VOCALS & MASTERING
Sugarfields
A regular choice in developer Tomonobu Hara's own sessions. Start with the character he reaches for, then make it work for your music.
AMATERAS JAPAN · ANALOG SERIES
Transformer Saturator
Your familiar sound.
A little more to love.
Sheen for a voice. Body for a bass.
For those times when a clean recording could use a little more texture.
AMATERAS Transformer Saturator adds the character of analog hardware transformers to your tracks.
Start with one preset.
Adjust the amount and find the sound that suits your song.
Transformer saturation. Rooted in real hardware.See the developer's workflow ↓
01 / LISTENHear it in the music.
Give your sound
sheen, body
and presence.
Use it on a stereo mix in mastering. Then explore it across the individual tracks in your session.
Bring sheen to a vocal. Give instruments more body and a stronger sense of presence.
The inspiration is the feel of shaping a record through a great analog console.
Start by listening to the stereo demo below. Compare the processed and unprocessed sound, and hear how the character changes.
Transformer Saturator — audio demo & introductionListen with sound on.
Bring that character to your own music.
Choose a preset, then adjust the amount.
View price & buyWindows / macOS · VST3 / AU
View price and purchase details at checkout.
02 / START HEREBring that character to each track.
Put a transformer
before and after
your EQ and comp.
Try it across your mix, choosing a character for each voice and instrument as you build the track.
Developer Tomonobu Hara often starts with two instances: one before his usual EQ and compression, and one after.
It brings the idea of input and output transformers in analog hardware into your DAW workflow.
- 01 / INPUT
UK Modern
Start with an instance of Saturator before your EQ and compressor, in the input-transformer role.
Transformer Saturator - 02 / YOUR MIX
EQ + COMP
Shape the tone and dynamics with the tools and techniques you already know.
Your usual EQ & compressor - 03 / OUTPUT
UK Vintage
Finish with a second instance for a richer, juicier output-transformer character.
Transformer Saturator
A starting point, not a rule.
Match the bypassed and processed levels, then listen in context. Swap the presets, or use a single instance. Let your ears decide what the music needs.
03 / FIND YOUR TONEStarting points from real sessions.
Choose a transformer.
Find your character.
For gentle coloration across your tracks, start with TRANSFORMER VOICES. Pick a name that suggests the character you're after, then listen.
Here are a few more starting points from Hara's own sessions.
PIANO & KEYS
Nordic Glow / Japan Clean
For a touch of sheen without obvious distortion. Keep the instrument's character in focus and dial in the amount by ear.
BASS
UK Vintage 60s
Another starting point to try on bass. This preset's sound is also available in Transformer Saturator Free.
The source and input level affect the result. Adjust DRIVE and MIX to find the amount that works in your session.
TRANSFORMER / PRESET GUIDE
Five characters. Real hardware roots.
Each starts with measurements of a physical transformer, then is refined by ear in our studio. Open a preset below to explore its origins and character.
UK VintageMarinair / UK
Based on measurements of a vintage Marinair line transformer of the type used in British consoles of the 1960s and 1970s, including Neve 1073 modules. Under our measurement conditions, saturation became apparent around 180 Hz, giving the low end weight and depth.
UK ModernCarnhill / UK
Based on measurements of a current-production Carnhill transformer from the same lineage. A higher saturation point than the vintage unit gives it a tighter, more contemporary sense of density.
Nordic GlowLundahl / Sweden
Based on measurements of a Swedish Lundahl transformer with a high-permeability core. Light coloration across the spectrum, with a rich yet clear character.
US PunchUTC / USA
Based on measurements of a US-made UTC (United Transformer Company) transformer. Under our measurement conditions, saturation became apparent around 400 Hz, bringing the low mids forward.
Japan CleanTamura / Japan
Based on measurements of a Tamura line transformer. Gentle saturation with an easy-to-use character that suits a wide range of sources.
The frequencies quoted reflect our hardware measurement conditions. Saturation behavior varies with input level and test conditions.
Third-party brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Their use does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of AMATERAS JAPAN.
04 / MAKE IT YOURSStart with a preset. Shape what comes next.
Start with real iron.
Make the tone
your own.
Ready-to-use character.
Room to take it further.
UK Vintage, UK Modern, Nordic Glow, US Punch and Japan Clean begin with measurements of transformers in our own collection, informed by our hardware design experience.
Love the low end, but want a little more sweetness? Want to keep the presence while rounding off the edge?
Reach for 3RD, 2ND and CHARACTER. Adjust the harmonic balance around the character you've chosen, and shape it for the voice or instrument in front of you.
3RDBody and presence.
