What Is Your Go-To Tape Saturation Plugin?

This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 3 weeks ago by patrickwichrowski.

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September 17, 2025 at 12:39 pm #1000034755
peter
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Every plugin effects developer seems to have a tape saturation plugin. I’d love to see a shootout from a respected, non-influencer, engineer. I regularly use ones from Softube, UAD, XLN, and IK, but I know that Soundtoys, Waves, Chow, Sonnox, D16, SSL, FabFilter, and others have some excellent ones. I have yet to settle on a tape saturation plugin, but I use Softube Tape and the IK tape plugins the most.
Do you have a go-to tape saturation plugin that you absolutely love? If so, please share and let us know why it’s your favorite.

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September 17, 2025 at 1:41 pm #1000034758
patrickwichrowski
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IK Multimedia Tape Machine 24
Or Neold Warble.
I have the same preset in both 😀

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September 18, 2025 at 9:53 am #1000034875
Nitrate Audio
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i find I use IKM saturation-x the most.
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September 23, 2025 at 2:55 am #1000035089
Zargg
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My go-to’s are Softube Saturation Knob, Spicerack by Process Audio, Soundtoys Decapitator and IK Saturation-X. To add: I also often use the saturation available in the Console 1 channel strips (still rocking a mk I).
I have lots of others that I use on a less than regular basis.
All the best.
- This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by Zargg.
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September 23, 2025 at 8:40 am #1000035123
fretman
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I don’t use tape saturation very often but when I do I use Izotope’s Neutron 4. I’d love to move up to Neutron 5 but their pricing structure hasn’t been very good since they’ve joined NI.
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September 27, 2025 at 11:56 am #1000035358
fossile
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Saturation knob and Sonar Pro Channel Console emulation for quick and dirty results. a variety of tape emulations from Softube, Wave, and some freebies when going for “tape”. also sometimes the Izotope Neutron has some nice saturation, Izotope Ozone Vintage Tape, and Acon Acoustica has some nice saturation for WAV edits needing some love.
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October 25, 2025 at 2:29 pm #1000036813
patrickwichrowski
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On September 27, 2025 at 11:56 am fossile said
Saturation knob and Sonar Pro Channel Console emulation for quick and dirty results.

Same here.
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