Saturation devices

bbrian · Post by **bbrian** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:06 pm

Anyone up for making a tube distortion simulator, or trying to fudge tape saturation? I know dadev had VTube which sounded good but does that company exist anymore? Also Vintage Warmer and Magneto exist but don't really sound like real tape. I like Voxengo Warmifier (native vst) for subtle tube shine but I think something for Scope would be awesome. Maybe just something that adds specified amounts of 2nd 3rd etc order distortion, depending on how hard it is driven?

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:53 pm

There's TDrive and TQDrive, part of Effects Extension. Is that what you want?

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:48 pm

maybe a virtual transformer to emulate typical tube output stages would apply better in this context

afaik that precious piece of iron and copper is at least as important as the tube itself.

cheers, Tom

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2004-07-16 19:49 ]</font>

bbrian · Post by **bbrian** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:42 am

As astroman suggested, I'm searching for more of a transformer or tube coloration simulator. I'd love to be using a Neve1073 or API 312 pre, or analog tape, but for now I have to keep things all digital due to my miniscule budget. I love the sound of slightly overdriven transformer coupled pres, tube amps, and tape, especially what they can do to the bottom end of signals.

blazesboylan · Post by **blazesboylan** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 1:45 am

I've never actually tried it but I've been thinking that it would be fun to attempt something like this with the basic SFP components. (Sorry BBrian this isn't exactly an answer to your question...!)

Take a compressor and feed the source signal into it. My guess would be that medium attack and slow release would be good. Now also feed the same source signal into a PEQ4 set up to roll-off highs and lows. Feed the PEQ4 into the sidechain of the compressor. Set the threshold at maybe -20 and the ratio at maybe 2:1. Feed the compressor into another compressor (no sidechain) with threshold, say, -16 and ratio 1.33. Feed that compressor into another one (no sidechain) with threshold -12 and ratio 1.33. Feed that into a compressor with threshold -9 and ratio 3:1 with make-up gain of +8 db.

Voila, high and low frequency shaping plus a 3:1 soft knee compressor of sorts... Does it work?!? I don't know, I haven't tried it.

My understanding of physics is limited too! So this is just a hack's idea of how to go about implementing it...

I've also toyed with the idea of a "bad op amp emulator", which would be: signal A goes into a compressor. The compressor's side chain is fed by a high pass filter. Input to the high pass filter is a gate. Sidechain for the gate is the source signal A. Input to the gate is... white noise!

From my favourtie device, the Control Room, of course. Voila, bad slew rate emulation...

Don't take these suggestions too seriously. I really am a physics idiot!

Still I'd be curious to hear what they sound like.

Cheers,

Johann

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 5:35 pm

great suggestions, blazesboylan

... and isn't it great that even a physics idiot can do all this without the risk of frying anything

maybe a true melt'n'smoke device could add some thrills...

bbrian, I once bought an old Philips reel-to-reel (tube based) for 5 Euro.
Later a technician had a peek at the circuit diagram (yes, there were times those were supplied with the gear - in this case as a surpise taped behind the motor) and he said 'they built bloody good units those days...'

Usually the motors of these recorders are dead anyway, rendering their practical use close to nothing, hence the prices 'as a favour to properly dispose of it'.

Cut the motor from the main power (if you know what that means - otherwise better forget this 'tip', some hazardous voltages inside !) so the unit is silenced, and you have a very unique piece of tube gear for almost free.

cheers, tom