Techivation T-Warmer Review – What You Should Know

You most likely found this article because you’re debating whether to add a distinctive plug-in to your collection and want to know whether the Techivation T-Warmer is actually worth the price.

Due to its simple yet effective design, the Techivation T-Warmer is attracting a lot of attention.

This straightforward add-on may give weight and warmth to your tunes. But, is it versatile enough to meet your needs? Let’s find out.

Is The Techivation T-Warmer Worth It? (Quick Verdict)

At $39, it definitely is worth the money. It is an effective tool and does the job much better than most high-end plugins, that too, just with the click of the button. It is very good for warming up the whole frequency spectrum. You may always choose this tool and get the effects that you want quickly if you need an instrument to sound warmer and with more width. 

Compatibility: Windows 7 and up as 32 / 64-bit VST and VST3, Mac OS X 10.11 (OS X El Capitan) and up as 64 bit VST, VST3, and AU, and 64-bit AAX, Intel, and Native M1

Price: $39

What Is The Techivation T-Warmer & What Does It Do?

The Techivation T-warmer plugin adds harmonic saturation and a pleasant EQ curve to your sound with the help of four high-quality harmonic saturations warm and thicken low and mid frequencies. It offers four different high quality harmonic saturations designed with the purpose of making any track sound warmer and fuller. 

With its minimal, yet effective style design and essential options, while adding extra weight to your sound. T-Warmer is a minimal yet effective tool to fill up the sound of your mix or audio by adding unique musical harmonic saturations to low and mid-range frequencies.

Adds Warmth 

The T-Warmer starts with a default of 50% warmth and you can start turning up frequency until you start hearing that the plugin adds the warmth without turning up the gain.

This is done by adding a little more saturation, which is the addition of harmonic distortion or an overdrive audio signal to the original signal that gives the sound a more vibrant and lively quality, enhancing its character within the mix. 

Increases Presence

The Presence can be tweaked as per the requirements like “sweetening” or “coloring” the sound. A pleasing distortion that improves the harmonic richness without overpowering the original signal can be produced by adding a light to moderate amount of saturation. 

This can give the audio a more natural, old, or organic feel, as if it had been treated with analog equipment like tape machines or tube amplifiers. 

Controls Dynamics

T-Warmer can assist in bringing out the transients of certain parts of a mix, such as percussion or voices, and making them more prominent and impactful in the mix as a whole. The dynamics of audio signals can be enhanced and controlled with saturators such as the T-Warmer. 

Glues the mix

Like any other saturator, T-Warmer can be used to help balance and bind the various components together on buses or in the overall mix.

A little saturation added to the mix can help to harmonize the sound and provide a polished, well-rounded outcome. The T-warmer “glues” a signal together. By applying saturation to the totality of a mix, the entirety of that mix is processed through a single effect, virtually completely coating that signal in the effect.

You can produce a unified and consistent sound across the entire mix by doing the above things with the Techivation T-Warmer. This applies to all of the different instruments and vocalists. 

How Does It Sound?

The Techivation T-Warmer plugin adds warmth by adding saturation, enhancing the sound’s character without increasing gain. The presence of a track can be adjusted for a natural, old, or organic feel. It adds saturation that enhances the dynamics, bringing out transients and gluing components together for a polished, well-rounded mix.

The Effects Mode has 4 distinct settings which each have an inbuilt algorithm to introduce specific types of settings by introducing harmonics and emulating a certain nonlinear characteristic.

Smooth: This mode reduces harmonic saturation. It excels in mid-frequency frequencies. 

Phat: Musical harmonic saturations thicken and “phatter” sounds. The Phat widens low-end distortion while preserving gain. 

Warm: This one swiftly fills the sound and warms the impact. 

Hard: It enhances low frequencies and adds distortion boosts quiet audio waves.

When you turn the plugin ON it is comes set to the Default setting of

Effects Mode: Phat 

• Warmth : 20% 
• Frequency : 95% 

Let’s look at how we can change the sound of any track by tweaking these knobs;

Electric Guitar

Here the dry track is simple and sounds a little empty in between the change of chords. The low frequencies lack intensity.

Effects Mode:

We selected the “Warm” on the Effects Mode.

Warmth:

When we set up the Warmth to 85%, you can hear the difference in the sound of the electric guitar as it gets a bit of girth. You can hear the difference in the sound of the electric guitar as it gets a bit of girth. The lows take on a more dynamic character. 

Frequency:

The timbre is improved, and the sound becomes fuller, as a result of increasing the frequency to 190 hertz. Additionally, the tone is improved with the assistance of the compression, which narrows the dynamic range and adds a touch of sustain. This allows the sound to be heard more clearly inside the mix.

These technical aspects contribute to the guitar sound in the mix being more expressive, versatile, and aesthetically appealing acoustically.

Bass

The sound of the bass is the best place to apply saturation. The influence of the saturation can be most easily heard in the low end of the sound spectrum, specifically in the sound of the bass. The DRY has a strong attack here, yet it comes across as harsh in the spaces between the distorted notes.

