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Carbonator User Manual

Everything you need to know about getting started with Carbonator, the analog saturation plugin by Carbonated Audio.

v2.2.0

1. Overview

Carbonator is an analog saturation plugin with 5 circuit-modeled flavors and a single Fizz knob. One knob, five characters, endless tone-shaping possibilities. $20 one-time purchase — no subscription, no iLok, no account required.

Formats
VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone
macOS
10.13+ (Apple Silicon native)
Windows
Windows 10+
Version
2.2.0
Price
$20 one-time
License
Up to 3 machines

2. Installation

macOS

  1. Download the macOS installer from your email or the Carbonated Audio website
  2. Run the .pkg installer
  3. Select the formats you want to install (VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone)
  4. Restart your DAW

Windows

  1. Download the Windows installer from your email or the Carbonated Audio website
  2. Run the installer
  3. VST3 and Standalone are installed automatically
  4. Restart your DAW

Default Install Paths

macOS VST3 /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
macOS AU /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
macOS AAX /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/
Windows VST3 C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\

3. Activation

  1. Open Carbonator (standalone or inside your DAW)
  2. Click the key icon in the top-right corner
  3. Paste your license key (received via email after purchase)
  4. Click Activate

Your license works on up to 3 machines simultaneously. No iLok, no dongle, no account needed. Once activated, Carbonator works offline forever.

4. Interface Guide

  • Fizz Knob — The main control. Morphs drive, compression, EQ, and makeup gain simultaneously. 0% = clean, 100% = full saturation.
  • Flavor Selector — Choose between Cola, Cherry, Grape, Lemon-Lime, and Orange Cream.
  • Carbonated Toggle — Enables Carbonated mode, which blends all 5 circuits together.
  • Level Display — Shows the current Fizz percentage.
  • Bypass — Standard plugin bypass.

5. The 5 Flavors

Cola
Console-style warmth
Punchy, round, and controlled. Cola delivers the classic console character — a warm push with gentle compression that adds weight without smearing transients.
Best on: drums, mix bus, full mixes Character: warm push with gentle compression
Cherry
Tube-style aggression
Raw, gritty, and forward. Cherry brings harmonic-rich tube drive with real edge — the kind of saturation that makes elements cut through a dense mix.
Best on: bass, guitars, aggressive vocals Character: harmonic-rich drive with edge
Grape
Vintage lo-fi character
Dusty, saturated, and nostalgic. Grape adds that vintage lo-fi color — bit-crushed warmth that makes everything sound like it came off a cassette you love.
Best on: vocals, synths, lo-fi beats Character: bit-crushed warmth with color
Lemon-Lime
Bright harmonic saturation
Airy, present, and sparkly. Lemon-Lime enhances upper harmonics to add presence and shimmer without harsh resonance — like turning on the "expensive" switch.
Best on: vocals needing presence, acoustic instruments, hi-hats Character: upper harmonic enhancement
Orange Cream
Tape-style smoothness
Creamy, warm, and forgiving. Orange Cream is the most versatile flavor — smooth tape compression with warmth that flatters anything you put through it.
Best on: everything — the most versatile flavor Character: smooth tape compression with warmth

6. Carbonated Mode

Carbonated mode blends all 5 saturation circuits simultaneously, creating a unique, complex harmonic character that no single flavor can achieve on its own.

  • Activate it using the Carbonated toggle on the interface
  • The Fizz knob controls the blend intensity
  • Creates rich, multi-layered harmonic content
  • Great for when you want "something special" that no single flavor provides

8. DAW Compatibility

DAW macOS Windows
Logic Pro AU VST3 --
Pro Tools AAX --
Ableton Live AU VST3 VST3
FL Studio VST3 VST3
Studio One AU VST3 VST3
Cubase / Nuendo VST3 VST3
Reaper AU VST3 VST3
Bitwig VST3 VST3
GarageBand AU --

9. Troubleshooting

Plugin not showing in my DAW
Open your DAW's preferences and rescan your plugin folders. On macOS, make sure the correct format is installed (AU for Logic/GarageBand, VST3 for most others, AAX for Pro Tools). On Windows, verify the VST3 is in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\.
Audio cutting out after 60 seconds
You're running the free demo, which has a 60-second playback limit. Purchase and activate a license to unlock unlimited use.
High CPU usage
Make sure you're running the latest version (v2.2.0). If CPU is still high, increase your DAW's audio buffer size in preferences.
Activation failed
Check your internet connection and make sure the license key was pasted correctly with no extra spaces before or after. If the issue persists, email us at hello@carbonatedaudio.com.

10. Support

Need help? We typically respond within 24 hours.

✉ hello@carbonatedaudio.com 🌐 carbonatedaudio.com 📷 @carbonatedaudio