User Manual

ManualsBrandsFabFilter ManualsComputer AudioSaturn 2 Saturation and Distortion Software

Input and output controls

Next to the MIDI learn button, the bottom bar contains various input/output options and settings.

When Linear Phase is enabled, both multi-band crossover filtering and internal oversampling (High Quality

mode) is done using linear phase filters. As this avoids phase distortion/smudging, it makes Saturn 2 much

more suitable for mastering purposes. Note that other types of filtering that are

taking place (e.g. Tone EQ,

pre/post EQ stages for the different distortion types, amp and cabinet modelling) do not switch to linear phase

processing, as this would highly

affect the actual character of the different styles.

The High Quality button controls the oversampling of the internal distortion

algorithms. Distortion processing

introduces digital aliasing effects, especially when applying a lot of drive. Enabling High Quality mode will

drastically reduce aliasing artifacts by oversampling the internal saturation section, at the cost of using more

CPU power.

Using Good mode (8 times oversampling) will be more than sufficient to suppress possible aliasing in most

cases. In Superb mode (32 times oversampling), aliasing will be reduced to an absolute minimum, but the

CPU load may increase quite drastically, depending on the number of bands and the chosen distortion styles.

The Global Bypass button lets you bypass the entire plug-in. While most hosts already provide the ability to

bypass plug-ins, our internal global bypass feature is guaranteed to work correctly with Linear Phase and High

Quality modes (compensating for the latency of the plug-in) and also applies soft bypassing to avoid clicks.

While the plug-in is bypassed, the frequency analyzer stops and a red line at the top of the bypass button

appears.

As soon as you hover the mouse over the output button, right next to the bypass button, a panel with various

options and large input/output/pan knobs will pop up, giving you access to the following settings:

Unrestricted Feedback

When Unrestricted Feedback (FB) is enabled, the plug-in can self-oscillate endlessly due to feedback,

even if there's no more input or playback in your DAW has stopped. By default, Unrestricted Feedback is

disabled which means that the feedback amount for each band is automatically reduced when the plug-

in input becomes silent.

Channel Mode

The Channel Mode button selects how the stereo channels in Saturn are used: in normal Stereo mode

(L/R) or in Mid/Side mode (M/S). Mid/Side mode lets you create a wide variety of stereo effects that are

otherwise not possible. You can learn more about mid/side processing in this tutorial:

www.fabfilter.com/video/#mid-side-demystified

Input level/pan

The input reading in the output button shows the current input gain and lets you adjust it from -36 dB to

+36 dB. To change the gain, you simply drag the input reading in the output button in the bottom bar

up and down. For precise adjustments, or to change the panning, hover over the output button or click it

once to access the input gain/pan knobs.

The input gain and pan knobs are also modulation targets

Output level/pan

The output reading shows the current output gain, also adjustable from -36 dB to +36 dB. It

works the

same as the input reading and knobs and is also a modulation target. Note that you can overdrive

the

filters by increasing the input gain and reducing the output gain at the same time.

Mix

You can use the mix slider to mix some of the original (dry, unprocessed) input signal back

into the

output signal, reducing the amount of filtered (wet) signal. Like the input and output

parameters, this is

also a modulation target.

Next: MIDI learn