This Tube Saturator Is GREAT! Reviewing The

[@Producelikeapro]

What have been your favourite plugins released in 2022? Let me know below!

[@leefchapman]

Loved the Baby Audio crystalline.

[@peevee605]

For now, it’s the LISA and Kirchhoff EQ’s and UVI’s software synth Monster 6 which emulates the Alesis Andromeda to the tee.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@peevee605 the Kirchhof EQ! Yes!

[@werewolfmedialv]

Kush audio just released the "Lg Drive" dual stage tube saturator. It's been slaying on drum busses!

[@carl_47]

For me definitely Magma BB Tubes best 2022 Plug In

[@charlesrocks]

Well...I wasn't planning on buying anything today...but this I HAD TO HAVE. Amazing demo Warren. Thank you. I've put this into my vocal bus and it's amazing.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for watching! It's a great $25 purchase for the day

[@charlesrocks]

@@Producelikeapro Easily the best bang-for-the-buck value plug-in I've bought this season.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@charlesrocks agreed

[@hectormann1843]

Analog Obsession!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha indeed

[@urltom]

I appreciate the production notes only you can bring, not just the "what" but the "why". Thank you ever so much!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@OfficialFatLip]

yeah the WHY when you can get a crack is a big question cause if you buy one you can't use the thousands of WAVES cracks...cause the cracks contain ALL the waves plugs...WAVES should upload only some of their cracked versions like Plugin Alliance, Ik Multimedia and softube so the real bedroom musicians who can't afford a rig decide to by them later..

[@jeremyholcombe3202]

Grabbed this about 12 hours ago. Love it! A very satisfying plug in purchase.

[@Producelikeapro]

Very cool

[@kellypeterson2625]

I purchased that a couple days ago. Tried it late at night very quickly and thought it was just another distortion. But then gave it a another try yesterday. It really shines on acoustic guitar, vocals. Need to try it on drums. Great review Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks so much! Will try it on an acoustic track as well

[@kellypeterson2625]

@@Producelikeapro I started with Chicarelli's warm acoustic preset. (I think that's what it's called) Didn't change much. Cheers Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

@@kellypeterson2625 thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@buhlir]

I really wish they would redo the J37 with this higher audio processor quality.

[@clivehunte3026]

My favourite plugin was a late arrival to my library of plugins, but I now have the Frame Studio Reverb. I love it

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing Clive!

[@clivehunte3026]

@@Producelikeapro Nice one, Warren. The BB Tube sounds great👍🏾

[@Producelikeapro]

@@clivehunte3026 thanks! I’m pretty impressed!

[@adamsteelproducer]

It’s so much fun! And really helps to fatten up the mix in cool ways ❤

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks so much, Adam. You rock!!!

[@OfficialFatLip]

you serious? lol, talk about placebo effect...this is nothing compare to hundreds of plugs out there dawg!

[@adamtown64]

With anything like this…using it in a subtle manner I think is possibly best…😊🤷🏻‍♂️ I bought it today!

[@Producelikeapro]

Fabulous

[@aaronlove3263]

Thanks for review! I got it a few days ago and started adding it to a bunch of tracks in an instrumental project, livened and dirtied things up in a good way. Drum bus, guitars. Maybe it does the same thing as other plugins, but it’s new and in the honeymoon phase.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@hummarstraful]

I would go as far to say that it saved the lead vocal track. It really was lackluster before the Magma then came alive and poked through afterwards. It got my foot tapping!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you found it useful!

[@thebarbaryghostsf]

This thing is a monster, and has completely revolutionized my production game.

[@klamtmarco2114]

thats a great idee i think tis plugin i must have . greats from swiltzerland .

[@Producelikeapro]

Hello to you in Switzerland!

[@paulgreblick]

Holy Jeepers, Warren - This mix is awesome. (You have me ready to buy a course from you if you will please show how you mixed this from scratch.)

