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Description

Experience the legendary sound of Abbey Road Studios right inside your DAW with the Waves Abbey Road Saturator. This powerful plug-in captures the essence of vintage analog saturation, offering a unique blend of the ultra-rare EMI TG12321 compander and two iconic console tones: the gritty, tube-driven REDD and the warm, solid-state TG12345. Developed in collaboration with Abbey Road Studios, this plugin lets you add subtle harmonic warmth or dive into deep, crunchy distortion, all with the precision of modern digital tools.

The Abbey Road Saturator isn't just about replicating classic gear; it's about expanding your creative possibilities. With its flexible mid-side processing, you can selectively apply saturation to your mix, whether you want to enhance the mid-range punch of drums or add shimmering highs to vocals and cymbals. The pre- and post-EQ controls allow you to fine-tune your sound, ensuring that your tracks sit perfectly in the mix.

But what truly sets this plug-in apart is its ability to shape sound beyond traditional saturation. The phase (polarity) switch and crossover frequency controls give you unparalleled control over the distortion's character, enabling you to craft sounds that are both familiar and refreshingly new. Whether you’re chasing that vintage Abbey Road vibe or looking to create your own sonic signature, the Abbey Road Saturator is your new secret weapon.

Key Features:

  • Developed in collaboration with Abbey Road Studios
  • Authentic emulation of crunchy tube and smooth solid-state saturation
  • Exclusive EMI TG12321 compander for pre-saturation excitement
  • Pre- and post-gain EQ for distortion shaping
  • Phase switch for dramatic alteration of distortion sound
  • Flexible crossover frequency control
  • Mid-side processing for targeted distortion application
  • Presets by renowned producers like Lu Diaz and Dave Pensado
  • Compatible with Mac and Windows in AU, AudioSuite, AAX, and VST formats

Owner's manual

Waves Abbey Road Saturator User Manual

Product specs

Software Type Analog saturation & distortion
Platform Mac, PC
Upgrade/Full Full
Download/Boxed Download
Bit Depth 64-bit
Format AAX Native, VST, VST3, AU, NKS, AudioSuite, SoundGrid
Hardware Requirements - Mac Intel Core i7 or higher (M1 support), 8GB RAM minimum
Hardware Requirements - PC Intel Core i5 / AMD Quad-core or higher (AVX required), 8GB RAM minimum
OS Requirements - Mac macOS 12 or later
OS Requirements - PC Windows 10 or later (21H2), 64-bit

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the Waves Abbey Road Saturator plugin?

The Waves Abbey Road Saturator is designed to add analog saturation and distortion to your audio tracks, enhancing warmth and character, and providing clarity and edge to vocals and instruments in a mix.

Is the Waves Abbey Road Saturator compatible with my DAW?

The plugin is compatible with major DAWs that support AAX Native, VST, VST3, AU, NKS, and AudioSuite formats, ensuring broad usability across different digital audio workstations.

What are the system requirements for running the Waves Abbey Road Saturator on a Mac?

To run the Waves Abbey Road Saturator on a Mac, you need macOS 12 or later, an Intel Core i7 processor or higher (M1 support included), and a minimum of 8GB RAM.

Can the Waves Abbey Road Saturator be used on a Windows PC?

Yes, it is compatible with Windows 10 or later (64-bit, version 21H2), requiring an Intel Core i5 or AMD Quad-core processor with AVX support and at least 8GB RAM.

What makes the Waves Abbey Road Saturator unique compared to other saturation plugins?

This plugin stands out due to its model of the Abbey Road Studios' analog gear, providing authentic vintage saturation and distortion, ideal for adding a classic analog feel to modern mixes.

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Introducing the Waves Abbey Road Saturator Plugin

Video thumbnail for Introducing the Waves Abbey Road Saturator Plugin by Waves Audio

Introducing the Waves Abbey Road Saturator Plugin

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Video thumbnail for Waves Abbey Road Saturator Plugin – Quick Demo by Waves Audio

Waves Abbey Road Saturator Plugin – Quick Demo

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Video thumbnail for Waves Abbey Road Saturator: Demo - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro by Produce Like A Pro

Waves Abbey Road Saturator: Demo - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro

Produce Like A Pro

Produce Like A Pro

Video thumbnail for Analog Saturation with a Twist: The Waves Abbey Road Saturator by Waves Audio

