Plugin interface — screenshot pending
Saturation

Saturator

Ableton

Where to get itIncluded with Ableton Live. It is part of that DAW, not a separate download.ableton.com

Saturator is a waveshaping saturation effect that adds dirt, punch, or warmth to audio by applying non-linear shaping to the input signal. It offers eight curve types ranging from soft saturation to intense coloration, with additional color filters and a dedicated waveshaper mode for complex harmonic manipulation.

Written from the manual and checked against it. How we check

Key Features

01Eight curve types: Analog Clip, Soft Sine, Bass Shaper, Medium Curve, Hard Curve, Sinoid Fold, Digital Clip, Waveshaper
02Bass Shaper curve with threshold control (0 to -50 dB) for smooth clipping on low-frequency signals
03Color filters with adjustable EQ applied before and after shaping
04Waveshaper mode with six additional parameters: Drive, Curve, Depth, Linear, Damp, Period
05Post-clipping stage options: Soft Clip or Hard Clip
06Shaper Curve display showing input signal in real time
07Drive control for input gain adjustment
08Dry/Wet control for blend between processed and unprocessed signal

Things to Try

  • 01Use Bass Shaper curve with low threshold values (0 to -20 dB) combined with high Drive for soft clipping on bass signals
  • 02Apply negative Color values to remove bass frequencies before shaping, so only mid/high frequencies are saturated
  • 03Enable Soft Clip in Post Clip Mode to prevent output from exceeding the Output control level
  • 04Drag handles in the Color Curve display to adjust Amt Lo and Amt Hi parameters in real time
Official Website↗User Manual↗

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