Saturators

[Newbie dude]

I've heard saturators can warm up your sound, so I'm considering downloading several different free VST saturators to find a decnt one, since I record digitally and don't have any tube preamps, but I'm just wondering something. Are saturators more of effects, or are they unseen tools, like compressors and EQ?

 

[Tobias]

I am begining to see "warming plug ins" as a way to fix a take that was not so great, and glue up a mix that needs help. Also, if you want that analog tape sound, then the few I tried recently are great. I like PSP's Vintage Warmer. I've see others rave about the one from Voxengo. All the others I tried just seem to add grittyness and distortion. To me, that is an effect and why would I want that if I spent all this money on a high end DAW and Universal Audio preamp. Anyway, It has its place in my arsenal. You might also find you can get similar characteristics or a warmer sound with good EQ and tracking compression with a DBX 160A for example.