It’s common knowledge that high-end analog audio equipment adds that “special something” to the sound. And for those who like keeping things ITB, there’s already a range of costly software emulations available, like the famous URS Saturation for example.
But thanks to some seriously talented and generous developers, we can actually get pretty close to those high-end results without spending a dime. I’ve decided to include all popular saturation methods in one article, so if you’re looking for a good free analog tape, tube, or mixing console saturation VST plugin emulation, you’re definitely in the right place!
Follow the links for screenshots & download info:
- 1-Time by Reign Design (Mac)
- AcquaVox by Acustica (Mac, Windows)
- Channel2 by Airwindows (Mac)
- Clip Shifter by LVC-Audio (Windows)
- FerricTDS by Variety Of Sound (Windows)
- GreaseTube by TbT (Windows)
- Green Eugene by Audio Teknikk (Windows)
- JS Magneto by JS plugins (Windows)
- MGA Softclamp by Michael Gruhn Audio (Windows)
- NastyVCS by Variety Of Sound (Windows)
- Nebula3 Free Bundle by Acustica (Mac, Windows)
- PreAMP TGR-18 by TbT (Windows)
- R2R-FREE by CDSoundMaster (Mac, Windows)
- RubyTube by Silverspike (Windows)
- Saturation Knob by Softube (Mac)
- Saturator by Jeff Rippe (Windows)
- Saturn Console Emu by Terry West (Windows)
- TAL-Tube by Togu Audio Line (Mac, Windows)
- TapeHead Medium by Massey Plugins (Mac)
- TesslaPRO mkII by Variety Of Sound (Windows)
- TSClip by signaldust (Windows)
- Tube Amp by Voxengo (Mac, Windows)
- TubeDriver by Nick Crow (Windows)
- Vintage Tube Warmer/Maximizer by Hotto Engineering (Mac)
- X-Tube by Xenium Audio (Windows)
As always, you are welcome to suggest your own favorites in the comments section below (in case I’ve missed any). I’m always open for suggestions, but I also try only to include the best freeware plugins in bpb Freeware Studio articles.
FerricTDS by Variety Of Sound.
If I had to pick only one plugin from the above list, it would certainly be FerricTDS by Variety Of Sound. This plugin is without a doubt my #1 freeware saturation tool, it emulates the analog tape saturation perfectly and is incredibly CPU effective. Note that you will get more saturation by overdriving the input (when that VU meter needle hits the red). Perfect treatment for sampled TR-808 drums!
Nebula3 Free by Acustica.
Make sure not to miss Nebula3 Free either, it’s something I always add to my tracks in the post-mix stage. Also, don’t forget to download the extra freebie libraries for Nebula3 Free! Click here, here, and here for some of those extra Nebula3 freebies.
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The download link for FerricTDS is broken unfortaunately :[
Any chance of uploading the DLL to a file server?
hi, i’ve just checked it and the link works here!
Sorry, I wasn’t very clear . . the link worked but the link on the linked page didn’t :]
I’ve since notified Variety Of Sound and they’ve already fixed it! Cheers!
ah, great! cheers! :]
JS Magneto – La simulation de mon vieux magnéto SONY.
http://membres.multimania.fr/jeje1999/plug.htm
thanks, it’s on the list now!
Christortion is totally amazing.
http://www.savioursofsoul.de/Christian/vst-plugins/#Christortion
http://web.archive.org/web/20051228100303/http://www.hnm-freeware.com/Audio/VST/index.html
thanks for the tip! i’ve never heard of these before, will give them a try. which one exactly would you recommend for the article?
Have no idea, cos header – “Tape/Tube/Analog”. But, you put in the list TSClip and Softclamp.
Anyway, Dist can be used as saturator as well.
Here is a link to Saturator by Jeff Rippe (of Rocksonics Professional Audio). When used correctly, I think it might be my favorite tape sim. One knob drives it into compression and saturation. :)
http://freemusicsoftware.org/1131
thanks for the link! i’ve added it to the list.
Great, thanks!! VoS just released Density Mk III, too. As you know, it’s a compressor and I only mention it here because it has the new “color” function which adds stateful saturation.
i’m loving Density mkIII so far! still deciding whether to include it here, but it’s still more of a compressor than a saturation effect.
Agreed. Here’s this, too:
http://www.kvraudio.com/product/vintage_tape_delay_by_retro_sampling
You can turn off the delay and just use the saturation. Although it sounds like it WOULD be good, I personally couldn’t get it too function in quite the right way. But maybe this rightfully belongs in a different section as well. Okay, I’ll stop bothering you now.:)
I used Ferric TDS after reading this. I really loved it. I’ve now been using for over a month. I’ve compared it to other tape machine emulations that cost 150 to 200 dollars. I like it just as much if not better. Thanks for the recommendation. It is now a permanent part of my master output.
-Rick Saxby,
Publisher: NashvilleBros.com
FerricTDS is still my favorite one!
It seems, that Softclamp link doesn’t work. Does anybody have this VST?
sorry, i was looking for it myself and can’t find it anywhere. :(
it was a very nice plugin, real shame that it’s lost.
No problem.
Good list, thank you! To add to this list,
there’s Preamp Emulator by Musicrow.
http://www.mcrow.net/Preamp%20Emulator%20VST.htm
thanks, i’ll check it out.
SoftAmp 3OD
https://sites.google.com/site/thesoftamp/
i’ve heard of that one, but it’s actually a guitar preamp emu, no?
It models an all-round triode stage. It’s widely employed in guitar amps, but thanks to the configurable cathode capacitor, it goes very well as a generic saturation effect for any signal. I know people are successfully using it on vocal, keys and drum tracks as well.
The more up-to-date link is http://www.soft-amp.com/softamp-3od
I´ve downloaded FerricTDS and it works very well with Steinberg Cubase LE
Supposed to be an overdrive effect but also works quite well as a subtle or not-so-subtle saturation effect:
AXP Charbooster (http://www.soft-amp.com/charbooster)
I like it too…
My favorites are Ferox & R2R-FREE
You missed the mighty Rombo:
http://www.blank-media.it/acrobatics/