Outboard Audio has announced the release of a saturation-and-compression fattener for Windows (VST3 and CLAP plugin formats).
Outboard-Slab is built around three macros — FAT, COLOR and MIX — that drive a multi-stage chain to make a track denser, punchier and more present in a single move.
Each macro spans dozens of internal parameters along a tuned curve. FAT raises drive, saturation, compression and a low-end bump together. COLOR is bipolar: above zero it adds brightness via a high shelf and an exciter, below zero it warms the signal with a gentle high-end roll-off. MIX blends the processed signal in parallel, from a subtle fatten to a fully committed sound. The chain runs in a fixed order — low-end bump, then saturation, then glue compression, then tone, then the ceiling — so the bass never pumps the saturation. It is internally loudness-compensated and ends in a clean output ceiling, with oversampling around the saturation stages.
An AUTO mode reads rolling statistics of the incoming signal and sets FAT, COLOR and MIX for the material, with three target profiles — Chill, Commercial and Attention — that decide how far it goes. ON analyses once and rotates the knobs into place; AUTO stays engaged and re-reads the signal continuously. Touching any knob hands control straight back to the user.
Outboard-Slab features
- Three macros — FAT, COLOR, MIX — each mapped across dozens of internal parameters.
- Fixed-order chain: low-end bump → saturation → glue compression, so bass never pumps the saturation.
- COLOR is bipolar: brighter above zero (high shelf + exciter), warmer below (gentle high-end roll-off).
- Internally loudness-compensated with auto-makeup — it only gets louder when you ask.
- Clean output ceiling with oversampling around the saturation stages.
- MIX is parallel processing as one knob: 100% commits, anything below fattens in parallel.
- AUTO reads the signal and sets the three macros, with Chill / Commercial / Attention targets.
- Three faceplate themes (Graphite, Vintage, Slate) with a continuous theme slider.
Outboard-Slab is priced €35 EUR, and a 14-day trial is available to try the plugin. A macOS version (VST3, AU, CLAP) is in development.
Customers can take advantage of a limited time 45% launch discount using coupon code WM2026 at checkout. The offer expires July 19th, 2026.
More information: Outboard