Auburn Sounds Couture is a transient shaper and saturation plugin designed to shape attack, control sustain, and add harmonic character to your sounds — without traditional compression.

This step-by-step tutorial will show you exactly how to use it.

1️⃣ Install & Load Couture

1. Download and install Couture (Free or Full version).

2. Open your DAW (FL Studio, Ableton, Logic, etc.).

3. Insert Couture as an effect on:

   • Drum track

   • Vocal track

   • Bass or synth

   • Drum bus or mix bus

✔ Free version = transient shaping only
✔ Full version = transient shaping + saturation module

2️⃣ Understanding the Main Controls

🎛 Sharpen (Main Knob)

This is the core control.

• Turn right → Increases attack (more punch).

• Turn left → Reduces attack / increases sustain (smoother sound).

Use it when:

• Drums lack punch → turn right

• Sounds are too aggressive → turn left

⚡ Multiplier (1x / 2x / 3x)

Increases the intensity of the Sharpen effect.

• 1x = subtle

• 2x = stronger

• 3x = very aggressive

Start at 1x and increase only if needed.

⏱ Speed

Controls how fast Couture reacts.

• Lower speed → Longer sustain emphasis

• Higher speed → Tighter transient shaping

For drums → try higher speed
For pads or bass → try slower speed

🎚 Front / Back

Adjusts where the processing focuses:

• Front → Emphasizes initial transient

• Back → Emphasizes body/sustain

Great for fine-tuning punch vs thickness.

🎙 Detection Modes

Choose how transients are detected:

• Flat → Neutral and balanced

• Human → Based on perceived loudness

• Sybil → Focuses on sibilant/high frequencies (great for vocals)

3️⃣ Using the Saturation (Full Version Only)

If you have the Full version, enable the Saturation section.

🔥 Saturation Types

Different modes give different textures:

• Warm tube-style

• Fuzz/distortion

• Rectify

• Bitcrush-style digital tone

🎚 Drive

Controls how much distortion is added.

• Low drive → subtle warmth

• High drive → aggressive distortion

Use filters (HP/LP) to control harsh frequencies.

4️⃣ Practical Use Cases

🥁 Drums

• Increase Sharpen slightly

• Multiplier at 1x or 2x

• Higher Speed

• Optional: light saturation

Result → punchier, more defined drums

🎤 Vocals

• Use Sybil mode

• Small Sharpen adjustment

• Low Drive saturation for warmth

Result → clearer and more present vocals

🎸 Bass

• Small Sharpen boost

• Slight saturation for harmonics

Result → bass cuts through the mix better

🎛 Mix Bus (Advanced)

Use very subtle settings:

• Sharpen slightly right

• 1x multiplier

• Low saturation

Adds glue and energy without compression artifacts.

5️⃣ Pro Tips

✅ Start subtle — small changes go a long way
✅ Level match before/after processing
✅ Use automation for dynamic sections
✅ Don’t overuse 3x multiplier unless for sound design