Real Saturation. Real Free.
As a music producer, I’m always on the hunt for tools that bring authentic sound and flexibility to my mixes, and Burier has quickly become one of my favorites. It’s a powerful musical saturation tool that offers everything you need to shape your audio with precision and warmth, and best of all, it’s free.
One of the standout features of Burier is its musical saturation stage, which adds a rich and gritty character to your sound, reminiscent of analog gear. But what really sets it apart is what follows: a pair of resonant low- and high-cut filters. These filters are designed with a 12 dB per octave slope, perfect for tonal shaping, and feature IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) processing using a TPT (topology-preserving transform) structure. This makes them not only incredibly responsive but also highly accurate, capturing the essence of analog processing.
The behavior of these filters is based on the classic analog SVF (state-variable filter) circuit, a second-order RC active filter that’s been a staple in high-end hardware for decades. This gives you the kind of tonal control you’d expect from high-quality analog filters, but with the ease and precision of a digital interface. Whether you need to clean up the low end or add some air to the high frequencies, these filters respond smoothly, helping you achieve the perfect balance in your mix.
On top of that, Burier includes a wet/dry mix control, allowing you to dial in the perfect amount of saturation without overwhelming your source material. This makes it ideal for parallel processing, giving you the flexibility to blend the saturated signal with the dry one for just the right amount of warmth and presence in your mix.
In short, Burier gives you real saturation with real flexibility, and the best part—it’s completely free. Whether you’re working on subtle enhancements or heavy distortion, Burier’s tonal shaping capabilities, combined with its intuitive controls, make it a must-have tool in any producer’s arsenal.
After testing Burier on one of my hip-hop beats for my YouTube channel, I was genuinely impressed by its performance. Even when the plugin is simply turned on, it already introduces a subtle, pleasant harmonic saturation. It adds a touch of warmth without overpowering the original signal, which is perfect for tracks that need just a bit of character without overdoing it.
However, once you start using the central knob, that’s where the magic happens. The saturation ramps up significantly, to the point where it becomes aggressive and impactful, which can be great for certain parts of a beat where you really want that extra edge. But along with that intense saturation, you also get a noticeable boost in volume. This is where the link button becomes a lifesaver. It automatically compensates for the volume increase by adjusting the output level based on how much saturation you’re adding with the big knob, making it easier to maintain control over your mix.
Overall, Burier gives you the power to add everything from subtle harmonic coloring to an extreme level of saturation, and the built-in controls ensure that you’re not fighting with volume spikes. It’s a fantastic plugin for anyone looking to elevate their sound, especially in hip-hop and rock production where saturation can really help bring out the rawness and energy of a Track.
The filters on Burier are not only responsive but also incredibly musical. During my YouTube test, I used a free plugin called Curve Analyzer to get a visual representation of the filter curves and slopes. It’s a handy tool for producers who want to see exactly how the filters are affecting their sound, and it confirmed what I was hearing: smooth, natural tonal shaping that really complements the saturation.
For those of you who, like me, enjoy diving deep into the technical side of sound design, I took the analysis a step further. I used the paid plugin PluginDoctor to test Burier’s harmonic saturation. This tool allowed me to see exactly which harmonics the plugin was adding. Even with the central knob set to 0, Burier introduces additional harmonics to the signal, which gives it that warm, analog-like feel. However, I also noticed that some background noise was introduced at this setting, adding a bit of texture to the sound.
These details make Burier a fascinating tool for nerdy producers who love understanding every aspect of their sound design. Whether you’re using it subtly or pushing it to its limits, Burier offers a rich set of features for tonal shaping and harmonic enhancement.
With the central knob set to 5, I noticed a substantial increase in harmonics, along with an additional +5 dB gain. The saturation becomes even richer, filling out the sound in a way that makes it more powerful and present in the mix.
If you want to dive even deeper into the technical side of things, I highly recommend checking out the video I’ve linked below, where I break down all the harmonic details for those who love to nerd out on sound design just like I do.
Stay tuned for the full walkthrough in the video, and feel free to explore the plugin further with your own tests!
