Module Reference · Saturation & Character

Saturation

Saturation is the deepest color stage in the rack: eighteen drive types spanning tape, tube, console, transformer and diode emulations through soft and hard clipping, fuzz, bit crush, outright Destroy, and a Wavefold shape that bends peaks back on themselves for buzzy, synth-like harmonics. Bias, Symmetry, Fold and Rectify shade the harmonic flavor; pre-tilt and post-shelves aim the drive at the frequencies you choose and finish the tone.

Then it goes places most saturators do not: a multiband mode with per-band drive, a feedback path with its own tone filter for compounding amp-like grit, transient ducking so hits stay clean while tails burn, and a dynamic mode - including a Memory character that reacts to recent level history - so the distortion breathes with the performance.

Saturation module editor in GhostInTheMachine
SATURATION MODULE SCREENSHOT INCOMING
ACTUAL UI · SATURATION MODULE CLICK TO ENLARGE

Why it hits different

The GhostWare take.

  • 18 drive algorithms - one module covers warmth to annihilation.
  • Dynamic and Memory modes make the drive respond to the playing.
  • Multiband drive, feedback and transient ducking for surgical filth.

In the shot

Reading the panel.

  • 1
    SPECTRUM

    Input spectrum with the drive emphasis overlaid.

  • 2
    TRANSFER CURVE

    The exact waveshape applied, updating with every knob move.

  • 3
    DRIVE DECK

    Character, oversampling, multiband and dynamics options.

Control Showcase

Every control, explained.

30 controls, named exactly as they appear in the plugin.

Drive 0 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

How hard the signal pushes into the saturation stage.

Bias -100 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Leans the distortion onto one side of the waveform for a warmer, tube-like color.

Symmetry -100 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Skews the wave shape positive or negative for different harmonic flavors.

Tone -12 to 12 dB (default 0 dB)

Post-saturation tilt: darker or brighter.

Low Preserve 0 to 400 Hz (default 0 Hz)

Keeps everything below this frequency clean so bass stays solid while the rest saturates.

High Smooth 0 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Tames harsh high-frequency hash generated by heavy drive.

Character

Six macro voicings - Tube, Tape, Console, Digital, Warm, Aggressive - that reshape the whole stage.

TubeTapeConsoleDigitalWarmAggressive
Oversampling

Runs the distortion math at 2x or 4x internal resolution to reduce harsh digital artifacts (aliasing). Off is cheapest on CPU, 4x is cleanest.

Off2x4x
Auto Makeup on / off

Compensates output level as drive increases so loudness stays comparable.

Output -24 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Final level trim after the module, for matching loudness when you compare.

Drive Type

The core waveshape: from Clean Warmth, Tape, Tube, Console and Transformer through Diode, Soft/Hard Clip, Wavefold, Fuzz, Lo-Fi, Bit Crush, Modern, Bass, Vocal, Drum and full Destroy.

LegacyClean WarmthTapeTubeConsoleTransformerDiodeSoft ClipHard ClipWavefoldFuzzLo-FiBit CrushModernBassVocalDrumDestroy
Multiband

Splits the signal into three bands so each range gets its own drive.

OffOn
MB Low X 40 to 1000 Hz (default 200 Hz)

Low/mid split point in multiband mode.

MB High X 1000 to 12000 Hz (default 2500 Hz)

Mid/high split point in multiband mode.

MB Low Drv -24 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Extra drive (or clean-up) for the low band in multiband mode.

MB Mid Drv -24 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Extra drive for the mid band in multiband mode.

MB High Drv -24 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Extra drive for the high band in multiband mode.

Shape Soft 0 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Softens the transfer curve so even hard shapes bend instead of snap.

Fold 0 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Bends peaks back on themselves (wavefolding) for buzzy, synth-like harmonics.

Rectify 0 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Flips the bottom half of the waveform upward for gritty octave-up artifacts.

Pre Tilt -12 to 12 dB (default 0 dB)

Tilts the tone before the saturator so drive lands on the frequencies you choose.

Pre Pivot 100 to 8000 Hz (default 1000 Hz)

Pivot frequency for the pre-tilt.

Post Low -12 to 12 dB (default 0 dB)

Low shelf after the saturation for final weight.

Post High -12 to 12 dB (default 0 dB)

High shelf after the saturation for final sheen.

Feedback 0 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Feeds saturated output back into the input for compounding, amp-like grit.

FB Tone 500 to 12000 Hz (default 4000 Hz)

Filters the feedback path so the regeneration stays focused.

Dynamics

Dynamic saturation: Compress rides drive down on peaks; Memory reacts to recent level history for a breathing character.

OffCompressMemory
Dyn Amount 0 to 100 % (default 0 %)

How strongly the dynamic mode modulates the drive.

Trans Duck 0 to 100 % (default 0 %)

Briefly reduces saturation on transients so hits stay clean while tails stay dirty.

Ceiling -12 to 0 dB (default 0 dB)

A hard output ceiling: nothing leaves the module louder than this.