[@nj1255]

Definitely the best saturator from Waves so far (IMO, ofc). Waves still creates some gems now and then. It's a shame that their business model is absolute dogshit for the users.

[@annode]

Listening to the effect on the vocal, I recognize it as if the audio were being routed through and overdriving an efficient low wattage speaker, like a 10" or 12" 1968 console TV speaker.

[@Producelikeapro]

Interesting! Thanks ever so much!

[@Ultimate_Wasabi]

It's nice, but at this point I don't think I really need another saturation plugin. There are so many good ones already that do everything this does. I will say I really dislike Waves KZbin commercial for this where they have one guy after the next saying, "You've never heard anything like this. It changes everything". It's sleazy marketing in a market that is "saturated" with promises and lies.

[@nicholaslloyd1067]

Yes - Decapitator is great and I know Warren uses it a lot - so is this better?

[@neal_laugman]

"Valve" is much more descriptive of the function than "tube." If one thinks in terms of a water main with a valve in the middle of it, a small amount of effort with the valve exerts control over a much larger force of water. Now substitute electricity for the water - and now you know how tubes and transistors amplify sound.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for the great comment!!

[@boogiejos]

Hi Warren, I agree with you: I have been using this plugin with great pleasure, due to your comments on it. I do not understand people (with a lot less experience than you have) who are bullying Waves. Also with this plugin. I appreciate your view as a pro more, than somebody who only has bedroom experience (😀). Another proper and professional review. Thanks. Have a great year!

[@Y42]

gotta be honest: after hearing "its a gamechanger" for the 100th time, I wasn`t shure about that. but ccheeeeeeeeeeeesss, its great, it got what an old/nice/intact transformer got, I remember the times my boss send me around the mixing desk to dial up some of his old tube equipment to get out some nice harmonics. this plug in is a GAINCHANGER for shure, but hoenstly I love it!!! PLUS the little tube is my newest "pre amp" :D

[@Joey-rp5vg]

That sounds like a great little tool. It does what it says on the tin. Thanks very much for the video

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you enjoyed the review

[@hatusage]

Normally I avoid Waves plugins like the plague, but I had to buy this one. It's stupidly cheap at the moment, as well. Lil Tubes included, so that you can spread it on every channel. It has replaced ALL my saturation plugins, except for a few instances of Decapitator :-)

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing Robin!

[@bobbykanemusictube]

Just started using it. It's so nice. SOOOOOOOOO NICE!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@adamwollins7201]

I saw this and thought "Right. Another nicely timed Waves release of something else I'll want but won't use" ... after watching Warren's review ... Meh what's $25. It sounds great! Thanks Warren. Great review. You sold me. Will submit some mixes for review into the Academy where I use it.

[@justinmclaren4268]

Tried the lil tube plugin that was free on Black Friday. Sounds remarkably like the UAD 610b side by side.

[@leefchapman]

Been hearing so many good things about this. Looking forward to see what else Magma brings us.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Lee! You Rock!,,

[@lairdey]

There are people who absolutely HAVE to hate on Waves, despite the myriad of notable producers who make great mixes with their plugins. All the comments from “no gain staging,” to “propaganda,” to “how do you sleep at night?” Warren or Greg Wells could take any of these things and make fantastic works with them. People who have time for these types of criticisms are likely too busy tearing other people down that they aren’t doing something actually productive with their time and energy.

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

Well said!

[@TheBlackJewelz]

HAVE TO! For barely middle-class starving artists like myself Waves is an unbelievable benefit. The capabilities it gives us is what I used to only DREAM of

[@bigkickleo]

Yep - I noticed all the troll smack on the Waves videos - AS IF Joe Fkng Ciccarelli, and Greg Fkng Wells have to SHILL for ANY manufacturer for money - Give. Me. A. Fkng. Break. Morons - thanks for another GREAT in depth examination of another interesting tool!! Cheers!!

[@TransistorLSD]

People are probly mad about Waves Update Plan stuff, and for a reason. But no need to go overboard of course.

