Old 05-28-2010, 08:52 AM   #1
minerman
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Default Which saturation plug?

I'm trying to get my guitar/bass tracks to sound more "real/authentic", does anyone have any experience with these plugs? And, if possible, maybe give me some tips/pointers how to use them properly (would I use several instances, for example?)???

Wave Arts Tube Saturator
Soundtoys Decapitator
URS Saturation
Antares Tube

I'm thinking of buying one of these, but would like some input from people who've actually used 'em. Thanks in advance!!!!
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Old 05-29-2010, 03:30 AM   #2
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Have you tried the built in JS effects? Saturation and nonlinear are great!
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Old 05-29-2010, 03:46 AM   #3
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I like these for saturation. Although different folks have different concepts of what saturation is.

Cakewalk FX2 Tape Sim
Flux Bittersweet II
TAL Tube
Ferric TDS(bootsy)
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Old 05-29-2010, 04:55 AM   #4
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Whether you're speaking of actual tape saturation or just a more general analog distortion, Nebula blows away absolutely everything that has been listed so far in this thread.
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Old 05-29-2010, 05:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ngarjuna View Post
Whether you're speaking of actual tape saturation or just a more general analog distortion, Nebula blows away absolutely everything that has been listed so far in this thread.
Yes!!! Nebula all the way (though i must admit that Ferric is not *too bad* from time to time )! It's a different league when it comes to "3D sound"!
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Old 05-29-2010, 06:08 AM   #6
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Massey is nice if you can run RTAS.
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Old 05-29-2010, 06:24 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zoid9 View Post
Although different folks have different concepts of what saturation is.
Indeed, Bittersweet for example is more transient shaping to me. Saturation, transient shaping, exciters... all used to do that little extra to your sound so I have them all grouped under one category in my plugin browser.

Some other free suggestions to 'warm' your signal:

- Tessla Pro
- Endorphin (has very nice saturation build in)
- Dominion
- NastyVCS (full mixer-strip but also with saturation, and more mojo)
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Old 05-29-2010, 11:51 AM   #8
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For real/authentic, reamp, or run em thru some cabinet + real space impulses.

Then hit them with Nebula.
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Old 05-29-2010, 12:10 PM   #9
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Would the free version of Nebula do what you mention? Tips please!!!! Thanks!!!!
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Old 05-29-2010, 12:42 PM   #10
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A word of caution, Nebula likes a beefy computer
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Old 05-29-2010, 01:13 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by minerman View Post
Would the free version of Nebula do what you mention? Tips please!!!! Thanks!!!!
Not so much. With the free version you can certainly add some analog warmth, but you would be missing out on all of the third party libraries which is where the real magic is at. Nowadays there are viable console choices (API, Neve, SSL, Sphere, Trident, etc.) and tape machine choices (Studer A800, Otari MTR-10, Revox B77, Wollensak 1515, etc) and for realistic tape satch you would also want the TapeBooster+ package.

You could certainly experiment with the free version of Nebula but you're quite likely to come out of the experiment thinking "I don't know why people rave about Nebula so much".

Technogremlin is correct, though, Nebula will bend your workflow to its will with its CPU abuse.
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Old 05-29-2010, 01:18 PM   #12
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I've read Nebula is pretty CPU intense, but one could always bounce/render, right? I bought a new PC a couple of months ago, so I should be ok on that (I guess). Any links/tutorials on the paid version of Nebula??? I've tried the free version, but only for the guitar cabs. I could tell a difference though, sounded more "real" to my ears than most of the impulses I've tried. Thanks in advance, I may buy Nebula 3, if I can get a little more info......
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Old 05-29-2010, 01:40 PM   #13
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Definitely do search these forums, there are several Nebula threads that aren't too far out of date.

Here are the programs I would recommend. You don't really need every console, one would probably even do it, with more giving you simply more choices:
Consoles
Modern Black Console Pro from Alex B
Modern Tube Console Pro also from Alex B
They haven't been released yet, but probably within the next month or so he will have finished and released the Modern White (5088) and the Classic Logic (4000) consoles in Pro version (he's no longer selling the old, non-pro versions) so if one of those boards is more enticing to you it could be worth waiting. Also I think there's a classic console of some kind in the works but I don't recall which one it is, old Neve maybe?
Tried-N-Tru from CDSoundmaster
The Globe also from CDSoundmaster

Tape For tape all you need is two packs:
R2R Essential Analog Tape Collection which gives you all the machines/tape choices
TapeBooster + also from CDSoundmaster which helps you to easily add saturation to the aforementioned tape/machine programs

All in all if you were to purchase one of the cheaper consoles, let's say the Globe ($39), and the tape stuff ($99 + $39) and just plain Nebula 3, not the pro version (80 Euros/~$99.00), you're talking about spending around $275 for everything, a bit more if you opted for one of the AlexB consoles instead (they're 40 Euros/~$49.50 so about $10 dollars more each than the CDSoundmaster consoles). It's really a lot of value for that price. Plus it will give you access, if you ever decide you want it, to the Reverbs and other circuits that Nebula samples, there is some nice stuff for sure.

