What is your favourite distortion plugin

I have just downloaded the new fxpansion plugin to give it a go, hoping for good things but we will see.
It has made me think though, I have tried several but have not been overly impressed with any Distortion/saturation plugins as yet.
 
Any recommendations would be great!
looking for something that can do subtle instead of just grit.
 
Thanks

cryophonik
FabFilter Saturn and SoundToys Decapitator or Radiator are my go-tos when I want subtle distortion/saturation.

+1 on Saturn for sure (can't say anything about Decapitator or Radiator).  Saturn can do subtle or aggressive or anything in between, and it has beau coup modulation options and other features as well.  Not cheap, but definitely the usual high-quality offering we've come to expect from FabFilter.
 
I was impressed with the capabilities of Maul, but never picked it up ... there's only so much distortion capability you need on your DAW.  If I didn't already have Saturn, I might have sprung for Maul.  I do have FXpansion's Etch plug-in and, like Maul, it's a very innovative and flexible piece of gear.

FF Saturn for subtle, vox
Voxengo Boogex for bass
D16 Redopter for drums
Ozone for full mixes
 
These are the ones that get the most use here. I've tried a great many, including most of the more popular ones. But most disappointed, usually because of a) limited usefulness, b) artifacts/fizz/aliasing, or c) were too difficult to dial in a particular effect. 
 
What I'd be willing to spend money on would be a single plugin that can replace the Tube mode in Ozone's harmonic exciter, but I haven't found one yet.
 

Have you tried the free IVGI plugin from Klanghelm?  Full-on version coming soon ...
 
http://www.klanghelm.com/IVGI.html
 
Other than that, I like brainworx bx_saturator, Studio Devil VTP, and WaveArts Tube Saturator.
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

bitflipper
 
What I'd be willing to spend money on would be a single plugin that can replace the Tube mode in Ozone's harmonic exciter, but I haven't found one yet.
 

I'm curious how you use the Tube Mode within Ozone to such a credit.
 
I have Alloy v.1 and Ozone 5 (not the advanced though) and use the tube mode for vocals and guitar. However, I have mine setup and adapted from a preset (vintage vocal, I think) with a low drive setting. I  find it VERY subtle as I attempt to configure the settings (tube to digital, etc.), barely perceptible sometimes, not that I have deviated from the preset that much.
 
As experienced as you are, how are you making effective use of this module? I am hoping to learn something new here :)
 
Thanks!

BTW I recently posted about distortion Trash 2 vs Omnicide but there is some great feedback about different plugins.
 
Here is the link for reference.  People here give such great advice, I really mean it.
http://forum.cakewalk.com/iZotrope-Trash-2-or-Ohmforce-Ohmicide-m2844516.aspx

Fabfilter Saturn gets a lot of good reviews here on CW forums.

Including from me. But I gotta tell you in all honesty that even after nearly a year with it I'm still working on taming that beast of a plugin. It's either too subtle or too raunchy with too few options in the in-between area where I like to live. I thought it would be a one-stop do-all distortion tool, but so far it hasn't worked out that way.
 
Which is not to say that I don't like it, because I do. It's just not as versatile as I'd hoped. What I like best about it is the modulation features, which nothing else I've got offers. But I'd happily trade that for a preset named "Here's That Sound You're Looking For".

I've put two versions of one tune on Soundcloud. They are identical except that one's got Ozone 4's exciter on it, so you can A/B them. Even though the exciter settings are very conservative, the difference can be clearly heard if you switch between them. 
 
The "without" version is labeled "Currently Untitled Work in Progress"; the exciter version is labeled "Work in Progress, with Ozone's Exciter". Listen for the brighter lead instruments brought forward in the mix, and the fuller bass and kick.

MachineClaw
I bought CamelAudio Phat3 which while not a distortion plugin itself has some nice little sprinkles on top I like.
 

Speaking of Camel Audio, I still really like their little freebie CamelCrusher.  When you combine the compressor's phat mode with some tube distortion, it can really warm up any track.
 
http://www.camelaudio.com/camelcrusher.php
 
 

Friends,
 
My take on this, struggling with attaining credible distortion.
 
Lots of good stuff in Scuffham, in Amplitube, in Guitar Rig and a sea of free offerings getting better and better daily.
 
Not the greatest guitarist, but got a trench into what sounds good when I can hit the note.
 
IMHO nothing does it right yet. Nothing properly emulates a Fender Twin tube amp that is roasting the nalgahyde off the head after warming up to a meltdown after 4 hours, just getting to the sweet spot. And definitely nothing comes close to real, vst plug in isolation.
 
Patchwork mode is needed with at least 3 components to get a far distant semblance. Progressive approach, nothing out there so far can’t be improved or closed in on the sound without an upstream compressor. Second, a responsive noise gate after the comp to keep the noise flood down. Third, the core distortion unit of choice.
 
Some boxes like Amplitube, Line 6 Platinum, Kuassa, Guitar Rig have these components internal, but subjectively got better results going modular.
 
My go to secret sounds… End point  Ken’s AcmeBarGig Head Case. Another end point gem, the Plug&Mix California head and a couple other of their mega simple overdrive boxes. Latter just the right amount of overdrive and gnarl to replicate the Rick ambience in the Who’s “My Wife”. Unsung heros not getting the deserved press. Check it out if not already
 
Links:
 
http://www.acmebargig.com/head-case/
 
http://www.plugandmix.com/
 
Noted Plug&Mix still has the free offering for the Facebook like. Each to his or her own on this one…
 
My local favorite free comp first in line is the beautiful Citrus comp. If you guys don’t have this one, you are back in the ozone.
 
https://sites.google.com/site/distorque/home/vsts/vitaminc
 
Compressor into gate. Using payware Nomad Liquid Gate second in the chain. There are other freeware gates out there. Nomad does it great from the default preset.
 
http://nomadfactory.com/products/liquid_II/
 
Compressor, into the noise gate, into the overdrive unit.
 
Cool stuff if only in my book.
 
John

I don't think there's a correct answer... The answer is "it depends." It depends on the song, it depends on the genera, it depends on the mix, "it depends..." 
 
Why not have several? :-) 

I've used Saturn on both individual tracks and busses. I do like to use it differently on foreground versus background vocals, though, so a common vocal bus usually won't be a good place for it.
 
I usually use two bands for BGVs and three bands for lead vox. For BGVs I like the glassy sheen of the tape modes, but for leads I'll more often go for one of the tube modes in the midrange band and tape modes for the high and low bands.
 
Don't overlook the "Dynamics" knob, especially on background vocals. They've hidden a simple but effective compressor/expander in that plugin!