wave arts tube saturator

[BlackBackDrop]

Originally Posted by farjedi

Phoenix sounded good just running stuff through it regardless of compression or not..I think my Behringer tube preamp, which cost £30 sounds better in all honesty..

Phoenix.. yum... wonder if WA could emulate that comp?

Audio samples here for those who wish to sample some English.... tutt

THERMIONIC CULTURE ALL VALVE DESIGN PROFESSIONAL AUDIO EQUIPMENT

I have a hunch that the WA tube is gonna get more circuits over time, I love it... I have measured it, its defo working for me and many others.

[Sounddesigner]

Originally Posted by cane creek

Well seems we are on the subject did you go over to audiomidi.com and get the Xil3 no brainer for $20 ? , if not i promise you it sounds superb i feel like a mad scientist when im using it. Its an emulation of the EMS VCS3 the guy who made it used to work for Arturia & Eiosis so he knows his beans.

Lol, I see i'll need to Block your posts if i expect to have any Christmas gift money.


PS. Since ACE appears to be a seriouse Jewel i'll definitely look into Xil3.

[Whitecat]

Just bumping this thread because I tried this out for the first time PROPER today and bought it within hours, CPU-hogging-be-damned... f*ck me does it sound cool. Or warm, I suppose.

At the moment it is a bit of a "one-trick-pony" but I think it's priced very fairly for what it is and can add something to just about any session...

[Finkelstein]

it does the valve thing very well, and i do use real valves as straight gain stages adding a little distortion every time

however i will not buy this plug.
add a transformer to overdrive at the end and i will certainly buy.

without the tranny it doesn't quite get me ITB

WA are to be commended for the no compromise to cpu approach.
i wish they would release designs now despite current cpu power.

i remember when algorithmix released the red eq, i could not run one instance at full quality in real time.
but look at how you can run many now. they got in early and become the market leaders in the highest quality eqs

[Sounddesigner]

Originally Posted by Finkelstein

WA are to be commended for the no compromise to cpu approach.
i wish they would release designs now despite current cpu power.

i remember when algorithmix released the red eq, i could not run one instance at full quality in real time.
but look at how you can run many now. they got in early and become the market leaders in the highest quality eqs

I agree 100% on both these points. I hope Wave Arts release more high quality emulation/sophisticated algo plugins soon myself, with little to no regard for cpu cost. I'd hate to wait a long time for their next releases of no-compromise plugins. There are some people out here like myself who will buy high quality algorithms despite the cpu cost. Cpu power will come as time passes and computer upgrades are made, it's great to use the algo's now. I love supporting companies who push the bounderies and bring next generation plugins.

[manymanyhaha]

Originally Posted by rpmartino

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the feedback. We're certainly aware of the CPU demands this kind of plug-in creates and try to be up front about that. We thought it was important to make this kind of technology available in SOME form to those who want to use it, even if current processor speeds limit the overall extent to which the plug-in can be used. This first step for us into the analog modeling world is the tip of the iceberg as far as we're concerned.

The beauty of this technology is that the sound is defined by the circuit schematic itself, no more or less. The manual shows the actual circuit used in Tube Saturator, with all the values of the components (resistors, capacitors, etc.)

We are open to feedback about the sound of the plug-in and ideas for future products, since basically any circuit schematic can be specified in this circuit simulation system. I was personally quite pleased (and glad to see others are too) with some of the ways that Tube Saturator enhanced the sound of both tracks and whole mixes on our development systems. Different sonic results can be achieved even just by tweaking a resistor value here or there in the schematic, and as processor speeds continue to get faster we can develop more sophisticated products.

Wait, wait, wait. You mean to say you have the ability to change the value of a resistor or capacitor in your program to see what it sounds like?

Then why aren't you releasing this as a plugin and letting us change the values of the resisters and the capicitors? You could even use different circuits as templates.

What am I not getting about this idea?

[Animus]

Originally Posted by manymanyhaha

Wait, wait, wait. You mean to say you have the ability to change the value of a resistor or capacitor in your program to see what it sounds like?

Then why aren't you releasing this as a plugin and letting us change the values of the resisters and the capicitors? You could even use different circuits as templates.

What am I not getting about this idea?

you can do that in Revalver somewhat.

[K-Slash]

Originally Posted by manymanyhaha

Wait, wait, wait. You mean to say you have the ability to change the value of a resistor or capacitor in your program to see what it sounds like?

Then why aren't you releasing this as a plugin and letting us change the values of the resisters and the capicitors? You could even use different circuits as templates.

What am I not getting about this idea?

I think that for a reason of usability, knowledge and getting a predefined "good" sound, lot of people would be lost to use this kind of approach.

I prefer that they offer for example, a new v1.5 version of the plugin, with a menu for the "DRIVE" tube-gain-stage, letting me chose between 4 different tubes with their own characteristics and "signature" sound.

For example with names as, "German", "USA", a bit like the URS Saturation plugin.

For "power users" they could include a back panel on the plugin letting them enter the exact numbers if they want, why not, it would satisfy everyone.

[Proggm]

Originally Posted by K-Slash

For "power users" they could include a back panel on the plugin letting them enter the exact numbers if they want, why not, it would satisfy everyone.

Exactly what I was thinking of. I hope they can do this in a near future.

[mrhudson]

Was playing around with the demo version of this, pretty cool. Has anyone used it as a shared send effect (akin to reverbs) to get around the cpu requirements? Or, does it pretty much have to reside as the first plugin on a track? Even if it should go first, I suppose that you could still setup a raw audio track without processing, send that audio to the "tube effect bus", then route the output of that track to another channel, and process further from there? Could set up three instances of the tube setting on three busses - lo, med, high, etc. Anyway, just curious if folks had some workarounds along these lines to share.....Will have to try this once I get back home...

