What is Saturation of Audio?
If you’re new to music production and you’ve heard about adding more warmth and color to your digital audio, then you may have been told to use a saturation plug-in. Before I get into the “Best Free Saturation Plugins Worth Trying”, let me briefly explain what saturation is. Because there are different ways to saturate audio, this short description does not cover in detail the extensive technical aspects of such.
Saturation is a form of compressed distortion that adds pleasing harmonics to audio signals, resulting in a richer, fuller, and more vintage sound. Saturation plug-ins emulate the characteristics of analog audio equipment, such as analog tape machines, tube amplifiers, and analog consoles, which are known for their unique saturation characteristics.
One of the primary uses of saturation plug-ins is to add harmonics to digital audio recordings to replicate the warmth and character of analog recordings. Saturation can help to enhance the perceived loudness and presence of audio recordings, as well as add depth and dimension to the sound. Saturation plug-ins are often used on individual tracks, such as vocals, guitars, drums, and synths, to add warmth and richness to their sound, and can also be used on mix buses or the master bus to add cohesion and glue to the entire mix.
Saturation plug-ins come in various forms, including tape saturation, tube saturation, transformer saturation, and console saturation, each with its own unique tonal characteristics. Tape saturation plug-ins emulate the saturation and compression characteristics of analog tape machines, adding warmth, depth, and subtle compression to audio recordings.
Tube saturation plug-ins simulate the harmonic distortion and compression characteristics of analog tube amplifiers, adding warmth, harmonics, and vintage vibe to audio signals. Transformer saturation plug-ins mimic the coloration and saturation characteristics of analog transformers, adding warmth, thickness, and weight to audio recordings. Console saturation plug-ins replicate the tonal characteristics of analog consoles, adding color, depth, and character to audio tracks.
Overall, saturation plug-ins are essential tools in music audio production for adding warmth, color, and character to audio recordings. They are used to replicate the tonal characteristics of analog audio equipment, and can be applied to individual tracks or mix buses to enhance the perceived loudness, presence, and depth of audio recordings. With their ability to add warmth, harmonics, and vintage vibe to audio signals, saturation plug-ins have become a staple in modern music production, allowing producers and engineers to achieve rich, full, and professional-sounding mixes.
Best Free Saturation Plug-ins Worth Trying
1. Meldaproductions MSaturator
MSaturator Free by Meldaproductions is a free audio saturation plugin that offers an array of powerful features for enhancing the warmth, depth, and character of audio signals. This plugin is designed for musicians, producers, and engineers looking to add analog-style saturation to their mixes and recordings.
MSaturator Free features a user-friendly interface that allows for easy control and manipulation of the saturation effects. It offers various saturation algorithms, including tube, transistor, and tape saturation, which can be applied to a wide range of audio sources such as drums, vocals, guitars, and synths. The plugin also provides adjustable parameters for drive, saturation amount, and output level, allowing users to fine-tune the saturation effect to their liking.
One of the standout features of MSaturator Free is its multiband saturation functionality, which allows users to independently saturate different frequency bands of the audio signal. This provides precise control over the saturation process and enables users to target specific frequency ranges, giving their audio a more transparent and dynamic saturation treatment.
In addition, MSaturator Free also includes a comprehensive set of metering options, including input and output level meters, saturation level meters, and a real-time spectrum analyzer, providing visual feedback on the saturation process and helping users to make informed decisions while tweaking the settings.
Overall, MSaturator Free by Meldaproductions is a plugin that offers a wide range of options and precise control over the saturation process. With its multiband saturation functionality, intuitive interface, and metering options, it’s worth downloading and trying.
Get MSaturator Free at https://www.meldaproduction.com/MSaturator.
Use the code MELDA59868309 to get 20% off any qualifying paid plug-in at meldaproduction.com
2. TBProAudio GSAT Plus
GSAT Plus by TBProAudio is a free plugin that is designed to saturate audio in recordings and mixes. It is a plugin that can be used in a digital audio workstation (DAW) to process audio tracks, buses, or the master output. GSAT Plus stands for “Gentleman’s SATuration Plus,” which reflects its refined and sophisticated approach to saturation processing.