Adjust odd-order harmonics, led by the third.
2NDSweetness and fullness.
Adjust even-order harmonics, led by the second.
CHARACTERSmoothness and edge.
Shape how far the upper harmonics extend.
The pleasure of choosing hardware.
The freedom to shape what comes next.
05 / FROM THE MAKERAMATERAS JAPAN · NAGAOKA
The component
I kept coming
back to.
SugarfieldsTomonobu Hara / Developer
“Of all the components I've worked with while designing analog audio equipment, transformers have been among the most captivating.
That silky sheen. The sense of presence. Change the manufacturer or model, and the sound takes on a different character. I loved listening to those differences and choosing between them.
That fascination led to the AMATERAS line transformer hardware we affectionately call ‘Neve-kun.’
I wanted to work with that same feeling inside a DAW: choosing a transformer character for each track, then building the music layer by layer.
That's where Transformer Saturator began.”
06 / DETAILSVERSION 1.0.3
Get to know your next sound.
14 presets. Two saturation modes.
TRANSFORMER VOICES
For shaping the character of individual tracks
UK Vintage / UK Modern / Nordic Glow / US Punch / Japan Clean / UK Vintage 60s
HARMONIC COLORS
From gentle coloration to bold sound design
Subtle Analog Warmth / Tape Warmth / Tube Drive / Console Glue / Vintage Console (2nd-heavy) / Aggressive Fuzz
STARTING POINTS
The developer's setting and a clean starting point
Sugarfields / Flat (No Saturation)
TRANSFORMER: Frequency-dependent saturation based on the tendency of real transformers to saturate more readily at low frequencies.
FLAT: Adds harmonics without that frequency weighting.
Six controls. Easy before-and-after listening.
DRIVE sets the level entering the saturation stage. 3RD, 2ND and CHARACTER shape the harmonic balance. MIX blends the processed sound with the dry signal, and OUTPUT sets the final level.
Click the transformer photo in the center of the panel to bypass processing. It also follows your DAW's bypass state. Use OUTPUT to match levels and judge the change in character.
System requirements & specifications
- Formats
- Windows: VST3
macOS: VST3 / Audio Unit (AU) - Operating systems
- Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
macOS 10.13 or later (Intel / Apple Silicon Universal) - Tested hosts
- Cubase (Windows)
Logic Pro and REAPER (macOS) - Channels
- Mono / Stereo
- Oversampling
- 4×, linear-phase FIR
- Factory presets
- 14
Installation & updates for existing owners
The macOS installer is signed and notarized by Apple — just double-click the .pkg to install. The Windows installer is not yet code-signed, so SmartScreen may show a warning the first time. Follow the steps in the included README.
Version 1.0.2 adds bypass switching from the transformer photo and the UK Vintage 60s preset. Existing owners can download the free update from their original purchase. Saved sessions and preset selections are preserved.
If your download link has expired, visit Lemon Squeezy My Orders using your purchase email address.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Ready for your setup?
Check your DAW
For compatible VST3 or Audio Unit hosts on Windows and macOS. Check the system requirements above before buying. AAX for Pro Tools and a standalone application are not included.
Download. Install. Make music.
Windows and macOS installers and an English README are included. No license activation is required.
Your license
One license covers multiple machines owned and used by the purchaser. Transfer or sharing with third parties is prohibited.
Installation & support
The installers are currently unsigned. Windows SmartScreen or macOS Gatekeeper may show a warning. Follow the installation steps in the included README.
Digital purchases are generally non-refundable. If the plugin cannot be installed or does not work in a supported environment, we will provide support or issue a refund. Contact us using the support details in your purchase receipt and include your OS, DAW and any error message.
Already purchased? If your receipt download link has expired, open My Orders and enter your purchase email address to receive a magic link.
AMATERAS TRANSFORMER SATURATOR
Your mix.
A richer character.
Choose a tone for the input. Another for the output.
Find a character for each instrument.
Follow your ears.
Want to hear it in your own session?
Try the UK Vintage 60s sound in Transformer Saturator Free. Choose the full version for more characters and independent control of the harmonic balance.
Try the free plugin →AMATERAS JAPAN
NAGAOKA, JAPAN
Professional studio quality.
Made easy to use.
AMATERAS JAPAN is a Japanese audio brand that brings experience in recording and mixing to carefully crafted plugins.
We focus on sound quality that meets the demands of professional production, with intuitive controls that take you straight to the sound you want. From subtle detail to rich, spacious textures, simple controls make it easy to bring that quality into your music.
From studios in Japan to music makers around the world.
Professional tools. Exceptionally easy to use.