Soundtoys
Decapitator
Analog saturation modeler delivering subtle to extreme hardware-modeled distortion.
VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
Checked September 2026
Decapitator vs ToTape9 (2026)
Decapitator is best for analog-style saturation and drive on drums, bass, and mix bus; ToTape9 is best for free tape saturation and brightness compression. Decapitator starts at $199 one-time and ToTape9 at Free.
$199once
Free, open-source tape emulation and brightness-compression plugin.
VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXnot supportedCLAPsupportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXsupported
| Decapitator | ToTape9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | analog-style saturation and drive on drums, bass, and mix bus | free tape saturation and brightness compression |
| Starting price | $199 one-time | Free |
| Free version | No | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2 |
| OS | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Key features | Five analog saturation models based on vintage studio hardware, Punish button for extreme distortion, Analog-modeled tone control, Mix knob for parallel processing, Sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz | Tape emulation with flutter and bias controls, Tilt control for brightness shaping, Shape parameter for tonal character, Integrated clipping/output stage without oversampling, MIT-licensed, open source |
| Developer | Soundtoys | Airwindows |
Questions people ask
Decapitator starts at $199 one-time; ToTape9 starts at Free.
Five analog saturation models based on vintage studio hardware, Punish button for extreme distortion, Analog-modeled tone control, Mix knob for parallel processing, Sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz.
Tape emulation with flutter and bias controls, Tilt control for brightness shaping, Shape parameter for tonal character, Integrated clipping/output stage without oversampling, MIT-licensed, open source.