[@angermanagementstudios]

Waves update plan pal. Simple. They’ve made some cracking plugins over the years but they can bugger off as far as I’m concerned.

[@buhlir]

Im definitely digging this plug. but I have to say I think kush does saturation a bit better. and they just released a similar plugin the LG Drive. They both sound great though. I tested some mono drums through my concertone and put both these plug on the original and they both compared really great. same style of transient saturation smush. ha

[@JohnGauge790]

This sounds impressive. Nice demo.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@DaveSpinnler]

Seemingly, this plugin doesn‘t do s**t…it’s basically a „gain changer“ with a bit of eq… Check the review and thorrough test from paul third on it…it‘s a joke

[@TransistorLSD]

Nah, Paul didn't say it's completely useless. It does saturate. But it's not a game changer... Just another saturator.

[@DaveSpinnler]

@@TransistorLSD true, i‘ll give you that. But nonetheless, not in amy way or form worth the hype

[@TransistorLSD]

@@DaveSpinnler indeed, you have much better options from other companies

[@relaxmax6808]

You have a better haircut than some thumbnails where you have a kind of weird haircut with your hair standing on end! 😄

[@Vmadethebeat]

Great review/ tutorial 👍👍

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@Vmadethebeat]

@@Producelikeapro Yessir 👍

[@russellclark2651]

Hmm, I was gonna try and make do with the free Lil Tube, but dang, BB is very tempting. Seems like it could be a go-to fattener.

[@GregoryKeithe]

Great demo! I think I should get one of these.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Gregory!

[@GregoryKeithe]

@@Producelikeapro My pleasure! Your energy and love for music in general is always inspiring.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@GregoryKeithe thanks ever so much

[@danepaulstewart8464]

If anything - I wanted to hear it go the OTHER WAY. Lowering the input significantly so as to hear what it sounds like when it’s doing its thing in a clean manner, because it’s clearly doing more than just distortion. Seems like they set the input at a really high sensitivity amount to start with.

[@BounceboyProductions]

Dear Warren / Produce like a Pro team - I really value your opinions and advice from all your videos, but isn’t this BB Tubes just doing the same job as the Softube Saturation Knob and Wavearts Tube Saturator Vintage..? I’ve been using these FREE plugs in recent years and I don’t want to spend out on yet another plug-in doing the same job.. Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.

[@richardaling5278]

Paul Third did a great review about this stupid plugin. He used 2 free plugins to let it null completely. And above 2x oversampling aliasing won't disappear. This is a big fraude!

[@DigiMixAudio]

Got it, thanks for the tips!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Jake

[@tommibjork]

Had to get it when I saw the discount add this week. Totally amazing plugin.

[@mrnelsonius5631]

I’ve been skeptical of this one because of the completely overblown marketing. I appreciate that your video is a legitimate review and not just “This is a GAME CHANGER!!” hyperbole. It sounds nice though. I think the transformer is a bit too hyped for a genuine transformer sound, would love a way to dial it back but I have True Iron for the subtle stuff. Don’t know if I need BB Tubes yet, we’ll see :)

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing your opinion

[@ziebanez]

I bought it and it's nice, but why is it SOO difficult to include automatic gain compensation ?

[@Producelikeapro]

I suppose for me if it’s last in the chain (as I used it here) I don’t really care. Also, the 99.99% tiles I’ve used ‘automatic gain’ it doesn’t sound the same! Haha it depends one how they measure it, peak? LUFS? When using a saturation plug in you’re going to get a very different perspective on volume because it’s initially attacking the transients. Ultimately if you can’t hear the volume difference then maybe the auto gain might help?

[@danluscombe5006]

If you want gain compensation, just use the sensitivity knob. It drives your signal harder into the settings without turning up the gain. Or just y’know, get the effect you want and adjust the level in the mix 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@danbriggs3106]

don't ever make that girl cry expression again but I loved this ...this plugin is definitely a game changer ..ive watched tons of reviews for fun even though I own it...I hope you can tell other big name engineers to review it soon..ive never had this feeling for a plugin before.

