Best saturation plugins: Give your tracks some grit

There are few types of plugins that can take a track to the next level like saturation. It’s a versatile effect that is one of the best ways to spice up a digital recording.

It sounds like a recording cliché to say that it can give a production that little something that’s missing. But it’s true. Even if there is no standout contender for the best saturation plugin.

It sounds great on any track type, and even sounds good if you stack one plugin with another. Saturation plugins come in a lot of variations, from those with simple controls all the way up to models that can do things that were once impossible with analog gear.

Best saturation plugin overall: Soundtoys Decapitator 5

Not too many saturation plugins are modelled after hardware, and none have better algorithms than Decapitator.

With authentic analog saturation sounds that range from subtle to extreme it does it all. Selecting the setting is easy, with five buttons at the bottom of the GUI. Then you tailor it through six control knobs that include drive, EQ, output level, and dry mix.

The realistic analog feel is what sets this plugin apart from others in the category. Soundtoys went to great lengths to study all kinds of hardware gear to create the algorithms that power it.

There’s a reason you see Decapitator in so many professional mixing videos. It’s simply the best, even if it’s not the most versatile.

Best saturation plugin for versatility: FabFilter Saturn 2

FabFilter makes some of the cleanest plugins available. Saturn 2 is their updated version of the great sounding first iteration. And there are a lot of key features they’ve updated.

There are now 28 distortion styles. Everything from clean and subtle to totally in-your-face. Up to six bands of multi-band EQ let you get your frequencies right without having to use an additional EQ instance.

Crossover slopes can be adjusted in 6, 12, 24, and 48 dB increments. That’s just the beginning. Some are improved over the first version and some are brand new.

FabFilter is famous for their easy to use and highly visual GUIs in their plugins. And they’re only getting better with time. No matter how you want to use it, or how much saturation/distortion you need – it’s in here.

There’s even a 30-day trial available if you want to hear it in your mixes before you buy.

Best saturation plugin for aggressive sounds: Soundtoys Devil-Loc Deluxe 5

Based on the Shure Level-Loc brick wall limiter from the 1960s, Devil-Loc has been a favorite of producers and engineers in all genres since it was released.

The original is still great, but the improved Deluxe version adds some key features for more control over the sound.

Crush and Crunch controls are still here. But now there’s a Darkness control that acts as a tone knob. Switchable slow and fast release times are new, and a Mix control lets you blend wet/dry balance as you need.

Parallel saturation is a popular mixing technique. Now you don’t have to setup a buss to make that happen.

It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s powerful and aggressive. But it get sounds that a lot of other saturation plugins can’t. And at just over $100, what do you have to lose?

Best saturation plugin for tape saturation: Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

Slate Digital’s plugins were pretty revolutionary when they came out. So it makes sense they caught on quickly. A few years ago people were looking to add the pleasing harmonic distortion of recording to analog tape to their digital recordings.

And VTM was born.

The GUI looks like an authentic tape machine and is easy to dial in. Controls are simple. You set the input and output gain first. There are three bias types – normal, high, and low. You can choose between running it at 15ips or 30ips. This is the speed at which the tapes rotates.

The real magic is the Machine Type switch, which lets you choose between 2” 16 track or ½” 2 track. No matter if you want to use it on a single channel, group bus, or the stereo master it just makes it sound better.

A settings menu lets you go even deeper with wow & flutter, level calibration, bass alignment to name a few. It’s not difficult to get it to sound good in a few minutes.

Your tracks will thank you for it.

Best saturation plugin for stereo tracks: PSP Saturator

Most modern saturation plugins work on stereo tracks, groups, even the two-track master. But few are designed to be used in stereo. This affordable option from PSP Audioware is the answer to that.

Eight different saturation types offer multiple sonic flavors. Sculpt the sound with three signal engines (low, high, overall saturation) and adjustable low and high band processing engines let you emphasize the saturation at different parts of the frequency spectrum.

