- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Location
- Washington DC
Sonimus Satson: Instant "Glue" and Warmth for Only $39.
You've most likely heard the term "glue" around these forums as well as other media; it's the "magic" the makes our drums sound cohesive, solidifies multiple bass layers, and adds that bit of "punch" and "bite" we attempt to get from other processors, but can come up short. This cohesiveness can be obtained through a variety of means whether it be EQing, compression, etc. but I have yet to find a solution that would quickly give me the results I was looking for within a matter of minutes...until I met Satson.
Hot Shit
My first experience with this lovely plug came when I found it included in one of my Computer Music downloads. It looked simple enough, and I was looking for a light CPU plug that would give me some drive/glue and keep me from having to drop PSP VintageWarmer2 on multiple tracks, bogging down my CPU. Satson hit the spot, instantly.
I dropped it into my drum bus and bumped up the gain a bit and applied a little filtering with the knobs...instant satisfaction. I did the same with a couple other busses (bass, leads, pads) as well as a few independent instrument channels and was still met with great results. For shits and grins, I cranked the hell out of the gain knob on one of my synth channels and much to my surprise–it sounded extremely thick/crispy without any harsh artifacts.
Fast forward a couple weeks to this very forum where I watched Audio's tutorial video...and noticed at the 17:00 minute mark he pointed out his love for Satson 2.1. Of course he had the full version, and I noted the inclusion of a FAT switch as well as some hidden gems on the back panel (Super Gain, Gain Compensation, etc.). I traveled over to the Sonimus website and was dumbfounded at the price: $39 (USD).
What is it?
Essentially, it's a analog console modeled (SSL perhaps?) that you would most likely use as the ending insert in a chain. Satson contains:
- VU meter (user adjustable calibrations for headroom preference).
- A gain knob to adjust gain (trim) staging or to add a boost to your selected channel/bus.
- Two lovely filters (hi/low).
- Optional FAT mode.
- Gain boosting options on the back panel.
The closest plug-in I can compare it to would be PSP VintageWarmer 2, though the sonic quality is slightly different due to the emulation which each device is based upon–this is not a bad thing by any means.
To add, your purchase also includes the Satson Buss plugin. There are a couple differences between the two, most notably Satson Channel offers Hi/Low filters while Buss offers Dual Mono and two types of crosstalk modes (vintage or modern). You're essentially getting two great tools for one ridiculously low price.
Who Would Use It?
Producers looking for a...
...highly accurate analog console emulated plugin capable of producing a pleasing "drive" to a sound.
...plugin to add subtle cohesion to their mix(es) and/or busses.
...a tool to aid with headroom measurements/adjustments.
...cost efficient alternative to other high priced plug-ins that do virtually the same thing.
The Verdict
The Sonimus Satson package is brilliant. It sounds amazing and despite the abundance of knobs, switches, etc., it's capable of doing quite a lot in aiding your workflow and your mixes. Once you've read the manual, you'll quickly discover just how incredibly flexible Satson is. You can use it a little or subtlety or a lot to drive the hell out of something. The fact that Sonimus has delivered such an amazing plug-in at such a bargain price ($39 USD) is reason enough to toss your money at this up and coming developer. If you have a subscription to Computer Music, check out the CM version of the plug before you buy...but again, for a measly $39, you can't lose.
5/5 for flexibility, quality, simple UI and most of all–value.
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