[@lance134679]

Seems to be really good. I like how few controls there are, but what's there is useful. I imagine copious use of the transformer would create a lot of low-end buildup and makes things kind of messy, but I guess the HP filter helps with that.

[@JohnSmith-fv7fi]

Wow. That sound is pretty amazing on the mix bus. This is some of the closest that I’ve heard to that beautiful harmonic analogue sound.

[@TransistorLSD]

Kind of like a tape, but with more energy. Sonnox Inflator comes to mind, but again, this thing has more PUNCH.

[@joev4483]

Thank you!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@JohnSmith-fv7fi]

I think I would have turned up the post tone control on the lead vocal just a little because the heavy beast saturation tends to loose a little lush top end.

[@peterheinen6110]

Small remark: i first used butch vig vocals on various mastering tracks ... experimenting on send and return i was able to remaster on old album into 24 pcm wav. This looks very goof too, but can you use it like mastering amp?

[@matrixate]

It's about time they start using oversampling in their nonlinear effect plugins. So this is a tube and transformer emulation. I would have liked to see an odd and even ordered harmonic toggle.

[@christiannilsen2835]

Wow that is cool

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@leemendez7876]

Where in your vocal chain would you place this?

[@johnmcvicker6728]

This seems pretty interesting. Would it work with a Waves SuperRack or other offboard for Live sound? I may want to give this a try on a live setup with a pretty basic configuration using Live Professor to add plug-ins. This might work to liven up a broadcast mix or other channels.

[@Hammerman48]

Download last week…..great plugin!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@Hammerman48]

@@Producelikeapro Well we are both Essex boys by birth.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@Hammerman48 haha thanks

[@peterzuehlke]

Type A, B switch may refer to some type of emulation of type A vs type b push pull amps. just a guess. audio sounds compressed.

[@loucalone]

hello! Lil tubes is included in BB Tubes or no ? ty !!

[@princetonaudio]

-thank you so much!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@kenjohnson3096]

Who is the Artist and song? Really like it.

[@simonb7053]

Hello. Thank you , very interesting . Is lil tube a combination in some secret proportion of the Beauty+Beast or something else ?

[@JayTheLane]

Think Paul Third slammed this?! I guess if it sounds good and is useful that's mostly what matters.

[@fuserproducer]

Thanks Warren! It seems that Waves Magma series plugins have become another very intriguing, interesting, and 'must-have' bundle within the rich collection of Magma plugins. Personally, I love what Waves are developing, and it's really hard not to buy and apply them in mixing sessions. Hopefully, they will come up with more and more amazing plugins that will definitely make our jaws drop.

[@xgmode]

The tone pre has a bug at both the extremes, you can see it with a spectrum analyzer. upsampling appears not to work at 4x and 8x.

[@stephenpertesis3204]

bummed out. I bought this and THEN realized I can’t download, let alone authorize, due to being on OS 10.14. It requires 10.15

[@jeremythornton433]

I just bought it yesterday and tried it on my master buss. So far, so good! I need to watch more videos on it though to make it shine. I'm just at the beginning of yours right now.

[@GrandoFromage]

OMG Matt Lange must be on some heavy stuff lool

[@splashesin8]

😃

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Audrey

[@Mourninghorse]

Great Review warren thanks!!! is that a Lewitt 240 Pro mic you are using for your voice ? and is it just me and (correct me of i'm wrong) are you speaking onto the rear of the Mic as the Lewitt logo is facing the Camera!!! just thought i would ask... maybe your tech inadvertently turned it around.....lol thanks JC

Have been a Waves plug-ins user for quite a while but now they are falling out of favor by forcing people to buy more hardware to use their software, I have high Sierra and Apogee thunderbolt with a mac pro mid 2012 dual 6 cpu and 128gb of ram and can't go any further in o/ s ,most of my mastering software is still working fine because of the software writers understand that if you configure your software for the lowest common denominator you will sell way more than if you cather to the few elitists that can afford to keep buying and buying more hardware to run the software.

