Best type saturation vst for 2025?

[Erik_Lucas]

As someone who just wants clean digital saturation these days, apShaper does the trick beautifully.

[slackhead]

I haven't seen mention here of any of the Variety Of Sound plugins, which are all free by the way so anyone can give them a try. Their saturation tends to be on the subtle enhancer side rather than out and out distortion.
My favorites include FerricTDS, ThrillseekerXTC and Tesla SE. The newer FeenstaubHDR is great too.

[sokoleski]

As someone who just wants clean digital saturation these days, apShaper does the trick beautifully.

Could not agree more...apShaper is incredibly versatile
and sounds exxelent.

[djanthonyw]

There are very few algorithmic plugins that have convincing saturation.

The ones that I think are great:

• The pres in Waves SSL EV2 (very close to Sand's channel saturation. Other SSL channel emulations don't get close)
• Overloud Fuse
• The drive function in Pulsar Audio's Massive
• Arturia Culture
• True Iron
• P44 Magnum
• SPL Machine Head (the most convincing algorithmic tape emulation that's ironically using original code from the original digital hardware)

Non-algorithmic plugin options that I really like that are the same level as hardware quality:

• Acustica Sand's bus pre (Overloud Fuse gets very close, but still haven't found anything that's just as good)
• TB Tech Deep Vintage (Mainly Brit, Green, Tape S, Thick Pre, TransformerX)

[pekbro]

Big fan of Klanghabitat.

https://www.klanghabitat.com/plugins/

*Geeze, too many concurrent saturator threads

[Ramm Darkened]

Big fan of Klanghabitat.

https://www.klanghabitat.com/plugins/

*Geeze, too many concurrent saturator threads

That’s because the market’s pretty saturated.

[cryophonik]

No love for Softube’s Drawmer 1976 emulation?

[djanthonyw]

Here's an example with and without saturation. I think it really makes the synth sound "real".

Feel free to use your favorite plugins to see if you can get the same effect.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1wcl38la ... 1do1a&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/309gtivi ... 6mlv7&dl=0

[JerGoertz]

Here's an example with and without saturation. I think it really makes the synth sound "real".

Feel free to use your favorite plugins to see if you can get the same effect.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1wcl38la ... 1do1a&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/309gtivi ... 6mlv7&dl=0

What did you use?

[djanthonyw]

Here's an example with and without saturation. I think it really makes the synth sound "real".

Feel free to use your favorite plugins to see if you can get the same effect.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1wcl38la ... 1do1a&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/309gtivi ... 6mlv7&dl=0

What did you use?

TB Tech Deep Vintage Tape S and the pre on Sand bus comp without any compression.

[JerGoertz]

TB Tech Deep Vintage Tape S and the pre on Sand bus comp without any compression.

Cool, I'll keep that in mind since I already own Sand.

Did you ever try the Shattered Glass Audio stuff, Kelvin, or Goodhertz Tupe?

[djanthonyw]

TB Tech Deep Vintage Tape S and the pre on Sand bus comp without any compression.

Cool, I'll keep that in mind since I already own Sand.

Did you ever try the Shattered Glass Audio stuff, Kelvin, or Goodhertz Tupe?

Yes. Not impressed by any of those. The ones I listed above are the only ones I use and cover everything.

[JerGoertz]

Okay, thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I've just now revisited Sand and am really enjoying the compressor in the latest v4 release.

[sQeetz]

Reason Studio's Osmium is a nice toy to play with?
Bought it because it was relatively cheap and looked nice.
Does it sound good? yeah it can

[SebAV]

Your signature tells that you own Live 12. Osmium seems to be like Roar, How Does it compare ?