Soundtoys offer the Little Radiator ($79 value) tube saturation effect as a FREE download until January 2nd, 2023.
Little Radiator is a lightweight tube saturation plugin by Soundtoys. It is based on the more advanced Radiator ($99) saturation effect.
The saturation algorithm is based on the Altec 1566A tube microphone preamp. It is a vintage tube preamp that was often used to fatten up the drums, especially the kicks and the snares.
Despite being a lightweight edition of another plugin, Little Radiator offers several advantages over its pricier counterpart. It is easier to use, features a streamlined user interface, and is cheaper. Even better, it’s currently completely free to download and use.
A quick look at the user interface is enough to understand how Little Radiator saturates the sounds in your mix. Use the Heat knob to apply more saturation and the Mix knob to adjust the dry and wet signal balance.
In addition, Little Radiator lets you apply a bit of noise to the signal with the Noise switch. This is useful if you want to emulate the subtle noise generated by a tube preamp. The Bias switch makes the signal more choppy and slightly lo-fi, which is useful for creative audio degradation.
Little Radiator also features a preset manager. The plugin comes with several presets that provide a good overview of the types of saturation and distortion you can get out of Little Radiator.
Here’s more information from Soundtoys: “If you want a touch of 60s warmth on your tracks, reach for Little Radiator. It’s great for fattening up bass, guitar, drums, or vocals. And it’s fantastic on electric piano.”
To claim your free copy of Little Radiator, use the coupon code HOLIDAYHEAT to apply a 100% discount to your order. The offer expires on January 2nd, 2023.
If you claim the offer, Little Radiator will be stored permanently in your Soundtoys user account (even after the offer expires).
You will need to sign up for a Soundtoys user account (valid email address required) to complete the checkout process and activate the plugin on your computer.
Looking for more free saturation plugins? Check out our BPB Saturator saturation effect and the BPB Dirty LA limiting amplifier.
Little Radiator is available in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats for digital audio workstations on Windows and macOS.
Download: Little Radiator (FREE until January 2nd with coupon code HOLIDAYHEAT)
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37 Comments
Tomislav Zlatic
onA big THANK YOU to BPB readers S. Királyfi and Samuel for the info about Little Radiator.
Hell'ektrix
onAwesome !
Thank you so much S. Királyfi and Samuel, and BPB !
👍
PureFire
onThank you S. Királyfi and Samuel 🙏
Figrro
onThank you! I love Soundtoys for their Little Plate, they absolutely know what they’re doin. Looking forward to try this puppy out.
Also for those who do not hate IK Multimedia for their installationprocess, their EQP-1A Pultec emulation is free also:
https://www.filesilo.co.uk/software/your-free-plugin-hornet-multicompcm-2-2/
Ben
onNope. I ‘m never installing iLok stuff on my system again. Ever.
Nothing is indispensable anymore, there’s like a ton of choices and I don’t have to go through this.
Happy November, everyone.
Michal Ochedowski
onWith Little Radiator it took me less than 10 minutes and everything was set. What could’ve possibly discouraged you from using iLok License Manager? I’ve always found it quite straightforward. What are the downsides of it except having to remember to deactivate all licenses before changing OS or a computer?
Choko
onMy computer died and it’s impossible to retrieve lost license
And you have to remember to deactivate your licenses before you:
1. return to a restore point
2. change/reinstall your OS
3. change the name of your computer
I’ve had all of these problems
Bani
onContact Soundtoys and they’ll sort it out for you. There is even a button in the iLok app that automatically contacts all the developers that hold your licenses asking for new licenses. I’ve done twice. It wasn’t immediate, but I have all my licenses back, from several developers (some took more and others less time, but all came through)
Sometimes people just complain because they don’t know how to use the system.
CHOKO
onThank you!
Still super annoying waiting to continue a project cause some plugin you need is held up by some suboptimal software 😝
Michal Ochedowski
onVery valuable info, thanks for that. I completely didn’t think about the event of possible computer crash. If that happens, there may be no option to deactivate iLok licenses. Glad there is a solution.
David
onI think this expired Jan 2 2023 rather than 2022 😜
Tomislav Zlatic
onHaha, thanks! Fixed. :)
yzcoruhT
onIt seems, that my plugin folder will be oversaturated with saturation plugins in short time… 😁
Ben
onI see your point.
