SMAO#LAB releases Yamatube, a saturation plugin for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Who doesn’t love a good saturator? Saturation plugins, in particular, seem to congregate in plugin folders with an alarming frequency. If you’re worried this is happening to you, it is time to prepare yourself for Yamatube.
Yamatube is a new saturation plugin by SMAO#LAB and comes in paid and free versions.
The paid version is an affordable €28 with an additional 30% discount during the intro period. The free version has a wonderful set of features and is just missing a few odds and ends compared to the paid version.
The free version of Yamatube lacks a peak limiter and reduced EQ controls. You do get access to two simulated tubes for processing audio, however. These two simulated tubes have a great character to them and work on a wide variety of sound sources for a little extra heft and intrigue.
The interface of the free version is very straight to the point. The top of the interface has the primary controls for the two tubes. The saturation quickly changes from subtle to quite hot at full values.
The fixed shelf EQs are controlled with a simple on-and-off switch, which works fine for most materials. The brilliance control really shines on leads and vocal lines.
The very top of the interface has a presence and lo-air control, which helps to shape the overall saturation further when combined with the shelf EQ. Lo-air works well when saturating a bass line.
Yamatube’s interface is rounded out by the input and output knobs. You can’t use the free version as a soft clipper, sadly, but you can volume match your material quite easily, so things aren’t out of control.
The only other caveat worth mentioning with the free version is the lack of any presets. Twenty presets are available in the paid version, but if you’re comfortable enough with the free version’s controls, it won’t matter.
Yamatube is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Supported plugin formats are VST, VST3, AU, and LV2. Yamatube is a universal application, so Intel and Silicon users get to add another saturator to their plugin folders.
Download: Yamatube (Free or paid version)
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