One of the standout features of GSAT Plus is its unique saturation algorithm that provides smooth and transparent saturation, adding warmth and harmonic richness to audio signals without introducing unwanted distortion or artifacts. The saturation can be applied in different modes, such as preamp, console, or tape, allowing users to achieve a variety of tonal characteristics. The plugin also includes a unique “dynamic saturation” mode, which applies saturation dynamically based on the input level, resulting in a more natural and musical saturation effect.
GSAT Plus also offers comprehensive control over the saturation parameters, including input and output gain, saturation amount, and saturation type, giving users precise control over the saturation process. Additionally, it features a “trim” control that allows for precise level matching, ensuring that the processed audio maintains the same perceived loudness as the original signal.
The interface of GSAT Plus is intuitive and user-friendly, featuring a sleek design with informative metering and visual feedback. It also includes A/B comparison functionality, allowing users to compare the processed and unprocessed audio in real-time, making it easy to audition and fine-tune the saturation settings.
In summary, GSAT Plus by TBProAudio is a versatile plugin that offers refined and transparent saturation processing for audio recordings and mixes. With its unique saturation algorithm, comprehensive control over saturation parameters, and intuitive interface, GSAT Plus provides a professional and musical approach to adding warmth and harmonic richness to audio signals. GSAT plus is a free saturation plug-in trying and keeping.
Get GSAT Plus free at https://www.tbproaudio.de/products/gsatplus
3. ToneBoosters TB Ferox
ToneBoosters TB Ferox v3 is a free audio processing plugin that offers users a powerful tool for enhancing the sound of their audio tracks. This third version of TB Ferox boast advanced features and improved performance. The plugin is designed to be used in various music production applications, such as recording, mixing, and mastering, and is compatible with popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) on both Windows and macOS platforms.
One of the standout features of TB Ferox v3 is its unique analog tape simulation technology. The plugin attempts to emulate the warm, rich, and musical characteristics of analog tape, providing users with a vintage, analog sound that is highly sought after in today’s digital music production. With TB Ferox v3, users can add the warmth, depth, and saturation of analog tape to their audio tracks, giving them a classic, nostalgic vibe.
In addition to its tape simulation capabilities, TB Ferox v3 offers a wide range of controls for shaping and sculpting a saturated sound. The plugin provides comprehensive control over parameters such as saturate, hyst, drive, and more, allowing users to fine-tune the saturation characteristics to suit their specific needs.
Another notable feature of TB Ferox v3 is its versatility. The plugin can be used on a wide range of audio sources, including individual tracks, buses, or even the master bus. It can be used to add saturation to vocals, guitars, drums, synths, and other instruments, as well as to add overall cohesion and glue to a mix during mastering. TB Ferox v3 is a versatile tool that can be used in various music production scenarios to achieve professional-quality results.
In summary, ToneBoosters TB Ferox v3 is a free in-the-box analog tape simulation plugin that offers users a powerful tool for enhancing the harmonics of their audio tracks. With its advanced features, improved performance, and user-friendly interface, TB Ferox v3 is a versatile and indispensable tool for music producers, mix engineers, and mastering engineers.
Get Toneboosters TB Ferox v3(Legacy) archived at https://www.toneboosters.com/changelog.html
4. Meldaproductions MWaveFolder
Meldaproductions MWaveFolder Free is a versatile and powerful audio effect plugin that brings creative distortion and waveshaping capabilities to your music production projects. It is a free version of the MWaveFolder plugin by Meldaproductions, an audio software company known for their innovative and high-quality audio processing tools.