Effects Mode:

We have kept the Effects Mode on “Hard”

Warmth:

Increased the Warmth to 40% 

Frequency:

Frequency to 135Hz. 

We noticed that we can hear a much thicker but grittier tone. The T-Warmer adds more width to the low end of the track by distorting it while maintaining the gain levels. 

The compressed signal to reduce bass line volume differences has a leveling effect making the bassline fit better in the mix. The subtle overdrive is nice but heavy distortion can also be very useful in this case with the help of another saturator to round off the boosted harmonics.

Piano

Even though this piano track contains a greater number of highs than lows, the DRY recording seems like it has a much reduced amount of presence. It sounds boxy like it was already with a some amount of compression on it.

• Effects Mode: Smooth
• Warmth: 100%
• Frequency: 236hZ

What we did here is increased the Warmth to the maximum i.e. 100% and frequency to 236Hz. The smooth transition from the notes is heard. There is more presence now.

It is as though the piano is played right next to us. Saturation improves a piano track by adding harmonics, modifying the tone and adjusting dynamics.

Here we have also managed to adjust the sound to be able to hear more of the reverb. It fills up the sound in between the notes and incorporates a more open sound, something much more ear-friendly.

Drums

Now, the drums are at least 4 pieces of instruments played together all at once. So, there is a high possibility of variation in dynamics and the volume of the individual drum pieces i.e. Hi-Hats, Kick, Snare and Toms.

Saturating drum sounds tames peaks and boosts low-level details, creating a more balanced and controlled drum mix. This prevents any specific items from dominating the mix and improves clarity.

• Effects Mode: Phat
• Warmth: 45%
• Frequency: 101Hz

The improvement in the drums’ transient response is audible here after the Warmth was raised to 45%, the Frequency was raised to 101 Hz, and the Effects Mode setting was changed to Phat.

If you listen carefully, you’ll notice that the initial attack of the drum is emphasized, which gives it a more powerful punch. In order to give it a more impacting sound, the beats should be made more distinct and full.

Arp 

This dry synth arp has a bit of low end. We can accentuate it with a bit of saturation.

• Effects Mode: Warm 
• Warmth: 69%
• Frequency: 197Hz

Here we can hear the improvement in the transient response of the drums by increasing the Warmth to 69% and Frequency to 197Hz and changing the Effects Mode setting to Warm. 

This gets the sound of the arp a little fuller and increases presence. The slight distortion cannot be heard and it is more rounded. By adding a bit of warmth the dynamics are also more leveled this way keeping the louder notes in check while leaving the gain intact. 

Mix Bus

We observe how the bass is overpowered by the guitars and vocals in the DRY audio. There’s no air in between these two.

• Effects Mode: Warm
• Warmth: 69%
• Frequency: 197% 

The T-Warmer applied to the mix bus has an impact on the entire mix. We observe the boosted low frequency range, change in the overall dynamics. It has also created depth and dimension to the mix while enhancing its consistency and of the overall energy of the sound. 

It is an important instrument in sound engineering that can augment the impact and quality of the finished mix.

What Features Do I Get With The Techivation T-Warmer?

The plug-in lets you apply any of these harmonic saturation makers to a specific frequency range of your sound, from 20Hz to 600Hz or custom. 

1. Warmth knob controls sound warmth, thickness, and weight. 

2. Frequency knob controls T-Warmer’s frequency range. This knob lets you select 20Hz to 60Hz or 20Hz to 600Hz, depending on the sound source, taste, and plug-in use. 

Unlike other saturation plug-ins, the T-Warmer adds weight and fatness just at a click of a button.

Warmth Knob

The primary control mechanism in the T-Warmer device is the warmth knob. 

Adjusting this knob will decide the extent to which warmth, thickness, and weight are incorporated into the sound. The variation in the added harmonic saturation and color to the music is dependent on the selected effect mode.

The user has the ability to select the desired frequency range for the application of this effect by manipulating the Frequency knob.

Frequency Knob

The Frequency knob enables the user to establish the desired frequency range for the application of the T-Warmer effect. The selection of the frequency range, ranging from 20 Hz to 60Hz to 20Hz to 600Hz, can be made based on the sound source, personal preference, and intended application of the plug-in.

A pleasing distortion that improves the harmonic richness without overpowering the original signal can be produced by adding a light to moderate amount of saturation. 

Mix 

The “Mix” parameter is responsible for determining the ratio of the input signal to the output signal. The fact that it possesses this property makes it very well-suited for parallel processing. It is the balance between the DRY/WET mixes of the mix bus or track and assists in comparing the two sounds in terms of percentage. 

Input/Output Level controls

We can also adjust the individual volumes of the input signal to the output signal via their sliders on each side of the Warmth knob. We c8an slide up to increase the volume up to 15dB and slide down to reduce it to -15dB. 

A/B Switch

You can quickly and easily compare the different setups to see which one works best, and then implement that one. The “Copy to B” function makes it easy to test out how different tweaks to the A version’s parameters affect the B version’s audio quality. This way we don’t lose two different settings which we may have taken time to set up.