[@evol_si_dog]

2012? I don’t think that Waves is responsible for how quickly current technologies become obsolete/obsolete. It’s just inevitable. So Waves has to follow the technology just like everyone else, if they want to stay in business. It’s kinda like complaining because Spotify doesn’t stream on your 8-track player 🙃

[@StaticTeaz]

I might buy this. I wanted to use the free one (like this) from Softube but it had a huge installer and was problematic. It get "free" stuff being a backdoor way to getting one dependent on a certain company, yet I hate that. It's one reason I avoid Apple even though my texts end up in a different color which apparently is a "red flag" to dumb girls in Southside Pittsburgh.

[@kcrknp]

I use the softube sometimes but even the free waves saturation plugin sounds better

[@StaticTeaz]

@@kcrknp Nice. Klanghelm is a nice freebie too. I have a Brainwox subscription so I use a lot of their plugins.

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

I got Lil Tube for free and it's different than anything else I own. Not better, but different, which is what I want. I downloaded the demo for BB Tubes and it's very versatile. Makes Lil Tube sound primitive in comparison. I'd buy it, but that Waves upgrade thing every year turned me off from the company.

[@banger-fn6du]

this is a cheat,, but a good cheat

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks ever so much

[@Yer_Da_]

This is not a good advert for that lewitt mic - what tf is going on with that freq response

[@Randyrocker1]

Your half way through the video and you haven't even touched the Bass Relief yet? Do you purposefully ignore certain buttons to keep viewers watching, to see if you take notice of the available buttons? I've seen you do this before, is it your trick to keep listeners?

[@aemaury]

yikes

[@aliientertainment1628]

This is just Waves version of the Black Box

[@PatApoo]

I have and love both Black Boxes original and HG2 and they sound nothing like the Magna BB. Not saying one is better than the other just saying they are different.

[@electricwhiterabbit]

No AGC on this. Bummer

[@StaticTeaz]

Idk after watching... SPL Iron (Brainworx) is pretty litty.

[@keithferris9574]

I just got Big Al from Neold, and it's awesome.

[@Ultimate_Wasabi]

@@keithferris9574 Neold makes some great plugins.

[@Ultimate_Wasabi]

I like the Black Box plugin as well. Closer to the hardware than most plugins.

[@StaticTeaz]

@@Ultimate_Wasabi I've tried that too but seem to get better results (for my taste) with the VSM-3.

[@Ultimate_Wasabi]

@@StaticTeaz It's all good. We each have different tastes. Still, do we really need another saturation plugin? I know these companies need to come out with new stuff in order to survive, but this just seems non-innovative.

[@mikeswell9021]

I wonder if anyone is ever gonna do a real review of another plug-in nobody needed to buy ! Rookies will keep falling for it every time 🤣

[@dontfuckwithquerns6459]

Ugh... Too long

[@Mikas_Emil]

Saturation.. And then we add 2dB so everyone thinks it's better 👌 ......

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, saturation will add volume (not in transient peaks as those are being initially effected greatly) and as you saw and I hope heard, I turned it back back and the results were still much better!

[@Mikas_Emil]

@@Producelikeapro Yeah, I def. did. It was a fine demonstration, and the plugin sounds good. However I do not like the fact that many plugin developers and also Waves very often plays the effected signal louder in their own demos. And it doesn't stop at the demo - it goes into to plugin. In 2022 it should be within grasp to program a plugin that can turn the output volumne down when extra volume is clearly being added with the saturation/gain staging before. I do understand why, though: it sounds better (=louder) when you initially put it on. And louder = more sales. Prove me wrong, please! .. and just to be clear; I admire your work and your sharing very much. All the best Mikas

[@hr2186]

Gross. BB really....