What saturation plugins do you use?

[SK1]

I've been experimenting with putting some distortion in my mixes. Mostly, putting signals into my 1272's and crunching it, or api 312's with an ATTY. I'm yearning for more options while I save for maybe a crane song hedd or fatso.

What plugs are you using for saturation? I'm usually on logic, occasionally on PTLE. So it's AU plugs for me, but I'd like to hear what folks around here are using (regardless if it's tdm,au,rtas etc) and how you're applying them in your mixes.

I hear the talk about Charles Dye using them with great success. Which ones does he use? I've thought about getting "mix it like a record". Not sure how much I could benefit being mostly a Logic guy.

[rockrev]

McDSP Analog Channel (primarily AC1), Massey Tape Head, URS 1975 Comp set to reduce almost nothing.

dj

[SK1]

Thanks.

Check it out, a FREE!!! au massey tape plug in.

smassey.com (then click on the audio units tab)

keep em coming guys.

[jeremycox]

tapehead rocks.

[recall]

URS Saturation on the motor city setting is a favourite of mine.

DUY Valve is interesting, not sure if its au/vst, I'm PT over here.

[stagefright13]

I bought tapehead. I like it! Great purchase.

[Oroz]

Tapehead user here aswell and I like it but I don't think that I'd use it as Charles does with McDSP's Analog channel (or recently with URS Channel Strip Pro) and what I mean by that is that I wouldn't insert it on many channels to warm them up. I'd say that I use Tapehead more as an effect rather than as "mix warmer" if you know what I mean, specally now that I'm working with a 8816.

[SK1]

Originally Posted by Oroz

Tapehead user here aswell and I like it but I don't think that I'd use it as Charles does with McDSP's Analog channel (or recently with URS Channel Strip Pro) and what I mean by that is that I wouldn't insert it on many channels to warm them up. I'd say that I use Tapehead more as an effect rather than as "mix warmer" if you know what I mean, specally now that I'm working with a 8816.

I hear you. I've been going 16 outs, through some outboard and into a dangerous 2 bus, so I'd doubt I'd need it on too many channels. Just looking for options to experiment with.

[SK1]

Originally Posted by rockrev

McDSP Analog Channel (primarily AC1...........

dj

When you say primarily ac1, is that a setting on the mcdsp analog channel??? Or are there different versions of the mcdsp analog channel?

[Oroz]

Originally Posted by SK1

When you say primarily ac1, is that a setting on the mcdsp analog channel??? Or are there different versions of the mcdsp analog channel?

Different settings. Analog Channel comes with AC1 and AC2.

McDSP - McDowell Signal Processing, LLC - Analog Channel

[redroom]

Voxengo varistaurator ( 2nd most used )
URS Saturater ( most used )
Air Windows Channel plugs and Iron Oxide
Massey tapehead
Virsyn Vtape
PSP Saturater ( only for the valve setting )

[KEYBEEETSSS]

McDSP Analog channel 2, tapehead, & the E-TubeTape Warmer kicks assage too...

[Mike Brown]

I am super surpised someone hasen't been like "Studer A820"...

I like the massy plug... I bought all his stuff because it ALL kicks ass.... I really like the Fatso Jr. though... especially live.

[Kadden Heart]

Originally Posted by SK1

When you say primarily ac1, is that a setting on the mcdsp analog channel??? Or are there different versions of the mcdsp analog channel?

one is more closely SSL
the other, more Neve.

from what i've heard.


does nobod use reeltape?

[SK1]

Originally Posted by recall

URS Saturation on the motor city setting is a favorite of mine.

DUY Valve is interesting, not sure if its au/vst, I'm PT over here.

Cool, I see a DUY Dad Tape AU version. I think the DUY valve comes in AU too. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm surprised nobody said vintage warmer yet
I thought there would be more users.

Now it's time to download some demos .

Is the URS channel strip pro worth the cheese $$$$$$ ??? ....... I see it for $600 usd.

This should be fun !!!

[Oroz]

Originally Posted by Kadden Heart

one is more closely SSL
the other, more Neve.

from what i've heard.

