Checked September 2026
Soundtoys
Decapitator review
Saturation
Analog saturation modeler delivering subtle to extreme hardware-modeled distortion. Best for analog-style saturation and drive on drums, bass, and mix bus. Price: $199 one-time.

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
Pros
- Five distinct hardware-modeled saturation flavors in one plug-in.
- Simple, fast workflow for adding warmth or aggressive drive.
Cons
- Not compatible with ARM-based Windows machines.
Decapitator alternatives
Multiband distortion and saturation plug-in with 28 distortion styles and modulation.
VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPsupportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supportedFree modeled analog output distortion plugin for adding grit and warmth.
VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supportedFree, open-source tape emulation and brightness-compression plugin.
VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXnot supportedCLAPsupportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXsupported
Sources: www.soundtoys.com