5 tips to add saturation to your sounds

Drive saturation is a technique that is commonly used in music production to add warmth, richness, and character to audio signals. There are several ways to add drive saturation to an audio sample, and here are a few methods:

1. Saturation plugins - One of the easiest ways to add drive saturation to an audio sample is by using a saturation plugin. There are many saturation plugins available in the market, both free and paid, that can add a variety of saturation effects to your audio. Some popular saturation plugins include FabFilter Saturn, Soundtoys Decapitator, and Waves J37 Tape. The important thing is to drive the input, most plugs will call this drive or simply input. Like soundtoys decapitator you may get many different modes or types of saturation, so its key to try them out and find the one you like. 

2. Analog hardware - Another way to add drive saturation is by using analog hardware, such as a tape machine or a tube preamp. Analog gear can add a warm and natural saturation to your audio, which can be difficult to replicate with digital plugins like the waves or universal audio emulation.

3. Distortion pedals - Distortion pedals are another option for adding drive saturation to your audio. Guitar distortion pedals, in particular, are designed to add grit and distortion to electric guitar signals, but they can also be used to add saturation to other types of audio. Some popular distortion pedals include the Boss DS-1 and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff. Again, you can use plug in emulation like guitar rig or the pedals in your DAW, the pedal audio effect in Ableton is one of our studio favs.

4. Clip gain - You can also use clip gain to add saturation to an audio sample. Clip gain is a technique where you increase the volume of a specific section of an audio sample, causing it to distort and saturate. This technique can be useful for adding a subtle saturation effect to a specific part of the audio.

5. Tape emulation plugins - Finally, you can use tape emulation plugins to add a tape saturation effect to your audio. Tape emulation plugins simulate the sound of analog tape, which can add warmth, saturation, and compression to your audio. Some popular tape emulation plugins include Waves Kramer Master Tape and Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines.

It's worth noting that when using saturation, it's important to use it in moderation, as over-saturating your audio can lead to a distorted and unpleasant sound. Start with small amounts of saturation and adjust the amount to taste.