MWaveFolder Free is designed to give musicians, producers, and sound designers the ability to add unique and complex distortion textures to their audio signals. The plugin operates by folding and reshaping the waveform, resulting in rich harmonic content and intriguing timbral transformations. It offers various shaping algorithms and distortion modes, allowing you to experiment with different wavefolding techniques and achieve a wide range of tonal characters, from subtle saturation to extreme and aggressive distortion.
One of the key features of MWaveFolder Free is its real-time visualization of the waveform and harmonic spectrum, providing you with immediate feedback on the changes you make. This helps you visually understand the impact of the plugin’s parameters on your audio signal, making it easy to shape and tweak your sound to perfection. MWaveFolder Free also includes a comprehensive set of modulation options, allowing you to automate and modulate various parameters in real-time, adding movement and expressiveness to your audio.
With its intuitive and user-friendly interface, MWaveFolder Free makes it easy to dive into the world of wavefolding and explore new sonic possibilities. Whether you are looking to add subtle warmth and character to your tracks or create unique and experimental soundscapes, MWaveFolder Free is a powerful and creative tool that can elevate your music production to new heights.
Get Wavefolder Free at https://www.meldaproduction.com/MWaveFolder
Use the code MELDA59868309 to get 20% off any qualifying paid plug-in at meldaproduction.com
5. Cymatics Origin Saturator
Cymatics Origin lo-fi saturation plug-in is a cutting-edge audio processing tool that provides a unique and powerful approach to achieving rich, warm, and vintage lo-fi saturation effects in your audio productions. Developed by Cymatics, a renowned audio software company known for their innovative products, Origin Lofi Saturation is designed to give producers, musicians, and sound engineers an intuitive and user-friendly solution for adding that classic analog warmth and saturation to their tracks.
At the heart of the Cymatics Origin plug-in is a proprietary saturation algorithm that emulates the harmonic distortion characteristics of vintage analog hardware. The plug-in offers a wide range of saturation types, from gentle harmonic overtones to more aggressive and gritty distortion, allowing users to dial in the perfect amount of warmth and coloration for their audio. The plug-in also includes a set of controls for fine-tuning the saturation effect, including a saturation knob, movement (modualation) knob, chorus knob, and tape knob, providing precise control over the saturation characteristics and intensity.
Cymatics Origin have a simple interface that is designed with ease of use in mind. The interface features a clean layout with direct controls, making it simple for users to navigate and dial in the desired saturation effect. The tape knob have a drop-menu to choose different effects such as cassette, micro-cassette, and reel to reel, and vinyl. The “Movement” knob is an intuitive modulation system that allows users to add movement and animation to the saturation effect. This results in adding a dynamic and evolving character to the sound.
Overall, the Cymatics Origin plug-in is an audio processing tool that delivers authentic lo-fi saturation effects with ease. With its proprietary saturation algorithm, versatile filter section, and intuitive interface, it provides a creative and efficient solution for adding harmonics to your audio productions. Whether you’re working on music production, sound design, or audio mixing, this saturation plug-in is worth trying.
Get Cymatics Origin free at https://cymatics.fm/products/origin-vintage-plugin
6. Voxengo Tube Amp
Voxengo Tube Amp is a free virtual analog tube amplifier plugin that emulates the warm and rich sound of classic tube amps. Developed by Voxengo, Tube Amp is a reliable choice for musicians, producers, and engineers seeking to add analog warmth and saturation to their digital audio recordings.
One of the standout features of Voxengo Tube Amp is its emulation of various types of tube amplifiers, including triode, tetrode, and pentode configurations. This allows users to dial in different tonal characteristics, from clean and smooth to crunchy and saturated, providing a wide range of tonal options for different genres and styles of music.
Voxengo Tube Amp offers a straight forward interface with knobs to dial in the amount of saturation. It provides precise control over parameters such as drive, output levels, tube bias, low pass, and wet/dry mix. It also has oversampling (up to 8x), solo mode, a saturation switch, and a level meter window. Additionally, the plugin includes a mono, stereo, and surround output channel routing feature.