Effects Modes

In the Effects Mode, there are four unique settings, each of which has an algorithm that is built into it. These algorithms allow for the introduction of particular types of settings by simulating certain nonlinear characteristics and generating harmonics.

Smooth: 

The sound receives a less obvious form of harmonic saturation when this mode is engaged. It performs exceptionally well in frequency ranges that consist primarily of mid-frequency components. 

On the other hand, you can use a more aggressive approach with it on lower ranges in order to provide more nuanced weight to the bottom end.

Phat: 

The Musical harmonic saturations thicken and “phatter” the sounds. Distorting the low end while maintaining gain levels using the Phat widens it. We can thicken and grittone. This has a more well–rounded sound to the whole track or mix.

Warm: 

This one not only helps to quickly make the sound fuller, but it also adds warmth to the impact as a whole! The saturation can be subtle or strong, and either way, it adds harmonics to the audio input. 

This might result in a sound that is warmer, richer, and more vivid, which gives it its own distinctive personality and enhances its presence in the mix.

Hard: 

It is the appropriate setting for helping to make low frequencies more noticeable on smaller speakers, as well as for producing one-of-a-kind forceful sounds out of instruments that have a mellow sound when they are mixed together. Adding mild or strong distortion can energize audio waves. 

Producers can enhance a mix’s listenability by saturating particular parts.

What About The Technical Stuff?

How Hard is The Techivation T-Warmer on The CPU?

We stress-tested the Techivation T-Warmer on the Windows i3, with a 8GB RAM, and apart from some early installation trouble, it worked smoothly without any issue whatsoever. All the sounds were clearly audible. 

What Does My System Need To Run It?

Mac:

• macOS 10.11+
• 64-bit Intel/Apple Processor.
• 2GB RAM (4GB Recommended).

Windows:

• Windows 7+
• 64-bit +
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz Processor 
• 2GB RAM (4GB Recommended)

What About UI & Utility?

Techivation’s T-Warmer GUI is stunning and user-friendly. The designers considered everything, including easy forum access and a brief guide. T-Warmer’s minimalist graphical user interface is optimized for high-resolution retina monitors and scales from 80% to 150%. T-Warmer’s simple design saves more CPU power.

Minimalistic Design

With a lot of flashy designed plugins in the market, Techivation’s minimalist UI design enables users to navigate through the T-Warmer with simple user flows and actions without being sidetracked by superfluous elements. 

It makes the plugin load faster by lowering the amount of data and resources required in turn making it go easy on the CPU usage. 

Scalability of the Graphic User Interface

The user of T-Warmer also benefits from the GUI’s scalability by being able to customize the interface’s size to suit their needs. Users with vision impairments or those who prefer larger or smaller text and icons will find this to be extremely helpful. 

Adjustable Screen Resolution

Additionally, users can modify the interface to fit their screen resolution and size, which makes it simpler to read and operate. It enables users to navigate websites with simple user flows and journeys without being sidetracked by superfluous elements. It makes the app or website load faster by lowering the amount of data and resources required.

Any Stand-out Features?

The T-Warmer also comes with an additional Preset bundle which can be added through their website. This plugin preset bundle offers various presets to enhance and shape the sound. These range from Default, Warmth, Saturation, Exciter, Tube, Stereo Widening, Vintage, Bass Enhancer, and Air Enhancer. 

Each preset has its unique effect on the audio like boosted low-end frequencies, introducing harmonic distortion for vintage characters. Some also emphasize the high-frequency harmonics, while others simulate a vacuum tube amplifier, providing vintage analog character. 

Examples of Presets

• Stereo Widening – enhances stereo image
• Vintage – recreates vintage gear characteristics for classic rock, soul, or jazz genres.
• Bass Enhancer – boosts low-frequency content
• Air Enhancer – adds sparkle and brightness to high-frequency content, making vocals, cymbals, and certain instruments more detailed and present.

What Are Others Saying About The Techivation T-Warmer?

Many reviews across the internet praise Techivation T-Warmer’s unique innovative approach to the saturator. There are a lot of reviews about the addition of an EQ while everyone is all praise for its ability to instantly sculpt the low end of the audio. Many also appreciate the price of the product for its perceived value. 

Your sound can be improved by adding harmonic saturation and a nice EQ curve with the help of the T-Warmer plugin, which is a very flexible harmonic saturation tool. It provides a total of four distinct harmonic saturations, each of which is designed to make the low and mid frequencies feel warmer and thicker.

We’ve listed some of the user reviews below (click to enlarge):

How Does The Techivation T-Warmer Stand Up To The Competition? 

Amongst other paid plugins, Soundtoys’ Decapitator and FabFilter’s Saturn 2 are some that offer detailed saturation enhancements but are usually on the expensive side. There are also free plugins which are available like Softube Saturation Knob and Camel Crusher which come close to the sound that the T-Warmer applies.

Techivation T-Warmer (Quick Review)

FAQ

Moreover, if you’re looking for a different type of audio looping software solution, take a look at our Audioblast Instalooper 3 review for a comprehensive look at its features and capabilities.