How do I use the saturator?

The saturator is a mixing tool that adds harmonic richness and warmth to your tracks by introducing subtle to aggressive distortion.

Access the saturator by pressing Mix, then M3. The four encoders control different aspects of the effect.

Parameters

The dark grey encoder controls gain (input level driving the saturation). The mid grey encoder sets the clip threshold (where saturation begins). The light grey encoder adjusts tone (character of the saturation). The white encoder controls blend/mix (how much saturated signal you want).

Using the Saturator

Start with the white encoder near the middle to hear the effect. Increase the dark grey gain to push more signal into the saturator. Lower the mid grey clip threshold to start saturating earlier. Adjust the light grey tone to shape the harmonic content.

The saturator works on individual tracks or the master bus, adding everything from subtle analog warmth to aggressive clipping distortion. It's particularly effective on drums for punch, synth leads for presence, and the master channel for glue.