Available for download, FabFilter Saturn 2 is a distortion and harmonic saturation plug-in intended for sound design, mixing, and even mastering. Saturn 2 builds upon the original Saturn to add a host of new features as well as improvements that bolster both its operation and sound.

Like the original, Saturn 2 is a multiband distortion engine, with the ability to select frequency bands, and tweak them as you see fit. Like the original, Saturn 2 offers multiple types of distortion, an easy to use GUI, and comprehensive opportunities for modulation.

Each of these core foundational elements has been improved in this latest version. The GUI has been thoughtfully redesigned, giving you a darker color scheme for easier visibility in long sessions, and four resizable interface sizes are available. Modulation options are still endless, but visualizing them in the GUI is now greatly improved, with color-coded, animated responses that make your routing crystal clear. You can now curve the envelope generator’s attack, release, and decay stages. The Envelope Follower has a Transient Detection mode to tightly track to drums. The XLFO section now features legato MIDI triggering and targeting for a smoother operation in Frequency Offset and Balance parameters.

As for distortion types, well, now Saturn offers 28 kinds of distortion, up from the previous 16. You’ll find subtle versions of Tape, Tube, and Saturation that will find a home in mastering contexts, as well as amp styles for guitaristic distortion. You’ll even note new complicated methods of distortion which mangle your sound with pitch shifting.

This plug-in is available for Mac and Windows operating systems. It will work in VST, VST3, AU, AAX, and AudioSuite formats.