mixing it is just perfect.

[jens]

Saturn is not doing a lot

not sure I would say that about a plugin that includes 28 different algos (including various amp-sims (b/w cabinet emus) , tubes, tapes, transformers and more), each and all available for each and any of up to six frequency bands, yadda yadda.

If Saturn 2 isn't doing a lot, then what?

My point was however that none of the actual algos themselves are really outstanding - or (there, I said it) even just competitive.

And I never woke up to the thought of "I should put a four-band saturator on the bass guitar".

One might of course be utterly bored and end up experimenting and subsequenctly coming up with something that - surprise surprise (would be for me at least, frankly put) doesn't sound absolutely hideous, but then again: who has really got the time for that?

But boy, do I love to fire it up now and then and just stare at the gorgeous GUI for a moment or two. (And then I do the reasonable thing and quickly remove it again.)