To your questions on resources, yes you absolutely can work around the Nebula CPU crunch with renders/bounces, in fact you will have to. You just need to be aware that's that what you're getting into, making a virtual console and/or tape machine is a beefy task.
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Old 05-29-2010, 05:49 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ngarjuna View Post
Whether you're speaking of actual tape saturation or just a more general analog distortion, Nebula blows away absolutely everything that has been listed so far in this thread.
+1

I am also using Bootsie Tesla and Voxengo Varisaturator. Also tried Decapitator, a must buy for me !!!.

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Old 05-29-2010, 06:23 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ngarjuna View Post
and just plain Nebula 3, not the pro version
I'm still not clear on the advantages of pro vs regular 3. Hope to be jumping into Nebula soon as I sell some equipment.
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Old 06-01-2010, 01:54 PM   #16
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Default Saturation?

I think the JS Plugins: LOSER/Saturation, Stillwell exciter and the free FEROX from http://www.jeroenbreebaart.com/ is a good stuff for work to bbrrrrrr......Sounds.

:-)
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Old 06-01-2010, 02:06 PM   #17
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Have a look at Bad Buss Mojo

http://www.stillwellaudio.com/?page_id=19
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Old 06-01-2010, 03:58 PM   #18
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There's also JS: stillwell/badbusmojo.
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Old 06-01-2010, 04:17 PM   #19
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Quote:
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There's also JS: stillwell/badbusmojo.
But that one doesn't have as much mojo.
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Old 06-01-2010, 05:58 PM   #20
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Quote:
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But that one doesn't have as much mojo.
duly noted
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Old 06-01-2010, 06:51 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zappsunzorn View Post
But that one doesn't have as much mojo.
so would 2 js BBmojo's get you an even badder amount of buss mojo for your money?!
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Old 06-01-2010, 08:50 PM   #22
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It's one of those infinite series puzzles - more JS BadBusMojos will get you ever closer to the mojo in one copy of the real thing, but you'll never get there.
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Old 06-03-2010, 05:14 AM   #23
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Sound Toys Decapitator, easily goes from subtle to mucho fuzzball. There is something about the ST stuff, its like I know I could get the sound of their presets from 3 or 4 other plugs combined with about 1/2 hrs work..... but why? They aint cheap though.
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Old 06-03-2010, 05:23 AM   #24
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soundtoys decapitator has to be the best by far, but it's pricey and it uses a fucking iLok!!

You can get very good results with the badbusmojo too though, it's incredibly versatile. I think the JS one gives the same results, but uses much more cpu, as with most js based effects
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Old 06-03-2010, 08:53 AM   #25
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I don't want to go the Ilok route, I've avoided it so far in my recording journey, hopefully won't have to use one. I think I'm steering toward Nebula, but still undecided which version to buy. I think it would be nice to be able to use one plug for my saturation/tape thing, plus eq, & reverb. I have used AE's cab sims (Nebula free), & I think they sound pretty good, read he has more cabs & such, but would they work with Nebula 3? I read in another forum they do work in Nebula 2, but if I bought Nebula 2, I'd be missing out on the updates etc. Lots of questions, guess I'm gonna have to do some more searching. Thanks for all the tips/suggestions, but please if they are any more please post/lemme know....Thanks!!!!

PS: This is such a helpful forum, lots of good folks here, so glad I'm part of all this!!!! Thanks Reaper users!!!
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Old 06-04-2010, 07:59 PM   #26
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have you tried the badbusmojo? I recommend you do:

http://www.stillwellaudio.com/?page_id=19
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Old 06-05-2010, 12:29 PM   #27
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Are there any tutorials on Nebuala out there anyone can point me to? I'm really interested in this plug, heard great things about it, but I'm almost completly lost other than using AE's cab sims......Thanks in advance!!!
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Old 06-05-2010, 12:52 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by minerman View Post
Are there any tutorials on Nebuala out there anyone can point me to? I'm really interested in this plug, heard great things about it, but I'm almost completly lost other than using AE's cab sims......Thanks in advance!!!
Not really but if you have questions you can definitely get answers here (there are actually quite a few Nebula workflow related threads on this forum). There are some things that will seem a little confusing about the interface so this is a good example of "there are no stupid questions". For example, if you find sliders marked "Attack" and "Release" that's actually referring to internal plugin workings and not at all what you're probably expecting (those controls should be left alone, they should be in the optimal position by default per program).

Maybe a good Nebula use tutorial video is a good idea, I'll think about trying to put one together. It's not really hard to use once you get the hang of it but the interface can be confusing at first.
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Old 06-05-2010, 01:36 PM   #29
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Thanks for the tips, stupid questions are something I seem to excel in.....

A tutorial would be really helpful on my end of things, if you could find the time, please do...Thanks!!!!
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