For fans of parallel saturation, a mix knob controls the wet/dry blend and includes internal alignment to reduce phase shift. Three output modes let you use it as a saturator, limiter, or bypass it.

It’s more versatile than a lot of other options and one of the best saturation plugins to add digital heat to your stereo tracks.

Best multi-band saturation plugin: IK Multimedia Quad Saturator

Saturation is a very useful production tool, but most saturation plugins only offer a “blanket” effect. They don’t let you get really surgical with the effect. This is not one of those types of saturators.

Quad Saturator gives you control over four frequency bands across five distinct saturation algorithms. Each band also has a three-knob Envelope control as well as Color and Level. Global attack and release controls further help you tailor the curve, and a Dry/Wet blend knob lets you work in parallel saturation.

It’s a complex saturation plugin, but it’s ideal for those who want more control over how their saturation sounds and performs.

Best saturation plugin with the most options: iZotope Trash 2

A lot of people know iZotope for their phenomenal mastering suite. They did a great job designing Trash 2, even though it’s a lesser-known saturation plugin. Which is a shame considering the amount of options it offers.

When dialing in distortion you can select from 60 algorithms, so whatever you need it’s here. After that comes a 4-band EQ and multiple types of additional filtering. It even has amp and cabinet modeling.

The GUI is a little daunting, but with a little practice you should have the navigation down.

Best free saturation plugin: Klanghelm IVGI

Who doesn’t like trying out free plugins? There are some great freeware saturation plugins, but this versatile option sits a little bit above them in sonics. That’s why it’s included in this list of otherwise paid saturation plugins.

With just a few controls, it’s not a daunting interface. The coolest element is that it reacts dynamically to the signal. This gives increased fidelity and more of a feeling of old school hardware.

It’s got controllable crosstalk modeled from analog desks. This makes it more a living, breathing effect than a set-it-and-forget-it. You can control how symmetrical the mix is and what frequency range it’s response is focused on.

Some free plugins are only available for Windows in VST format. IVGI also comes in AU and AAX so it doesn’t matter what kind of recording rig you’re running.

What to look for in a saturation plugin

Saturation modes

The best saturation plugins offer multiple types of saturation (e.g., tape, tube, analog console, or transformer) that allow you to shape your sound in different ways.

For example, tape saturation adds warmth and compression, and tube saturation introduces harmonics and subtle distortion.

Harmonic character and transparency

One of the most important qualities of a saturation plugin is how it generates harmonics. Some plugins are transparent, and add subtle warmth that enhances a track without making the effect obvious. Others are colorful and aggressive, dramatically altering the tone.

Pay attention to whether the plugin adds even-order harmonics (typically smoother and warmer) or odd-order harmonics (more aggressive and edgy), and decide which is best for how you want saturation to affect the source signal.

Dynamic response

Listen to how the plugin reacts to the dynamics of the input signal. Some plugins include features like input drive or gain-staging options, which allow you to control the behavior of saturation at different levels.

Additional features and controls

Some plugins come with bonus features like EQ controls, filters, or stereo imaging tools. These extras save time and enhance versatility by allowing further sound shaping directly within the plugin.

FAQ

What are saturation plugins?

Essentially, they add harmonics to your signal. Some can also go into full-on distortion. A lot of them are designed to replicate what recording to an analog mixing desk or tape machine adds to the signal.

What is the best free saturation plugin?

There are so many great free plugins these days. We chose the Klanghelm IVGI. They also have another piece of freeware that’s great. But it really depends on what you need out of a saturation plugin. Luckily, you have no shortage of options.

Why use saturation plugins?

There are a lot of reasons to use saturation plugins. The reason a lot of people use them is because they can give an analog flavor to “cold” digital recordings. There are a lot of saturation plugins that distinctly model the sonic signatures of tape machines.

But they are capable of so much more. Adding dirt to a guitar track, spicing up a vocal, or adding grind to a bass track.

Do mastering engineers use saturation?

As with most things in mastering, engineers will use small amounts of saturation over a mix to help “glue” it together and add in vibrancy and life – especially with digital tracks.