SK10

Name: SK10
Author: Wavesfactory

by Wavesfactory · Saturation · Sub-kick mic simulator

Not rated yet

SK10 simulates a sub-kick microphone, a speaker used as a mic, to add low end to kick drums and other sources.

It has mix, low-pass and output controls and is free.

Best for: Drums, Bass. Genres: Hip-Hop & Trap, Electronic & EDM, Rock & Indie, Pop.

Keywords: kick, free, drums, enhancement, bass, piano, thin, AAX, fat, mixing, musical, simple, single-band.

What it does

SK10 is a free plugin that "simulates a sub-kick microphone". A sub-kick is a speaker used as a very large-diaphragm mic beside a kick drum; SK10 generates that extra low end and blends it with the original signal for "an extra push on the low end", on kicks, piano and other sources.

Sub-kick simulation: follows the lowest dominant frequency in the input and adds a low-frequency layer from it, the way a real sub-kick reacts to the drum.
Mix: blends the simulated sub-kick with the dry signal, from a touch of extra weight up to 100% effect.
Lowpass: sets the cutoff of the added low end, from 10 to 200 Hz according to Tape Op.
Output: overall gain control after the blend.
No pitch control: it doesn't let you tune the sub to the song's key; it tracks whatever the input gives it.

It is free.

Source: Wavesfactory product page

When to use it

SK10 is the pick when a kick or tom sounds thin and you want real-sounding sub weight in seconds, at no cost. Unlike saturators such as Decapitator or Softube's Saturation Knob, which add harmonics across the range, it only adds low end, the way a sub-kick mic would. Compared with a low-pass filtered duplicate of the kick, Tape Op found it quicker and less prone to phase problems with the original track. Because it follows the input's own low frequency, it is less controllable than a sub-octave generator or a tuned 808 or sine layer, but also needs no tuning or sample work.

Best for: fattening thin, home-recorded kicks and toms, and adding weight to bass and piano.
Genres: hip-hop and trap, electronic, rock and pop.
Look elsewhere if: you need the sub tuned to the song's key; a sub-octave generator or a kick synth gives that control.
Tip: Tape Op's method: duplicate the kick, set SK10 to 100% Mix with Lowpass around 50 Hz, then blend it under the original kick; tame a long low-end tail with a transient designer.

What producers say

Reviewers like it as a simple, musical low-end enhancer; the main complaint is the lack of pitch control.

Tape Op (Larry Crane, issue 158, 2023) said "I love it!", praising how quickly it fixes thin kicks on home-recorded material; a phase issue he hit when committing tracks in Pro Tools he put down to the DAW or user error.
KVR users rate it 3.5 out of 5 from 2 reviews; one said to "throw it on some trap beats and it will deliver".
Criticisms: a KVR reviewer called it good "for a one-trick pony" and wanted pitch control, since it follows the input's lowest frequency regardless of the song's key.

Where to buy

Wavesfactory: Free
Plugin Boutique: Free

Tutorials and reviews

Similar plugins

X-Saturator by Solid State Logic · Saturation and distortion · $49
Tape Machine 80 by IK Multimedia · Tape machine emulation · $93.08
Tape Machine 24 by IK Multimedia · Tape machine emulation · $99.99
Mixtape by Canvas Audio · Cassette tape saturator · $39
TEAC A-3340S by IK Multimedia · Tape machine emulation · $99.99
REAMP by Klevgrand · Audio gear modeler · $59.99
Vibe Analog Machines Essentials by Universal Audio · Analog color saturation · Free
Sapphire Drive by Three-Body Technology · Multi-mode saturator · $49
8008 - 808 Sub Bass Shaper by Thenatan · 808 sub bass shaper · $59.50
FreeAMP by Klevgrand · Tape and tube saturator · Free

All saturation