I put together an ode to Decapitator from Soundtoys, talking about this plugin and even crowning it the best saturator plugin. This is an impressive feat considering this plugin came out over a decade ago and hasn’t had any updates aside from compatibility (see 64 bit vs 32 bit plugins). While its interface is extremely simple in terms of a relative lack of parameters to adjust, the most enigmatic of them is the assortment/selection of Decapitator “Style” buttons.
With that in mind, I thought I’d put together a bit more context behind each of the Decapitator style buttons, including what each one is emulating, and most importantly what instrument(s) each one is best on.
Decapitator Style Buttons Overview
As we go through each of these, I’ll again give a description of the type of analog gear each button is channeling and recommend the instrument or instruments you can use each one.
Here is a broad stroke snapshot of each button with a recommended use, but don’t limit yourself to these uses and I definitely encourage you to experiment each style setting on different tracks in your mix to find your next favorite use of this versatile plugin:
Now let’s talk a bit more about each one individually.
A Style Button
Like many things do, we begin with Decapitator’s “A” style button.
What Does A Emulate
Style “A” channels the tape drive based Ampex 350 preamp which was all over the early rock n’ roll recordings of Sun Studios and that Motown sound of the 50’s. When newer, more practical technology came in and overtook it, that color was lost in the name of higher fidelity and transparent recordings.
According to Soundtoys themselves, Decapitator’s style “A” is an ultra smooth tube-driven colorful sound.
What to Use Decapitator A On
It’s a copout, but style “A” is less instrument specific and just sounds good on anything in your mix you want to impart some of that classic analog tape color to. This is great on making digital recordings, samples, etc. sound less robotic and more organic.
This is certainly evidenced by the fact that many of the presets which come with Decapitator utilize Style “A”.
Whenever I want to warm anything up in my mix with subtlety, I’ll typically go for Style “A” with a conservative “Drive” in the 1-3 range and a low Wet/Dry mix percentage which favors that Dry end (when the effect is used as an insert rather than a send).
I love this on vocals, but this is also just my opening setting/style button when I’m applying saturation to something new for the first time when the following scenarios don’t apply as this always sounds good.
Speaking of the following scenarios and buttons…
E Style Button
Next, let’s talk about Decapitator’s “E” style button.
What Does E Emulate
As you’ll find as we go, the letters aren’t randomly assigned but instead reflect whatever hardware they’re based on. In Decapitator’s “E” style button’s case, this refers to the EMI/Chandler TG Channel. Chandler refers to Chandler Designs which has created more modern gear based on vintage mixing gear from EMI/Abbey Road Studios, hence the “E”.
What to Use Decapitator E On
Decapitator’s “E” style button does an excellent job with its balanced treatment of frequencies, making it ideal on busses. I like it on my drum bus in particular when I want to simultaneously beef up the low end in my kick and snare while adding a touch more sizzle to the cymbals on the top end:
I alluded to this when talking about style “A”, but note that each style button’s effect on the tone of whatever you’re applying it to will obviously be vastly shaped by the amount of “Drive” you dial in, not to mention the Wet/Dry mix balance.
Sometimes I like to just “kiss” the audio I’m applying it to by keeping the drive and wet/dry ratio low, particularly on busses.
N Style Button
Now let’s talk about the button right in the middle, Decapitator’s “N” style button.
What Does N Emulate
Decapitator’s “N” style button refers to the Neve 1057 preamp input channel. Similar to the Ampex 350 of Style “A”, the Neve 1057 is a relatively early piece of hardware from Neve and one which has a flavor all its own which would be lost with subsequent models, like arguably their most popular 1073. There’s some technical hardware based factors which contribute to the 1057’s unique sound, but suffice to say it sounds excellent, boasting a full sounding low end without sacrificing the mids.
What to Use Decapitator N On
I like to reach for Decapitator’s “N” style button on guitars in particular. There’s no better (or faster) way to beef up an otherwise lacking low-mids and mid range of a guitar to create some overtones and fill out its frequency profile.
I especially love the Neve setting when I want to TAME an overly top end heavy guitar:
I get a lot of my Decapitator use out of smoothing out guitar brightness or harshness via the Style “N” button (combined with the above settings as you can see my “Guitar Tame” preset).
The above settings aren’t just applicable for guitar brightness, but really it’s a great setting to dial into any harsh track in your mix (check out my tips for taming a harsh mix).
T Style Button
Now let’s address the penultimate button on the interface, Decapitator’s “T” style button.
What Does T Emulate
The “T” style button of Decapitator is modeled after the Termionic Culture Vulture; a piece of analog hardware made explicitly for imparting distortion to elements of your mix (the first such dedicated piece of hardware purportedly).
Specifically this emulates the TCV’s triode setting, so “T” for Triode.
What to Use Decapitator T On
Decapitator’s “T” setting is the favorite of a lot of producers due to its versatility; this one sounds good whatever you apply it to.
I arguably use it most when I’m looking to add some fatness and roundness to my snare:
I especially find it useful for correcting and filling out a thin snare which I get a lot of when I’m sent stems for mixing.
Whether the snare is the product of poor microphone placement, the microphones themselves, the room, the snare – too many factors to account for, the above settings dramatically improve an otherwise lacking snare (incidentally, check out my 7 tips for mixing a snare drum for correcting an otherwise lacking snare across the board).
While I find it’s great on your snare in particular, look to the “T” style button for adding some warm punchiness (Decapitator’s description) to any track in your mix.
Along with style “A”, “T” is my go to for vocal saturation, as well, so keep that in mind in when you’re looking to add a little grit to your vocal.
P Style Button
Last but not least, let’s cover Decapitator’s “P” style button.
What Does P Emulate
If the “T” button emulates the Termionic Culture Vulture’s triode setting, Decapitator’s “P” style button emulates the same unit’s pentode setting.
This one isn’t quite as harmonic rich, which makes for some very pleasing added distortion in the right circumstances.
But what to use it this setting on?
What to Use Decapitator P On
I oftentimes reach for the Decapitator “P” setting when I want a sub-heavy bass to poke out a bit more in the mix with some added mid and even low-mid harmonics:
This bass saturation doesn’t just apply to synth bass as I get equal use supplementing an electric bass above its fundamental frequencies when I want more expression from my bass than just representing and steering the fundamental root note frequencies of the mix themselves.
Now that we’ve identified what each of the buttons emulates and does, which is your favorite? Do you have one which you use more than the rest, or one you like to use on a particular instrument or bus in your mix?
