Wave Arts Tube Saturator 2

After intensive R&D, Wave Arts is please to announce Tube Saturator 2.
Tube Saturator 2 is a super accurate circuit simulation of a tube pre-amp with analog EQ, which can be overdriven gently for warming effects, or cranked for fat distortion. Like its predecessor, Tube Saturator, TS-2 is based on circuit simulation techology to capture every nuance of an analog circuit. But while the original consumed large amounts of CPU power, TS-2 is now super efficient. The Saturation section of TS-2 runs about 7x faster than the original and yet the modelling is even more accurate. TS-2 includes the original circuit simulation of the three band Baxandall type EQ as found in many guitar amplifiers.
In addition to this breakthrough improvement in speed, TS-2 has many new features. You can switch between 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes for different harmonic characteristics. The EQ can be switched to run pre or post saturation. Saturation and EQ are separately switchable. Also there is a 2x oversampling mode using a very high quality resampler algorithm. Use 2x mode to attenuate aliased distortion harmonics. Also new is a mix control to blend the processed sound with the original. And finally, TS-2 has a gorgeous new interface.
For more information see the product page, or see video examples of applying Tube Saturator 2 to different sounds.
TS-2 is available for AU/VST/AAX formats on Mac and Windows, licensed using Pace/iLok. The price is $99.
 
Upgrading from Tube Saturator
Existing Tube Saturator users can upgrade to TS-2 for 50% off. Please email support@wavearts.com and we will reply with an upgrade discount coupon. TS-2 will install side by side with original Tube Saturator, it won't overwrite it, so you can run them both. We will continue to host original Tube Saturator downloads and registrations indefinitely, and may release new updates if there are important bug fixes.
 
Pace licensing
Tube Saturator 2 requires Pace licensing, the Wave Arts key code system is not supported. An iLok can be used but is not required; TS-2 supports either iLok2 or machine authorization.
Our other products continue to use dual Pace / Wave Arts licensing and we have no plans to move to using Pace exclusively. We plan to release a TS-2 update with a non-Pace option later this year.

http://wavearts.com/produ...tm_term=product%20page
 
Videos
https://youtu.be/bTF0MFiIYQA
https://youtu.be/Se6D9yiYQmE

Despite the scaremongering, thousands of professionals are using Pace-protected products daily without issue.  Sure, Pace has been guilty of major screw-ups in the past, but personally I'd rather use the iLok than the C/R protection which WaveArts has been relying upon. 
 
Anyway, this update to Tube Saturator is a winner in my book.  The major drawback to the original was the heavy toll it took on my CPU -- I hardly ever used it because of that, even though it always sounded great.  The new one uses a small fraction of what the old one needed, while giving me the same great sound.  The new switchable tube models and mix knob are nice bonuses.
 
I haven't heard a more authentic tube simulation plugin -- even my other favorite distorto-boxes like Saturn and SDRR don't quite measure up, at least in my experience.  YMMV, of course -- these are just subjective impressions.  If you rock the 'lok, it's worth your while to take advantage of the demo to hear TS2 for yourself.
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 
 
 

Aha!  Somehow, I figured this had something to do with the dreaded W-word.  :-)
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

bitflipper
"Scaremongering"? Me? :)
 
I actually understand the appeal of an iLok dongle, especially if you want to use products on more than one computer. Someday, some product may even come along that's so awesome that it overcomes my resistance. So far, that hasn't happened, but you never know.
 
What I really don't want - and never will - is the Pace non-dongle alternative. This locks the license to your specific hardware configuration, such that replacing a component in your computer causes everything to stop working. I don't know about Pace, but the similar Waves method breaks if you simply disable your network card. I had all kinds of headaches after having to replace my motherboard when it failed. Some of the plugins that went south just got retired at that point and crossed off the list for future reconsideration.
 
I'll grant you that C/R isn't a big improvement. Just ask the folks who invested in Kjaerhus products.
 
Vendors who use a license file will always be my first consideration. Meldaproduction, ValhallaDSP, and of course Cakewalk, these are companies that get it right.

This has happened to me and I've yet to resolve it.  I bought a couple of Waves products when they were on a "No Brainer" deal (for like $20 each or something).  Installed them, set up the non-iLok pace on a USB drive, then I had the audacity to change my OS hard drive out.  It was 4 years old and I wanted to make sure it didn't fail before I changed it out.
 
now my Waves plugins don't work because Pace doesn't recognize the new "system" and I've not had time to contact them to try to sort it.  Needless to say, I'm not happy with this situation.
 
Other activations like SONAR, Kontakt, Toontrack were all easy to take care of and they expect it.  Pace doesn't make it easy.

You're absolutely right. I do try to be even-handed. But that doesn't mean being equally kind to all vendors just so I don't appear to be playing favorites. That only works for moms and their toddlers.
 
First of all, IKM doesn't concern me, simply because none of their products are on my A-list. It would be nice if I could use ST2 on my Win8 machine, but it's not the end of the world that I can't.
 
Kontakt is another matter, and you bet I'd holler if it was as much trouble as Waves. However, NI makes it much easier to re-authorize, as I experienced while recently migrating to a new computer.
 
More importantly, Kontakt has never just decided out of the blue to stop working and accuse me of not having a license for it!
 
Beagle: you have to de-activate your current licenses and then re-authorize as if they were a new purchase.