Voxengo VariSaturator

I've just bought the VariSaturator and have to say it's a very very nice plugin.

I will be using this on the mix buss to give a full rich sound, and on vocals to add that soft distortion which is so pleasing to the ear.

Like all "cool button" plugins, which this could easily be,- you can overdo it, but the spice this adds is pretty special and I'll be using to add interest to audio in many many situations.

The sound is very very hi quality, and it's a bargain at the price.

Varisaturator is such a great sounding plugin that can do so many things beyond saturation and adding harmonics.

When driven hard with a high FX level (hard mode), the dual band inflation can be used like OTT to bring forward the sound.  Some simple rebalancing of the high and low bands will achieve that bright sound, but in a much smoother way.

It can also be used like an EQ.  With the proper crossover frequency and input level, bringing up the FX level on the high band can achieve a lush sounding non-linear high boost that is much more rich, smooth and full than a simple high shelf boost.  I've tried this technique with many other plugins, but the digital waveshaping in Varisaturator is simply the smoothest and richest one!  The valve algorithm is also a nice option to warm up the highs.

The mid/side processing in Varisaturator is also very useful, especially on ambiences.  It really brings out the best in airy stereo signals like nothing else.

The workflow is simple and straightforward to manage the high and low bands.  You can link the controls on both bands with the right click, then individually tweak each band with the left click.

I am still finding many new uses for this plugin, and I don't think I could produce or mix without it!

It's pretty simple why Voxengo plugins are so good - Alexsey has a better ear compared to other developers.

His plugins sound so 'musical'.  I've used many other plugins that technically perform their designed function, yet somehow just don't sound good.

I now have a whole set of expensive plugins that are just taking up drive space.  They simply don't sound as good as thier Voxengo counterparts.