Using Saturation

All about the tools and techniques involved in capturing sound, in the studio or on location.

Moderator: Moderators

Using Saturation

Post by Scouser »

I just wondered how often you use saturation on your mixes.

Is it something you use on particular things or across the board ?

I am new to it and am trying to gauge how much is too much, I guess that is a difficult thing to say ?

Any general advice, would be much appreciated as usual
Scouser
Frequent Poster
Posts: 733 Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:00 am

Re: Using Saturation

Post by resistorman »

If I use it, it will likely be on bass, electric guitar and/ or drums. It really depends on the material and it's recorded sound. Anyhow, crank it up until you know it's too much and back off :D
User avatar
resistorman
Frequent Poster (Level2)
Posts: 2679 Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:00 am Location: Asheville NC
"The Best" piece of gear is subjective.

Re: Using Saturation

Post by Drew Stephenson »

I'll frequently use some along with some parallel compression on drums, and I'll generally have some tape saturation on the mix bus.
As with many things, I find a good starting point is to mix it in to the point you notice it, then back it off a bit so that you only notice it's missing if you mute it.
Then adjust to taste.
User avatar
Drew Stephenson
Jedi Poster
Posts: 24445 Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 12:00 am Location: York
(The forumuser formerly known as Blinddrew)
Ignore the post count, I still have no idea what I'm doing...
https://drewstephenson.bandcamp.com/

Re: Using Saturation

Post by RichardT »

I would say - don't use it unless you have a reason for using it, i.e. don't just put it on because you have the plugin. I've found myself using it less over time, partly as my monitoring has got better and I can hear the downsides, particularly a reduction in clarity.

Personally I don't use it on the mix bus. Many people do, though.
RichardT
Jedi Poster
Posts: 4074 Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:00 am Location: Ireland

Re: Using Saturation

Post by Funkyflash5 »

My DAW of choice (Mixbus32c) has a saturation knob on each bus, so I tend to dial in some on a per mixbus level as I mix, and then dial in some on the masterbus at the end. I also do the "up until too much then back off" approach. Individual tracks usually don't get any unless I'm looking for it to be an obvious effect instead of a subtle tool, but that's mostly down to workflow. Also, that all assumes I'm working in my usual pop-rock-funk sorts of styles, for a jazz or classical recording I'd be unlikely to use any.
Funkyflash5
Regular
Posts: 215 Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:43 am Location: Wisconsin, USA

Re: Using Saturation

Post by Martin Walker »

It really depends what sound you're after, but saturation to me isn't as obvious as distortion, and I only tend to use it to add flavour to specific tracks of a project, such as drums, bass, or synths.
User avatar
Martin Walker
Moderator
Posts: 20599 Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:44 am Location: Cornwall, UK

Re: Using Saturation

Post by The Elf »

A mix that needs a bit of drive and attitude will likely get some track-by-track saturation. Kick, snare and toms are good candidates. Subtlety is key - it's all about gaining headroom.

The saturation options in Cubase are extremely good for this aspect of a mix - I miss them in other DAWs.

Moving on from 'saturation' per se I will often clip the drum buss and/or the master buss - just enough to remove the extreme, troublesome transients.

I will often add a nip of distortion (valve especially) to electric bass for clarity.

All this depends on genre and the specific song, so take these as generalisations only.
User avatar
The Elf
Jedi Poster
Posts: 19938 Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2001 12:00 am Location: Sheffield, UK
An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Re: Using Saturation

Post by siderealxxx »

I tend to use it as an occasional alternative to compression. If you have a fairly transparent saturation, it can soften transients and add beef without the some of the compromises that compression can introduce. Horses for courses!
User avatar
siderealxxx
Frequent Poster
Posts: 562 Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:00 am Location: Cambridgeshire
Excess makes the heart grow fonder

Re: Using Saturation

Post by ef37a »

I don't know what "saturation" has come to mean to recording folk but to any electronics engineer a saturated transformer is one that has ceased to BE a transformer and presents a resistive load to the circuitry.

It is actually very, very hard to saturate a transformer. One instance for mains traffs is during a storm, if the line gets struck the transformer saturates and presents a very low resistance to the mains supply and breakers trip. Almost always, components downstream of the transformer are saved.

A saturated valve or solid state device is effectively reduced to a 'on' switch.

Perhaps someone could tell me how "saturation" differs from "distortion"? To me the former is an extreme, limiting condition of the latter.

Dave.
ef37a
Jedi Poster
Posts: 16448 Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 12:00 am Location: northampton uk

Re: Using Saturation

Post by Drew Stephenson »

Well, according to the good doctor:
Distortion
Some form of corruption — wanted or unwanted — of the source signal. All forms of distortion are formed by non-linearities in an electronic circuit or an audio transducer. Harmonic Distortion is typically caused by over-loading to some degree components in the signal path, resulting in the addition or strengthening of odd and/or even harmonics of fundamental frequencies present in the source signal. Anharmonic distortion involves the introduction of frequencies not musically related to the source signal, usually through some form of modulation process, such as aliasing in overloaded digital equipment, or scrape flutter in analogue tape machines. Some forms of distortion are often added intentionally to a musical source to alter it's character in a pleasing way — such as on an electric guitar, for example.

Saturation
Saturation is a mild form of dynamic and harmonic distortion typically associated with bringing 'warmth' and 'body' to a sound. The term relates to a process which can occur in transformers when the magnetic flux generated by the input signal fully magnetises the transformer core such that it cannot then accurately pass any larger audio signals, resulting in audio compression and harmonic distortion. A similar effect can occur with magnetic tape heads and tape itself. These saturation effects can now be emulated electronically and digitally, often with user controls to fine tune the effect characteristics.
User avatar
Drew Stephenson
Jedi Poster
Posts: 24445 Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 12:00 am Location: York
(The forumuser formerly known as Blinddrew)
Ignore the post count, I still have no idea what I'm doing...
https://drewstephenson.bandcamp.com/

Re: Using Saturation

Post by Wonks »

Tape emulation and associated saturation is meant here I think. Cubase certainly has it available on every channel as standard.
User avatar
Wonks
Jedi Poster
Posts: 17001 Joined: Thu May 29, 2003 12:00 am Location: Reading, UK
Reliably fallible.

Re: Using Saturation

Post by ef37a »

Yes Drew, my point. In the recording world "saturation" has COME to mean a mild form of distortion when in fact, electronically it is the most extreme form of distortion you can get.

But, like "rms" bloody watts I suppose I shall just have to live with the term!

Dave.
ef37a
Jedi Poster
Posts: 16448 Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 12:00 am Location: northampton uk
Post Reply