There’s nothing like this on the QC but it would be great for recording.
Can you provide more detail or sound examples? I think I know what you’re talking about, but anyone could argue that any overdrive or amp block provides harmonics with saturation.
Just Google harmonic saturation, it’s an effect, well documented, there are plugins freely available
It’s basically an expander not distortion
maybe they will eventually. They added a Saturation module in Mantra with 3 different modes, perhaps something like that could be adapted for the QC.
They always claimed they’d add some vocal-oriented fx at some point; it’d be nice if they streamlined a few of the Mantra features as blocks for the QC. Really disappointing to hear that plugin won’t make it to PCOM.
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you could use a tape deal for it, mix 100%, turn the delay time all the way down and the repeats as well, then you can use the drive from the delay for some harmonic saturation
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That’s not harmonic saturation. You clearly don’t understand what the effect is.
It’s well within the capability of the QC, and it’s useful on every track, not just vocals like the one person said. It sounds particularly nice on guitar.
Harmonic saturation is what hardware adds to sounds when it clips naturally adding harmonics and pleasant subtle distortion. Tape machines and tube preamps are often used for this and plugins often copy their properties to create harmonic saturation. That is why I suggested the tape delay, have a try and if it doesn’t do what you like forget about it. No need to be rude to someone who’s trying to help even if you think they are wrong.
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To echo diffractioncircuit:
What was asked is do you have a classic example of a hardware unit that achieves this effect that you have in mind. You are giving a generic term for an effect similar to “compressor” or “reverb”.
And I recommend being polite and civil. There’s no need for defensiveness or attitude.
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Very true. Dude just busts in here with a super vague broad effect type haha. The option of using the tape saturation from the tape delay is actually a great suggestion for something similar
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I agree! I wanna try that tape delay trick tonight
everyone loves the Strymon deco but I’ve never tried it. Maybe could get some similar tones
Try the Secret Sauce harmonic tone enhancer pedal available on Cortex Cloud by scubaduba.
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So I got a chance to try this out. Really cool. The tape delay block works well but I found I liked using the Plini delay block even better. It has a tape saturation control and a tape mod control which is really easy to tweak. I thought it sounded great and at more extreme settings is a really awesome Lofi sound!
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that is mainly how I use the tape delay as well, with a bit of wow and flutter makes for a great lofi. I might have to try Plini now
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Nolly’s Delay 2 is also great for this
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I don’t mean to be rude, and I apologize that it came out the way it did.
Delay with drive is not the same thing as harmonic saturation. That effect is not just saturation. The signal is examined carefully to see which frequencies can be boosted without any clipping, and to the maximum level without clipping. If one frequency is louder it gets boosted less.
Harmonic saturation, not any kind of drive.
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Can you give us an example of a plugin that does that?
From Google
Several excellent free harmonic saturation plugins are available for adding warmth, grit, and character to your audio. Some highly recommended options include Analog Obsession’s PreBOX and TUBA, Klanghelm’s IVGI, and Voxengo’s Tube Amp. For more versatile options, consider Kilohearts Distortion, Softube Saturation Knob, and FreeAMP by Klevgrand.
Here’s a breakdown of some popular free harmonic saturation plugins:
Analog Obsession:
PreBOX:
A versatile plugin that can add subtle warmth or more aggressive saturation.
TUBA:
Another great option from Analog Obsession, known for its smooth, tube-like saturation.
FET Drive:
A free plugin with tone, drive, mix, and output controls for dialing in parallel saturation or going all-in.
STEQ:
Another plugin by Analog Obsession, potentially useful for saturation effects.
Klanghelm:
IVGI:
Offers a clean, classy, and understated saturation effect. It features input/output gain, drive, and a frequency bias control.
IVGI2:
A more refined version of IVGI, with similar features and a smooth saturation character.
Voxengo:
Tube Amp: Emulates a single-tube microphone preamplifier.
Other Notable Free Plugins:
Kilohearts Distortion:
Part of the Kilohearts Essentials Bundle, offering flexible algorithms, a mix knob, spread, bias, dynamics, and a dice function.
Softube Saturation Knob:
A classic, simple plugin with input, output, and a single saturation knob.
FreeAMP:
A simplified version of Klevgränd’s flagship analog modeling plugin, known for its intuitive interface and versatile saturation types.
GSAT:
A plugin by TB Pro Audio that allows control over odd and even harmonics and includes character settings for clean, warm, crisp, and classic sounds.
GET Plus:
A free plugin with built-in clipping and oversampling, allowing control over the extension of harmonics and whether they are even, odd, or both.
Tips for Using Saturation Plugins:
Parallel Processing:
Use a send/return setup with a high-pass filter to apply saturation to a specific frequency range.
Subtle vs. Aggressive:
Experiment with the plugin’s controls to find the right amount of saturation for your desired effect, from subtle warmth to heavy distortion.
Harmonic Content:
Understand how different plugins affect harmonic content (odd vs. even) to achieve the desired sonic character.
Character Settings:
Explore the different character settings (e.g., clean, warm, crisp, classic) to find the best fit for your source material.
I’m not interested in running it into the distortion range, I want a harmonic saturation without distortion. It’s a cool effect, on any track, makes things sound more like they came from an expensive studio.
All these plugins emulate analog gear and and the subtle compression/saturation you obtain when you pass any signal through it, There is no harmonic analysis and addition of specific harmonics.
Harmonics are added or amplified whenever you distort/saturate/clip a signal and they are especially pleasing when they go through analog gear. You can call it saturation when it’s subtle and distortion when it’s not but it is the same exact process. A valve guitar amp does the same. Once again try the tape delay drive a low setting or a neural capture of a valve preamp and you’ll have that result. then decide if you like it or not. Do you actually own any of these plugins and have experience with them to say that they are different than what has been suggested here?