[javahut]

Originally Posted by mrhudson

Anyway, just curious if folks had some workarounds...

My workaround... i7 960. thumbsup

[Goldfish]

Just wanted to relay my first good experience with the Tube Saturator. This is the second time I've tried it in demo mode. First time was a big disappointment, I ran some complex tracks and and mixdowns through it, but that was a clear no-no. That did nothing for me, it sounded smeared and choked. But today I set it up on a heavy lead guitar track, ran the drive up to around noon, engaged the fat switch and...wow. Really good. Lots of width and weight added to the track. CPU consumption is indeed considerable but I'm bouncing the track down as we speak. Impressed. I think the previous poster who said something about this plug not working on polyphonic material is right on the money. This unit seems to shine on monophonic material. Seriously considering this now.

[b0ssa]

I like this plug-in but have to say that the preoccupation with preamps alone is getting a bit old and not really the answer. The BEST distortion in an all tube guitar amp comes from the output stage cranked full blast with the pre' on a lower setting - pure liquid gold (almost better than beer).

Getting a sweet balance between the two is the goal of every guitar player who's in connection with the tone gods.

[Killah_Trakz]

GOOD GOD!!!!! Wooooh this plugs sucks CPU for real got DAMN! ROFLMAO WTF

[pylorca]

WOW sounds great!

[RaySoul]

Originally Posted by everythinglouder

If the WaveArts isn't really for you I strongly suggest you check out the TwinTube. None of them are exactly like the real thing but the SPL TwinTube is the best of the bunch IMO.

Wow. That just shows how everyone has their different flavors. Don't like Twin Tube at all. WA blows it away for me. I love how it can make a signal fatter and louder, while even reducing the average level. Try that with TT...

[K-Slash]

Originally Posted by RaySoul

Wow. That just shows how everyone has their different flavors. Don't like Twin Tube at all. WA blows it away for me. I love how it can make a signal fatter and louder, while even reducing the average level. Try that with TT...

I think that TwinTube is best at making a track sit better and being more upfront in a mix, at least that's why I use it for. Using it's subtle. The kind of effect that you don't noticed before you remove it sometimes.

But I agree that for what you say, Tube Saturator is best IMHO.

[RaySoul]

Originally Posted by V PETERO

I demoed this thing yesterday, and as much as I tried to love it I couldnt in the end I jst uninstaled it went back to using tal-tube and buying urs saturation next month and these 2 should cover me as far as saturation goes

I am not saying it is a bad plugin, all I am saying is it simply did not work for me aswell as Tal-tube did.

Tal-tube? LOL!! Wow. This thread was a laugh riot!

[RaySoul]

Originally Posted by K-Slash

I think that TwinTube is best at making a track sit better and being more upfront in a mix, at least that's why I use it for. Using it's subtle. The kind of effect that you don't noticed before you remove it sometimes.

But I agree that for what you say, Tube Saturator is best IMHO.

Even in a mix context. TT just doesn't really sound real. Tube Saturator sounds like hardware. WA really got this one. The CPU hit is easily worth it...

[Suda Badri]

Tried lots, easily the best plug for "works as advertised"... RTAS use sucks though have to stick the plug on everychan and bypass it for any hope of avoiding latency... the CPU usage is a bit extreme though... I would not let go of my manley unit for colour though, I would not go as far as saying it sounds like hardware... but its freggin great... the best thing about hardware is the headroom, some sound good because they are limited and some sound good by having tonnes to push through to get it to saturate...

[everythinglouder]

Originally Posted by RaySoul

Wow. That just shows how everyone has their different flavors. Don't like Twin Tube at all. WA blows it away for me. I love how it can make a signal fatter and louder, while even reducing the average level. Try that with TT...

I came around on the Tube Saturator. I now agree it's better than TwinTube. I love TwinTube for adding just a touch of beefiness, but Tube Saturator kills it for anything beyond subtle.

The CPU hit is just insane though. I really hope they can optimize it for a future update. It's the most CPU-hungry native plug-in by far.

[Coyoteous]

This is nice: Wave Arts | In the News | New lower plug-in prices

It's got me considering this plug-in again, especially if there ends up being a sale discount sometime in addition to the new lower price.

[RaySoul]

Originally Posted by everythinglouder

I came around on the Tube Saturator. I now agree it's better than TwinTube. I love TwinTube for adding just a touch of beefiness, but Tube Saturator kills it for anything beyond subtle.

And I now see a little more value in TT(I mean in a musical, not economic way ). Hadn't turned it on in quite a while. And while Saturator remains my choice, TT can still be useful in a more subtle way...

[AcoosticZoo]

yes quality before CPU cost, or have an option for both.

Regards
Josef Horhay
Mixing Engineer
www.acoosticzoo.com

[Fergies Watch]

[QUOTE=Daniel Flores;4747472]Boy...

There is a reason why SSL has chosen DSP, the day they come out with Native (NOT Waves 4000 series – they are not even close to SSL) I will eat my words.

whilst I was reading through this thread, I noticed this quote ...


looks like it time to eat your words buddy

[Sensorychaos]

The smoothest warmer out there. Really good emulation we have here.
BUT I think I will need to use the freeze function again in a near future

[kevaquarian]

Just bought this after demoing it once on male lead vocals - superb.

I have an old U87 that sounds super warm and lovely, but doesn't sound tubey (obviously) - now I can get the vocal sound moving towards an M147/9 for 100 bucks instead of 2 or 3 grand - thankyou Wave Arts! When I stick it in series with Softube CL-1B it sounds great to my ears.

P.S. I don't care about the CPU hit - it has spared me from a presently impossible wallet hit whilst giving me a taste of that kind of sound.