Solid State Logic’s (SSL) Native X-Saturator analog-style saturation plugin is available for just $10 until February 25, which slashes 92% off the $119 list price.
The deal is available at both the SSL and Plugin Boutique web stores.
However, if you buy from Plugin Boutique, you can also pick up the site’s February gift, a free copy of Steinberg Backbone drum designer.
Native X-Saturator is a release for macOS (VST, VST3, AU, AAX) and Windows (VST, VST3, AAX).
SSL debuted X-Saturator in July 2014 as part of the Duende Native collection.
The company re-released X-Saturator in May 2018, giving it a complete facelift and making some technical improvements such as reworking preset management and compatibility.
However, the basic audio algorithms used for the plugin remain the same as in the 2014 version.
The X-Saturator is capable of a range of analog-style distortion effects.
The plugin emulates an analog circuit that can produce second-order valve distortion, third-order transistor distortion, or a blend of the two.
SSL describes the range of the plugin as going from console warmth to transistor trashed.
When you run it on low drive settings, the X-Saturator can add subtle dirt for gentle warming that helps push instruments forward in a mix or glue them. It can produce more gritty and heavily distorted sounds at higher gain settings.
The control scheme features Input Gain, Output Gain, Depth, Harmonics, Drive, Wet/Dry Mix, Shape, A/B preset switch, internal bypass, and a 6 dB boost for adding headroom above the saturation point.
The X-Saturator’s feature set is well-thought-out and useful, but I think it’s safe to say that it’s fairly basic when compared to industry leaders like the Fab Filter Saturn 2.
With the plugin having been around for a decade, naturally, there are plenty of audio samples on YouTube showing it off from various sources.
I have to say the X-Saturator is a pretty nice find for $10, especially if you buy it on Plugin Boutique and also get the free copy of Steinberg’s Backbone.
While the plugin still sounds good, with it being 10 years after its release, the X-Saturator’s audio algorithms are a bit dated by now, which is something to consider.
And if you’d like a bit of modulation with your analog-style saturation, SSL Native X-Phase is also on sale for $10 until February 25 (thanks to BPB reader Seb for the tip in the comments).
Check out the deal: X-Saturator (92% off @ Plugin Boutique & SSL – $10)
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Last Updated on February 17, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
