Tube Saturator 2 by Wave Arts

Unlock the authentic warmth and character of classic analog tube gear in your digital mixes with Wave Arts Tube Saturator 2. More than just another saturation plugin, Tube Saturator 2 is a super accurate circuit simulation of a tube analog preamp with a three-band equalizer. It authentically recreates the sound of an overdriven tube amp by painstakingly modeling the voltages and currents through every tube, resistor, and capacitor of a dual-stage triode preamp.

The magic lies in its circuit simulation technology, which converts the individual components of the analog circuit into a mathematical system of equations that is numerically solved to produce the exact same sound as a real circuit. This technology allows Tube Saturator 2 to capture every nuance of an analog circuit. While the original version consumed significant CPU power, Tube Saturator 2 uses large tables of pre-computed solutions, making the saturation section run about 7x faster than its predecessor while providing even more accurate modeling.

Tube Saturator 2 can be used gently for warming effects or cranked for fat distortion. Saturation, at its core, is a gentle form of distortion that injects character and richness into an audio signal, adding desirable "warmth" and subtle harmonic layers. Tube saturation, in particular, is renowned for its smooth and creamy character, primarily adding even-order harmonics for a fuller, thicker sound that retains clarity. It's perfect for warming up vocals, guitars, and even drums, and can deliver anything from a touch of subtle warmth to that bluesy growl when pushed.

Key features designed to enhance your sonic sculpting include:

• Two Tube Models: Switch between 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes for different harmonic characteristics. The 12AX7 offers high gain and exhibits even harmonics, while the 12AU7 has lower gain and exhibits both odd and even harmonics.
• Flexible Analog EQ: Includes an accurate circuit simulation of a three-band Baxandall type EQ, similar to those found in many guitar amplifiers. New in version 2 is the ability to route the EQ pre or post saturation, allowing you to shape the signal going into the virtual tubes or after it has been saturated. All EQ bands can cut or boost by up to 12dB. The EQ section is a praised feature.
• High Quality 2X Oversampling: Use the 2x oversampling mode with a high-quality resampling algorithm to attenuate aliased distortion harmonics, adding to the realism.
• Wet/Dry Mix Control: A new feature allowing you to blend the processed (wet) sound with the original (dry) signal for parallel processing. This is particularly handy as the drive is level-compensated and can help restore natural air when using more extreme settings.
• Separate Bypass Controls: Saturation and EQ can be separately switched on or off. The drive section can be bypassed entirely.
• Drive Control: The large drive dial governs the amount of distortion.
• Analog Style Metering.
• No Latency.
• Support for up to 192 kHz sampling rate.
• Mono or stereo operation.
• A gorgeous new interface.

Tube Saturator 2 can add depth, character, and that special "analog mojo" to your recordings. It's reported to be great on vocals, bass, and synths. When used at softer settings, it's considered a "beast" on these sources. It can also be a useful subtle sweetening tool or employed for subtle mastering saturation. While some report it can lose a little authenticity when driven extra hard, the Dry/Wet mix provides a good solution.

With its accurate modeling and efficiency, Wave Arts Tube Saturator 2 is certainly a plugin worth checking out if you're looking for another flavor of analog-style distortion to add vibe and energy to your digital mixes. It captures the authentic sound of tube saturation, faithfully recreated from analogue circuit modelling technology.