Analog Saturation with a Twist: The Waves Abbey Road Saturator

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Video thumbnail for I compared 8 TOP Saturator Plugins and these are the results! #saturator #mixing by Dom Sigalas

I compared 8 TOP Saturator Plugins and these are the results! #saturator #mixing

Dom Sigalas

Dom Sigalas

Video thumbnail for Waves Abbey Road Saturator - Review Demo by MixbusTv

Waves Abbey Road Saturator - Review Demo

MixbusTv

MixbusTv

Video thumbnail for First Look Review - Waves Abbey Road Saturator Plug-in by Production Expert

First Look Review - Waves Abbey Road Saturator Plug-in

Production Expert

Production Expert

Video thumbnail for Analog Mixing With Waves Abbey Road Saturator - Free Tutorial by Studio One Expert

Analog Mixing With Waves Abbey Road Saturator - Free Tutorial

Studio One Expert

Studio One Expert

Video thumbnail for A deep dive to Waves Abbey Road SATURATOR - guide tutorial by XNB

A deep dive to Waves Abbey Road SATURATOR - guide tutorial

XNB

XNB

Video thumbnail for Waves Abbey Road Saturator vs Black box analog HG-2 MS by Sledge Studio Production

Waves Abbey Road Saturator vs Black box analog HG-2 MS

Sledge Studio Production

Sledge Studio Production

Reviews

PROS

  • Adds pleasant color and warmth to music, enhancing overall sound quality

  • Effective on both master bus and individual tracks, providing versatility

  • Excels with vocals and drums, adding clarity and shimmer

  • Transforms dull mixes into vibrant, dynamic, and modern-sounding tracks

  • Offers a unique ability to "age" sounds, like making a tambourine sound 50 years old

CONS

  • Lack of detailed explanation for the compander module's functionality

  • Counterintuitive controls for crossover points can confuse users

  • Requires Waves Central software and constant online activation

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Waves Abbey Road Saturator.

Comparisons

  • Soundtoys Decapitator is frequently praised for its versatility and the unique 'E' setting, offering a favored alternative to Waves Abbey Road Saturator.

    Source
  • Toneboosters ReelBus 4, although a tape distortion plugin, is noted for its unique hysteresis parameter affecting high frequencies unlike any other Waves plugin.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • FabFilter's Saturn is highlighted for its versatile saturation capabilities and advanced anti-aliasing modes, distinguishing it from vintage model plugins.

    Source
  • The Abbey Road Saturator is praised for its controllability, offering nuanced adjustments despite a less informative manual.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Users find the Abbey Road Saturator effective for achieving desirable saturation on rap vocals, highlighting its particular strength in vocal applications.

    Source

User experience

  • Some users report needing to experiment with multiple instances or complementary plugins to achieve optimal results with the Abbey Road Saturator on vocals.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Waves Abbey Road Saturator - Exclusive First Look At Waves New EMI Inspired Distortion Plug-in | Production Expert

production-expert.com

Waves Abbey Road Saturator successfully captures the essence of vintage EMI gear, delivering rich, warm saturation that enhances both individual tracks and full mixes. With its user-friendly interface, it's easy to dial in pleasing tones, making it an excellent tool for engineers seeking to shape their sound. However, users should be cautious, as overuse can lead to muddiness, especially in dense mixes. Overall, the Abbey Road Saturator is a worthy addition for those looking to infuse their recordings with classic, analog warmth.

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Artist usage

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See how Mike Shinoda uses Waves Abbey Road Saturator

Mike Shinoda

Singer, Guitarist

Linkin Park

...
Verified via YouTube

In a livestream titled "11.13.20 - Bowl Of Destiny: Percussive, Tempo-building, Game Battle Track. Pt 2," Mike Shinoda uses the Waves Abbey Road Saturator plugin at the 3:13 mark.

See how Mick Gordon uses Waves Abbey Road Saturator

Mick Gordon

Guitarist, Composer

...
Verified via Photo

This plugin can be seen in this Instagram post by Mick Gordon at 00:09.

See how Colyn uses Waves Abbey Road Saturator

Colyn

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Magnetic Magazine

Colyn uses the Waves Abbey Road Saturator as part of his music production process, as confirmed in an interview with Magnetic Magazine by Kane.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Waves Abbey Road Saturator, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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