FabFilter Saturn 2 saturation plug-in: features and spec-based rating

FabFilter’s Saturn 2 is a saturation plug-in with 28 kinds of distortion, from subtle saturation (a faint distortion, as if passed through analog gear) such as tube, tape and transformer, to guitar amps and bit crushing. It offers multiband processing (processing split by range of pitch) of up to 6 bands, with a linear-phase option, and per-band drive, mix, feedback, dynamics and tone.

A saturation plug-in adds a faint distortion, as if the sound had passed through analog gear, to add thickness and warmth.

In this article we compare Saturn 2 with 12 saturation plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Image: from the FabFilter official press kit

Summary

Among the 12 saturation plug-ins, Saturn 2 is rank S. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and S is the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 5.0.

Strengths

• Range of texture (5 points): you can choose from a wide range, from subtle warmth to strong distortion.
• Per-band processing (5 points): you can change the distortion for lows and highs, so the sound is less likely to get muddy.
• Mix and tone control (5 points): you can adjust in detail how much is mixed with the original sound, and the tone.

Who it suits: people who want to shape saturation in detail, for example by changing the distortion band by band.

Main features of Saturn 2

28 kinds of distortion

Saturation adds a light distortion to a sound to give it warmth, thickness and liveliness. Saturn 2 has 28 kinds of distortion, from the coloration of studio gear such as tube, tape and transformer to guitar amps and broken sounds such as bit crushing. One plug-in covers everything from a faint tint to a large change in the sound.

Distort up to six bands separately

You can split the sound into up to six bands and apply a different type and amount of distortion to each. For example, you can leave the lows as they are and add tape-style coloration only to the mids and highs. For splitting the bands you can also choose linear phase, which does not disturb phase.

Per-band mix, tone and dynamics

For each band you can adjust drive, a mix with the original sound, feedback, dynamics and tone. Even when you add distortion, you can mix in the original sound to keep a natural thickness. Modulation that you attach by dragging can also move the distortion with the song.

Video: “Introduction to FabFilter Saturn 2” (official FabFilter YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube

Where it is useful

• Adding faint tape-style coloration only to the mids and highs of a vocal to bring it forward
• Leaving the lows of a bass as they are and adding only harmonics, so it is easier to hear on small speakers
• Adding different distortion band by band to a drum bus for more power

Rating by criterion

Range of texture: 5 / 5

We check the range of distortion types you can choose, from subtle warmth to strong distortion.

It has 28 kinds of distortion, from tube, tape and transformer to guitar amps and bit crushing.

Per-band processing: 5 / 5

We check whether the distortion can differ for low and high pitches.

It has multiband processing of up to 6 bands (linear phase can also be chosen).

Mix and tone control: 5 / 5

We check whether you can adjust how much is mixed with the original sound, and the tone.

Drive, mix, feedback, dynamics and tone can be adjusted for each band.

How we score (Saturation plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Range of texture	The range of distortion types you can choose, from subtle to strong	Choose from 20 or more kinds of distortion	Choose from 5 or more kinds of distortion	2 to 4 kinds	1 kind	—
Per-band processing	Whether the distortion can differ for lows and highs	Multiband processing of up to 6 bands	2 to 3 bands	—	—	No per-band processing
Mix and tone control	Control of how much is mixed with the original sound, and of the tone	Mix, tone, dynamics and more can be adjusted for each band	Both mix and tone are available	One of the two	—	Not mentioned on the official page

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: adding thickness and presence to vocals and backing tracks. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Range of texture" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

Trade-magazine review (for reference, not part of the score)

We summarized the main points from a review in an overseas music-production magazine.

Sound On Sound (August 2020)

• Praised the sound as good, both in subtle uses and with obvious distortion
• Praised the screen as much easier to use
• Pointed out that there are many knobs, so it takes a little effort to learn

Source: Sound On Sound review

Saturn 2 system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows / Mac
Plug-in formats	VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, AAX
Trial	30-day trial available
OBS (streaming)	Works as it is (VST2 is listed)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026. How to use plug-ins in the OBS streaming software is explained in How to use VST3 plug-ins in OBS.

Compared with other saturation plug-ins

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• Trash: features and rating (rank S)
• Decapitator: features and rating (rank B)
• MSaturator: features and rating (rank C)
• Radiator: features and rating (rank C)