Helpful ReplyFabfilter Saturn - Thoughts?

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amiller
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2018/05/31 15:33:11 (permalink)

Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts?

I'm a big fan of the Fabfilter plugs I have so far.  I have a couple of questions regarding Saturn:
 
1) How do you like it?
2) What do you use it for?
3) Is it worth the money?
4) Alternatives?

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#1
The Maillard Reaction
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2018/05/31 16:08:59 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Mitch_I 2018/05/31 16:15:24

post edited by dj squarewave - 2018/06/02 12:16:04


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reginaldStjohn
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/05/31 19:04:51 (permalink)
amiller
I'm a big fan of the Fabfilter plugs I have so far.  I have a couple of questions regarding Saturn:
 
1) How do you like it?
2) What do you use it for?
3) Is it worth the money?
4) Alternatives?


1) I like the user interface, multi-band, lots of modulation options if you use those, lots of variations of sound
2) I use it mostly for bass guitar, drums, on some synth sounds. You could use it for anything that you wanted to saturate or distort
3) Depends. I got it off KVR for a discount so I guess it wasn't worth the full price to me.
4) Izotope Trash, Melda MMultibandDistortion, MMultibandSaturation, Guitar Amp sims etc.
 
If you want to get into Fab Filter plug-ins this is one you can find on sale or second hand. Once you own one the price on the others starts to come down.  However, they are expensive, in comparison to some others, and you could probably find other cheaper ones.  FabFilter has a good reputation and does a good job on their plug-ins but they aren't going to make or break a whole mix.  Whether it is worth the price is for each person to decide.
 
Good luck.

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Fleer
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/05/31 19:34:26 (permalink)
Go for it, it's the best saturator you'll get.

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/05/31 20:02:17 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby galeom 2018/06/01 11:12:56
It's excellent. I use it in almost every project. I've used it on a wide variety of sources, from drums to vocals. Many overlook its extensive modulation capabilities, which let you do interesting things such as making a fingered bass sound like it was played with a plectrum.
 
However, Saturn is not the only harmonic distortion plugin that I use. Different tools for different scenarios. Saturn does really well with subtle distortion (great for brightening acoustic guitars, for example), but its more extreme algorithms are beyond anything I'd ever use. So I only use the tube and tape algorithms, and at gentle settings.
 
My most-used distortion plugin is the standalone Exciter module from Ozone Advanced. Unfortunately, you can't buy it separately so unless you're ready to invest some $$ in Ozone, it's not an option. But it is the most versatile harmonic exciter I've ever used. Doesn't have Saturn's modulation toys, but it has a wider range (for me) of usable distortion models.
 
Another favorite, although limited in applications, is Redopter from D16 Group. I use that one in parallel, most often on a sub-bus that I mostly send drums to. Especially good on kick and snare.
 
For more extreme distortion, especially on bass, I often turn to Voxengo Boogex. It can give you anything from barely-detectable to full-on dirt. And it's free.
 
Don't forget amp sims and stompbox emulations. They're not just for guitars! Run them in parallel on a rock vocal, for example, to add grit.
 
Then there are the hybrids that happen to produce distortion along with their primary effect. Cosmos, Bus Driver and RBass come to mind. Sometimes, they deliver all the distortion I need even if that's not their main purpose. 
 
One distortion plugin I never use is iZotope's Trash. They were clearly aiming for an entirely different market segment with that one. But it remains in my inventory, you know, just in case.


All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

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#5
amiller
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/01 15:31:26 (permalink)
No love for Soundtoys Decapitator?

RAWK!!!

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paulo
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/01 22:21:31 (permalink)
bitflipper 
 
One distortion plugin I never use is iZotope's Trash. They were clearly aiming for an entirely different market segment with that one. But it remains in my inventory, you know, just in case.




I quite like using it on bass guitar tracks.
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Zo
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/01 23:22:08 (permalink)
Can t wait for a V 2 ...

To the op : don t think twice , also consider bluecat , underrated , but a beast also ... in bot cases solid purchase , can handle all scenarios from tapes to gtr amps sim ...

Another one fast and hard to beat workflow wise is xln audio Rc 20 , the one infound lyself using the most !!

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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/02 00:31:53 (permalink)
Dang, Zo, now you’ve pushed towards that RC20 again.

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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Zo
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/02 02:27:23 (permalink)
Lol Fleer. You know i hate extreme consumarism but the rc 20 is simply answering a big part here , wheneever i need , noise ( vhs , vinyl, tapes ect ) , color , lofi , tape woah and fluter , distortion , edge ect ....it s spot on and cheap (39) light on cpu , easy to use ect .. i would say that thise one and saturn and a good tape plugin and your done ...

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bitflipper
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/02 02:35:48 (permalink)
paulo
bitflipper 
 
One distortion plugin I never use is iZotope's Trash. They were clearly aiming for an entirely different market segment with that one. But it remains in my inventory, you know, just in case.




I quite like using it on bass guitar tracks.


Thanks for the tip, Paulo. I'll give it a try...always up for experimentation.


All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

My Stuff
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Fleer
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/02 02:42:20 (permalink)
Zo
Lol Fleer. You know i hate extreme consumarism but the rc 20 is simply answering a big part here , wheneever i need , noise ( vhs , vinyl, tapes ect ) , color , lofi , tape woah and fluter , distortion , edge ect ....it s spot on and cheap (39) light on cpu , easy to use ect .. i would say that thise one and saturn and a good tape plugin and your done ...

I’m dead.

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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oockkk
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Re: Fabfilter Saturn - Thoughts? 2018/06/02 12:24:10 (permalink)
$70 value is enough
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