Overheat is a great-sounding saturator, and it is low enough on the CPU usage that you can apply it to multiple channels without taxing your workstation. Most importantly, CPU usage is light, as is the install size. Color seems to affect the midrange, at least without me running sine waves through Plugin Doctor. Low-passing saturation is nothing new and functions as you’d expect.

The right side of the interface has Color and Low-pass knobs. These are super handy, as you can use these to gain stage before applying saturation directly to the signal path. The left section of the interface houses the Pre-gain, Drive, and Post-gain knobs. This even applies to the very clear metering, which takes up the interface’s middle section. Overheat has a rather straight-to-the-point interface, which kind of reminds me of the SSL Native line of plugins. Sampleson’s latest release, Overheat, is a free saturation plugin with a tiny footprint. If you’re like me and you can’t get enough harmonics added to your sound sources, then you’re in luck. I always tell myself no more saturators right before downloading another saturator. Sampleson releases Overheat, a freeware saturation effect for DAW applications on Windows and macOS.

Waves 11 complete bundle