Voxengo Tube Amp have an advanced are where you can go deeper into to its settings. You can change oversampling minimum phase or linear phase. Set the integration time, release time, and peak level hold time. There are also global settings where you can go even further with the layout structure of the Voxengo Tube Amp.
Overall, Voxengo Tube Amp is a free tube amplifier plugin that provides authentic tube amp tones with precise control and customization options. Voxengo Tube Amp is a plugin worth downloading and trying.
Get Voxengo Tube Amp free at https://www.voxengo.com/product/tubeamp/
7. Softube Saturator
Softube Saturator is a free audio plugin that offers dynamic saturation and distortion effects, designed to add warmth, character, and harmonic richness to audio recordings. Developed by Softube, a renowned audio software company known for their high-quality plugins, Saturator is a versatile tool that can be used in a wide range of music production and audio mixing scenarios.
Softube Saturator provides dynamic saturation, which means that the saturation effect can vary depending on the input level of the audio signal. This allows for natural and musical saturation effects that respond to the dynamics of the audio source, adding warmth and coloration to different parts of the audio signal in a dynamic and musical way. The plugin offers three saturation modes, including keep high, neutral, and keep low, allowing users to choose the type of saturation that best fits their creative vision.
The interface of Softube Saturator is sleek and user-friendly, with one big knob and one switch. There’s also an option to view the level meter to monitor the saturation effect and make adjustments in real-time. The plugin also includes useful presets that can be used as starting points or inspiration for different saturation tones, making it a creative tool for sound designers, mix engineers, and producers.
Overall, Softube Saturator is a free plugin that offers dynamic saturation and distortion effects with precise control and creative flexibility. Its dynamic response, saturation modes, and intuitive interface make it a valuable tool for adding harmonics to audio recordings in various music production and mixing scenarios.
Get Softube Saturator free at https://www.softube.com/saturationknob
8. Analog Obsession Transature
Analog Obsession Transature is a powerful analog-modeled saturation and distortion plugin that emulates the warm, rich, and harmonically pleasing tones of classic analog hardware. This plugin is designed to add character, warmth, and vintage vibes to audio signals, making it an ideal tool for music producers, engineers, and sound designers who are looking to gritty harmonics to their tracks.
The Transature plugin features a straightforward control layout that includes knobs for input gain, output level, and a switch to select four saturation modes. These modes includes a clean transformer, tube, transistor, and operational amplifier (OP Amp).
One of the features of Transature is its ability to accurately replicate the sound and behavior of analog hardware. The plugin employs advanced modeling algorithms that emulate the subtle nuances and non-linearities of analog circuits, resulting in authentic and musical saturation and distortion tones. Whether it’s adding punch to drums, giving guitars a vintage edge, or adding character to vocals, Transature can transform audio signals into a rich and harmonically complex sound with ease.
Trasnsature can be used on a wide range of audio sources, including individual tracks, buses, and even on the master bus during the mixing and mastering process. It’s capable of producing a wide spectrum of tones, from light saturation to aggressive distortion, making it suitable for a variety of musical genres and styles.
In summary, Analog Obsession Transature is a free saturation and distortion plugin that emulates the warm and harmonically pleasing tones of classic analog hardware. With its simple interface and wide range of tonal possibilities, Transature is worth trying out.
Get Transature free at https://plugins4free.com/plugin/3100/
Get access to all Analog Obsession’s plug-in at https://www.patreon.com/analogobsession (recommended).
9. Klanghelm IVGI Saturator
Klanghelm IVGI is a free saturation plugin that delivers rich, analog-style saturation and distortion effects. IVGI stands for “Instant Very Good Impulse”, and true to its name, this plugin provides a quick and easy way to add warmth, character, and grit to audio signals with just a few simple controls. IVGI is designed to emulate the sound and behavior of classic analog circuits, making it an ideal tool for music producers, engineers, and sound designers who want to add vintage vibes and sonic coloration to their tracks.
