Radiator by Soundtoys tube mixer saturation plugin interface

Radiator: Tube Mixer Saturation Plugin by Soundtoys

Rated 4.7/5 on Plugin Boutique (463 ratings)

Radiator is a dual-drive tube input channel and EQ plugin from Soundtoys, modeled on the classic Altec 1567A tube mixer. It adds analog warmth, saturation and coloration to digital recordings.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

Radiator brings the sound of the Altec 1567A tube mixer into a software channel strip. The developer models the original hardware's bass and treble tone controls, a mix control for parallel processing, and the saturation of its input and output amplifier stages. Each stage adds its own character, so a few simple knobs can produce a wide range of tones. Soundtoys also includes Little Radiator, a simpler single-stage model based on the Altec 1566A.

Best for

Drum saturation
Bass warmth
Parallel tube coloring
Vintage Motown-style tones
Adding analog grit

Developer: Soundtoys
Category: Saturation
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Analog-modeled tube mixer with EQ
Independent input and output amplification stages add distinct saturation
Modeled bass and treble tone controls from the original Altec hardware
Mix control for parallel processing
Mic/Line switch changes transformer loading for two sounds
Optional original hardware noise, switchable on or off
Includes Little Radiator single-stage tube preamp model
Supports sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz

03In depth

Tube Tone, Drive and EQ Character

Radiator combines a modeled tube mixer with a simple two-knob EQ for bass and treble. The input and output amplification stages both contribute saturation and harmonic color, so drive can be shaped at more than one point in the chain.

The Mic/Line switch changes how the transformers are loaded, giving you two different sounds from the same plugin. Use the mix control for parallel processing when you want to blend the colored signal with the dry source.

Soundtoys lets you decide whether the original hardware noise is on or off, so you can keep the grit or keep the signal clean.

Using Radiator in Your DAW

Radiator is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX Native formats, with AAX AudioSuite support on both platforms. It runs on Windows 7 and later and on macOS 10.12 Sierra and later, Intel and Apple Silicon Macs included. The plugin is 64-bit only.

A free iLok account is required for licensing, though a physical iLok dongle is not needed. Supported sample rates range from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz.

The developer positions the plugin for drums and bass, where its saturation and tone controls are most often applied.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Soundtoys
Type	Plugin
Category	Saturation
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Radiator by Soundtoys?

Radiator is a tube mixer and EQ plugin based on the Altec 1567A, a 1960s hardware mixer. It models the tube saturation and tone controls of the original unit.

Which formats and operating systems does Radiator support?

Radiator is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX Native formats, plus AAX AudioSuite. It runs on Windows 7 and later and macOS 10.12 Sierra and later, and is 64-bit only.

What do I need to use Radiator?

A free account at ilok.com is required for licensing. A physical iLok USB device is not required. Radiator works in supported DAWs including Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, Studio One, Cubase, Nuendo, Reaper and Bitwig.