I think you're a little confused, AFAIK AC1 emulates amplifier curcuits (Neve, SSL, etc.) and AC2 emulates tape machines.

[Kadden Heart]

Originally Posted by Oroz

I think you're a little confused, AFAIK AC1 emulates amplifier curcuits (Neve, SSL, etc.) and AC2 emulates tape machines.

my apologies sir,
you are correct. thumbsup

then perhaps it's the presets within AC1 that i'm thinking of. i remember charles dye saying something about preset 1,..or 3,.. i'll check.


and to someone above me:
i love vintage warmer, while it's only one of two saturation plugs i have (the other being tape head) i do love VW, perhaps it's a placebo effect :/

[Kadden Heart]

when that plugin first came out, I emailed the folks at McDsp asking this exact question and they replied...

console 1: Neve 1084
Console 2: Neve 1272
Console 3: SSL 4000
(quoted from someone else on GS)


AC1 is not a compressor at all. It is an emulation of Analog Console saturation.

I don't have PT open right now so I can't answer exactly the Console 1, 2, 3 question, but yes two are emulations of SSL + Neve. The third is a hybrid of the two. I'll answer with more specifics once I'm in front of PT.
(quoted from charles dye)

[bitman]

Originally Posted by Mayor999

I am super surpised someone hasen't been like "Studer A820"...

I like the massy plug... I bought all his stuff because it ALL kicks ass.... I really like the Fatso Jr. though... especially live.

I was gonna but didn't want to be a smarty. But since you have requested such a reply I'll go ahead and do it.

Rexox PR99 mkIII thumbsup

There.

[Kadden Heart]

to the OP

Tape Plugin, Digi Reel Tape or DUY?

another Gs thread about a few saturation plugs, in which everyone seems to be hailing digi reel tape. or cransesong.

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by bitman

I was gonna but didn't want to be a smarty. But since you have requested such a reply I'll go ahead and do it.

Rexox PR99 mkIII thumbsup

There.

[SK1]

Originally Posted by redroom

Voxengo varistaurator ( 2nd most used )
URS Saturater ( most used )
Air Windows Channel plugs and Iron Oxide
Massey tapehead
Virsyn Vtape
PSP Saturater ( only for the valve setting )

That's cool!
Part of me likes the idea of juggling a bunch of options on software distortion. The other part of me shys away from putting to much cheese$ up for plugins.

I've got waves platinum, autotune,drumagog,bfd,ez drummer and that's about it. I know alot of you guys are deep on software. I'll need to be smart with which ones to pick up. The outboard will fill in the gaps.

[SK1]

Originally Posted by Mayor999

I am super surpised someone hasen't been like "Studer A820"...

Originally Posted by bitman

I was gonna but didn't want to be a smarty. But since you have requested such a reply I'll go ahead and do it.

Rexox PR99 mkIII thumbsup

There.

Stay on topic fockers !!!

But the MCI 24 track shows up for $2000-$3000 usd !!! You know the one with the 3 brown doors??? Very tempting

Now I'm off topic LOL !

[macleodgrant]

DUY Valve is a great plugin, i love it...it's the most useful to me and better than DUY Tape imo

it's one of my desert island plugins

[eddierodriguez]

thumbsup mcdsp ac1 and ac2
thumbsup massey

[staudio]

Izotope Ozone and Trash can do some cool saturation, but sometimes I just bounce tracks through my TEAC 1/4 inch and nudge back into time.

[SighBorg]

Digidesign Lo-Fi is surprisingly effective at low settings.

[dzara 4]

colortone pro, i use it all the time i my master buss as well indivdual instruments, very lightly, i think it does a fantastic job with the pre treb setting

[dzara 4]

TriTone Digital - For The Love of Tone!

here is a link for colortone , hydratone is a kickass eq for the money as well

[ThomasWho]

i`ve been playing with the DUY stuff and the Valve one is really great. I first heard about it in a Charles Dye interview and he recommended the "snare" preset. It really works wonder for pulling a sound into focus.

To bad it`s only available in the "everpack" bundle....

Thomas