In order to install Studio One, for example, you download the installer, install the software, log in with your credentials and that’s it! Plus, nothing (literally nothing) else is installed along with the DAW.
Now, in order to install and activate Pro Tools, for example, well,… Good luck with that. :-)
It takes ages, a bunch of “3rd party” applications are installed at the same time, apps and services that run on system start up, slowing the PC down.
So, since I just formatted my system, I decided to follow the KISS principle.
Just a personal preference.
Cheers to everybody.
Tomislav Zlatic
onAFAIK, you don’t need iLok for Soundtoys anymore: https://support.soundtoys.com/article/37-who-needs-an-ilok-account
Ben
onThe iLok License Manager still has to be installed in order to activate the plugin.
Numanoid
onI agree, iLok or any copy protection (except serial numbers) is off putting for me.
For me personally it is a gentleman’s agreement, I do not use warez. I am 100% legit
Lloyd
onThank you so much for this freebie notification TOMISLAV ZLATIC, I have wanted this for a while. 👍🏽😀
Ferenc Mosolyhozó Molnár
onAloha!
Thank you! I was thinking about buying Radiator so long but always came more important things. But now I can have his little brother. I think it’s enough for me. Very nice. I needed that sound.
Tomislav Zlatic
onGreat, I’m sure you’ll love it!
Ferenc Mosolyhozó Molnár
onAloha!
Thank you! I was thinking about buying Radiator so long but always came more important things. Now i can have his little brother, very nice I needed that sound.
Kieran
onThanks :)
Pisces
onNo iLok required.. This is good news.. Thanks Tom.
Ron Music
onWrong, It does require iLok.
Bani
onRadiator is one of the most analog sounding plugins I’ve used. The sound looses a little quality too, which is what old analog equipment does. It’s not for everything, but if you are looking for true analog vibe, this is it.
Michal Ochedowski
onLittle Radiator reminded me about the issue with older versions of Softube’s Saturation Knob. Back then it was almost always necessary to use additional gain plugin in the signal chain for level matching. Well as much as I like how Little Radiator sounds, Soundtoys could easily improve their creation. Especially since there is plenty of space to implement a small output control.
By the way even with the knobs set to default positions and NOISE, BIAS switches set to off position, Little Radiator adds plenty of low level noise. The most pronounced are low frequencies, where it reaches around -107 dBFS. Something to keep in mind if you’re like me and plan to use it on multiple tracks in various amounts.
PureFire
onThanks for your info, very helpful 🙏
knewt
onWhy is it still aasking me to sign in Paypal if is 0 Dollars?
Michal Ochedowski
onMake sure to maximize the webpage with payment options. Otherwise you won’t be able to see the bracket to enter the discount code etc. At first I thought there would be no way past the payment screen without giving all details.
Bani
onI thought that as well, but you don’t need to use paypal at all. Just fill the form with your email and such.
Jamie M.
onsoundtoys dropped their christmas gift early, more to follow soon hopefully…
Jussi M.
onThank you so much for the tip! Really great plugin.
PureFire
onAwesome, thank you Tom, BPB, Soundtoys ✊
I like this, it sounds nice, and its a nice winter warmer 😉
I would say it needs an output knob like Michal says, but still is awesome and easy to use.
Was easy to install from the single installer & I had the option of wether to use iLok or my computer to store the free licence, much appreciated, thanks again 🙏
alex
onThx but no thx. I was really happy to finally be able to use Soundtoys plugins as I heard iLok was not required anymore (and that’s the single piece of software I’ll never have installed again) and even wanted to purchase some of them. Unfortunately, that information is misleading or even false. Oh well…
Mike
onWell this is confusing. It’s asking for a license code/key but I never got one. I have the invoice in my Soundtoys account but there is no code anywhere.
Michal Ochedowski
onYour order of the plugin should be followed by an email from Soundtoys. Right after that you should receive another email, which contains activation code to be used in iLok License Manager.
Tai Dye
onSo I installed it, along with some PACE Wizard anti virus or something that came with it.. And now I can’t open my Waves Central app to access my waves plugins. It literally tells me to delete whatever antivirus may be blocking it and I’m certain this caused it. Pretty frustrating. When giving away free stuff, companies should be more like Delay Llama, just give me my install and we’re good lol