IVGI is programmed to respond dynamically to the input signal. Even the modeled fluctuations react dynamically and change depending on the drive setting, ensuring that they do not interfere with the sound. Its modeled crosstalk behavior with controllable level benefits stereo tracks. IVGI, has “Controlled Randomness,” which determines the internal drift and variance within the unit. It adds to the vibrancy and realism of IVGI’s saturation character. To make this possible knob, all internal processes are modulated to some extent.
IVGI has a distinct Asym Mix knob that allows you to change the symmetry of the signal without affecting the harmonic content. Asymmetry typically leads to an increase in even order harmonics. In the case of IVGI, however, adjusting the asymmetry makes the negative part of the signal more clean. This way, the dynamic structure of the source is preserved, and the result is more transparent. Asym Mix can be thought of as a transparency control and it’s not a traditional mix knob.
You can also change the frequency response of the saturation with IVGI. The Response knob is the result of equalization, filters, and compression. All of these factors influence the saturation’s actual character. Low frequencies are more affected by saturation when the knob is turned to the left. You’ll also notice some high-end roll-off, low-end bump, and compression. However, when used sparingly, the Response knob improves transparency. High frequencies are more affected by saturation when turned to the right. On higher settings, you’ll notice more HF compression and hysteresis effects.
In summary, Klanghelm IVGI is a powerful saturation plugin that delivers instant, very good impulse of analog-style warmth and distortion. With its intuitive interface, dynamic saturation capabilities, and versatile applications, IVGI is a valuable tool for music producers, engineers, and sound designers who want to add character, color, and vintage vibes to their audio tracks.
Get Klanghelm IVGI at https://klanghelm.com/contents/products/IVGI.php
10. CodaLabs Szechuan Saturator
The Szechuan Saturator plug-in is a unique and innovative audio processing tool that brings a bold and fiery flavor to audio production. Inspired by the flavors of Szechuan cuisine, this plug-in offers a distinct and intense saturation effect that can add spice, energy, and excitement to any audio track. With its powerful and customizable controls, the Szechuan saturator plug-in provides users with a creative and versatile tool for adding warmth, harmonics, and coloration to their audio.
The Szechuan saturator control knobs allow users to fine-tune their saturation effects. It features parameters such as “Intensity”, “Mod Rate”, “Mod Depth”, “In Gain”, and “Out Gain” which provide control over the intensity, tone, level, and coloration of the saturation effect. Users can adjust these controls to dial in the perfect amount of saturation and tailor the sound to suit their creative vision. Additionally, the plug-in offers a “Mix” knob control that allows users to blend the saturated signal with the dry signal, providing further flexibility in shaping the sound.
Szechuan Saturator interface have a spice ingredients appearance. And when you dial in the controls of this plug-in you’ll definitely add some spice to your audio. Szechuan saturator adds different saturation flavors. With self-proclaimed titles such as groove, filth, clip, stank, boom, and sticky icky to name a few.
Overall, the Szechuan Saturatoris a unique and creative audio processing plug-in that offers a distinct and intense saturation effect inspired by the flavors of Szechuan cuisine. Its customizable controls and unique saturation modes make it a versatile tool for adding warmth, character, and excitement to audio tracks, making it a valuable addition to any music production or audio engineering workflow. Don’t be fooled by food menu interface, this plug-in is worth trying.
Get Szechuan Saturator free at https://codalabs.io/szechuan/
Conclusion: Free Saturation Plugins
In conclusion, these free saturation plugins can get the job done in the mixing and mastering process. It can add warmth, character, and depth to audio recordings, helping to emulate the rich and vibrant sound of analog equipment. Whether used subtly to add a touch of harmonic distortion or pushed to its limits for creative sound design, a saturation plugin can enhance the sonic quality of a mix or master. With its versatility and ease of use, these free saturation plugins is a valuable addition to any audio production toolkit, offering endless creative possibilities for achieving professional-sounding results.
