If you need saturated bass frequencies, Smaolab released the Akira Tube Free for Mac, Windows, and Linux (VST/AU/CLAP/LV2).
The freebie is a limited version of the Akira Tube Pro currently selling for €19,50.
Akira Tube Free is a tube emulation (surprise!) that targets bass frequencies with the “stone” knob. The signal is then routed to a three band EQ and into a lowpass filter that lets you control the cutoff frequency, giving you some basic tools for tone-shaping.
The plugin also includes a global mix knob, a waveshaper and dedicated input and output knobs to let you gainstage if needed.
Akira Tube Free also has selectable oversampling at either 2x or 4x the samplerate, which is nice when you really want to blow up some sounds while still keeping them agreeable.
The developer has provided a short demo of the plugin, but please note that some of the functions are reserved for the pro version:
The developer never explains what makes this an “authentic tube emulation,” but we’re promised an “analog feel.”
Personally, such marketing buzz doesn’t strike me as particularly effective unless more details are provided. Bold claims need to be backed up.
A developer that consistently does solid R&D and delivers exquisite products and comprehensive manuals instead of talk is Variety of Sound, which recently released their FeenstaubTC compression and saturation toolkit. Take notes, people!
Plugin design and marketing talk aside: what matters at the end of the day is the sound.
As far as I can hear Akira Tube Free sounds like it could be either sprinkled or doused successfully on a track depending on what you need. The EQ and filter can further assist the sound to its appropriate spot in a mix.
Venturing into crazy territory by pushing sound into both the bass saturation algorithm as well as the clipper could definitely yield some funny results. If life on the edge is too much you could always dial the effect back with the mix knob.
All in all, this is a nice offering, but I have some problems seeing what this plugin brings to the table because there are just so many excellent freebies with more functionality available.
The market is tough, and most people already own way too many saturators (if we’re being honest).
On the other hand, the developer does deserve a big shout-out for making the plugin available for Linux users. That’ll surely make a lot of people happy.
Downloading Akira Tube Free requires you to provide an email address before you’re taken to the download file (4,9 MB) that includes the installer.
For more saturation options, check out our free BPB Saturator plugin.
Download: Akira Tube Free (FREE – email required)
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