Saturation Knob

Name: Saturation Knob
Author: Softube

by Softube · Saturation · Single-knob saturator

vst3s Score 8.4/10 · rated #6 of 10 saturation

A free one-knob saturator with three modes: Keep High, Neutral and Keep Low. The modes control which part of the spectrum gets the distortion, so bass can be thickened without losing its low end.

It is quick color with nothing to tweak.

Best for: Bass, Drums, Vocals, Mix Bus. Genres: Hip-Hop & Trap, Electronic & EDM.

Keywords: bass, vocals, drums, bus processing, enhancement, free, single knob, electric guitar, kick, fat, minimal controls, snare, warm, clean, drum bus, aggressive, beginner-friendly, bright, full mix, mix bus, mixing, neutral, punchy, simple, single-band, subtle, synths.

What it does

Saturation Knob is Softube's free saturator, which Softube describes as modeled output distortion for warm, analog-style saturation. Softube suggests it for fattening bass and drums, adding harmonics to vocals, and a range of distortion effects. There are only two controls:

The knob: sets the amount, from no saturation to heavy clipping.
Saturation Type switch: Keep High distorts the low end and keeps the highs clean; Neutral distorts all frequencies equally; Keep Low keeps the bass clean and saturates the highs.

Versions for Softube's Modular and Amp Room platforms are included.

Source: Softube product page

When to use it

Saturation Knob's appeal is that it removes decisions. You get one fixed, restrained, analog-style character, where tools like Decapitator or Saturn 2 offer many styles and tone controls. The Keep High and Keep Low modes act as a simple way to aim the saturation at the lows or the highs.

Best for: quick colour on drums (weight on kick and snare), bass, vocals, guitars and synths, as well as the drum bus.
Mode tips: Keep Low stops bass and kick getting muddy; Keep High keeps the top end crisp.
Genres: demos cover trap drums and rock-style guitars, snares and kicks. It's a general-purpose tool rather than tied to one style.
Look elsewhere for: precise frequency targeting or a choice of harmonic types.

What producers say

Engineers like how much it does for a free plugin. Michael Brauer, quoted by Softube, said "It's too good to be free!" and uses it for fatter guitars, brighter snares, punchier kicks and warmer vocals.

Production Expert's staff use it on vocals, bass, guitars, keys, drums and the drum bus, with one saying it "sounds brilliant on just about anything".
KVR users rate it 3.75 out of 5 from 8 reviews. They praise the sound.
Settings tip: about a quarter of the way up is subtle, while halfway and beyond gets aggressive (Logic Fiends).
Criticisms: can turn harsh on high frequencies, and stacked on many channels it makes everything dense.

Where to buy

Softube: Free

Tutorials and reviews

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