Are your mixes cold? Do they lack analog warmth? Character? Are you looking for preamp simulations?
Then, you probably need one or two plugins to add saturation.
And what’s more, free plugins! 🙂
Note, I’m not talking about distortion at all (although there are also free plugins specialized for that purpose), but rather adding harmonics to give warmth and a more organic sound to your tracks.
So, I’ve selected a few plugins for you that will meet this requirement.
And as usual, they are completely free! 😉
Happy downloading!
1. FerricTDS mkII
Developer: Variety of Sound
Format: VST (32-bit and 64-bit, Windows Only)
It’s impossible to make a list without this excellent plugin from Variety of Sound. As its name suggests (TDS = “Tape Dynamics Simulator”), it is a plugin simulating the analog feel of the best tape recorders.
The interface is quite simple, allowing you to control both saturation and dynamics with two large knobs. A few additional features let you fine-tune the sound you want.
This is really one of my favorite free VSTs for adding saturation and a vintage effect to tracks. It works very well on individual tracks with moderate settings, but you can also try it for mastering; it does the job very well.
Be careful: the effect is relatively subtle, so feel free to add multiple instances of the plugin when testing it to fully understand what the different controls do.
► Click here to download FerricTDS
2. TesslaPRO mkIII
Developer: Variety of Sound
Format: VST (32-bit and 64-bit, Windows only)
Another plugin from Variety of Sound, equally excellent.
This is an effect inspired by transformer circuits from the 50s and 60s, giving sound engineers the ability to add a bit of analog “vibe” to their recordings.
It slightly colors the sound, polishes transients, and adjusts stereo depth to add a kind of sonic glue. It’s a mixing effect, but to be used sparingly, in small touches, and not too prominently.
Note the presence of a “Transients” control that allows you to adjust how much the sound of the transients will be affected by the effect, which gives the plugin some versatility.
► Click here to download TesslaPro mkII
3. IVGI
Developer: Klanghelm
Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX
Klanghelm’s plugins are all very good, and IVGI (now in v2!) is no exception.
Indeed, it adds saturation dynamically. This can be controlled through the various settings on the plugin, which, as you can see, are quite limited in number, making it an easy-to-handle plugin that I also mention in my mixing course.
Notably, there is an asymmetry control that allows you to make the negative part of the signal cleaner and thus precisely adjust the sound character.
Used on stereo tracks, the integrated crosstalk functionality will simulate behavior that one might expect from analog consoles or tape machines, subtly influencing the stereo of your recordings.
A very good vintage!
4. Saturation Knob
Developer: Softube
Format: VST, VST3, AU, AAX
Ah, the famous Saturation Knob!
Once you’ve gone through the installation steps and activated the plugin, you’ll find yourself facing…
…a button.
Yes. Just one. You read that right. But it’s a magic button.
Most of the time, I only move it a tiny bit, staying within the first quarter. Beyond that, the effect becomes too pronounced, even aggressive.
But when used subtly, this plugin can really add a slight coloration to your tracks — especially those of drums or other electronic percussion, which I find often appreciate this type of treatment.
Note that the little switch “Saturation Type” allows you to influence the lows a bit more or the highs a bit more, which gives a certain versatility to the tool, even though it still has a well-defined character.
► Click here to download Saturation Knob
5. SGA1566
Developer: Shattered Glass Audio
Formats: VST, AU
The SGA1566 is a vintage preamp simulation. However, for a more authentic (theoretically) analog sound, the entire electronic circuit is simulated in real-time.
The downside of this precision is that this plugin is quite CPU-intensive. Fortunately, you have a switch that allows you to lighten the program’s calculations — so it is still usable by everyone. Just don’t forget to switch it back to “high quality” before exporting your tracks….
In short, an excellent plugin, but best used if your computer is powerful!
► Click here to download SGA1566
6. Chow Tape
Developer: Chowdhury DSP
Formats: VST, VST3, AU, LV2, Standalone
A true gem, this free plugin, although quite little known.
Chow Tape Model is a digital simulation of a magnetic tape recorder — specifically the Sony TC-260.
But the specificity of this effect is that the simulation includes many settings that allow you to simulate all sorts of different machines.
Speed of the tape, spacing between tracks, azimuth, wow and flutter… you can adjust everything!
So it’s both an advantage and a disadvantage, clearly: the sound is very good, you can achieve many different textures of magnetic tapes, but at the same time, it will take you some time to fully understand the various settings.
► Click here to download Chow Tape
7. Tape Cassette 2
Developer: Caelum Audio
Formats: VST3, AU, AAX and AUv3
Let’s stay for now in the realm of magnetic tape simulations: Tape Cassette 2 is a plugin that simulates the warmth, noise, and character of old tape cassettes, to give a vintage coloration to your recordings.
As you can see in the image just above, the plugin includes a number of settings that allow you to adjust the coloration of the signal, depending on whether you want something very colored or more subtle.
A very serious tool to have in your toolbox.
► Click here to download Tape Cassette 2
8. GSat+
Developer: TBProAudio
Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX
GSat+ is a plugin derived from the saturation module of another effect from the brand (the channel strip CS5501V2, to be precise), but with additional settings allowing you to control the saturation behavior in detail.
Indeed, you can adjust the amount of even and odd harmonics, select a saturation character, and simulate several successive stages of saturation.
Like other plugins with many settings, this free plugin can be a bit difficult to master, but it is not too complex either, so I find it has a rightful place in a home studio’s effects collection.
Note that GSat+ was created in collaboration with the Gearspace team, a major English-speaking forum in the studio universe.
► Click here to download GSat+
9. FreeAMP
Developer: Klevgrand
Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX
This free plugin is very simple, but it is actually an algorithm from the more comprehensive REAMP plugin by the Swedish brand Klevgrand.
Much like Softube’s Saturation Knob, you have a single button to control the amount of saturation, which combines a simulation of magnetic tape and tube.
Ideal, therefore, for adding harmonics to the audio signal and bringing a bit of warmth back to a track that lacks it.
By the way, I mention a track, but nothing prevents you from using this effect on a complete mix: it is quite progressive, so you can easily adjust it to make the saturation subtle.
► Click here to download FreeAmp
10. PreBOX
Developer: Analog Obsession
Formats: VST, VST3, AU
Last option on this list: the PreBOX saturation plugin from Analog Obsession, which, as its name suggests, offers different preamp simulations to color your sounds.
In total, 11 different preamps are emulated by this effect, giving you access to a wide range of sound colors.
We will appreciate the small “AGC” button, which generates automatic gain compensation allowing you to clearly hear the effect you are adding.
Finally, don’t forget, if you use it, to enable oversampling by clicking on the name “Analog Obsession” at the bottom right of the plugin, to avoid aliasing issues.
► Click here to download PreBOX
Looking for more free plugins?
No worries, I have everything you need in these lists.