Color Drive by Relab Development is a saturation effect that models the variable-gain tube circuit of the Relab 176 together with its transformer couplings, solved in real time.
Color Drive at a glance
| Developer | Relab Development |
|---|---|
| Type | Effects / Saturation |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later |
| Apple Silicon | Native |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Copy protection | iLok |
| RAM | 8 GB or more |
| Hosts named by the developer | Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Reaper |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €38.68 (regular €78.34) |
What Color Drive does
Rather than stacking algorithms to approximate warmth, the plugin runs the whole circuit as a system, so each adjustment changes the way the full chain responds, much as hardware does.
A calibration step adjusts the bias point of the tube and tunes the harmonics. A set of modern controls determines how the circuit is driven, from barely-there warmth to real tube crunch, with the option to tuck transients.
Key features
- Heart tube stage. Raising Drive engages the tube stage, changing the behavior of the circuit instead of only adding level.
- Bias and harmonic tuning. A calibration adjusts the bias point of the tube and lets the harmonics be tuned.
- Modern circuit controls. Controls shape how the circuit responds, setting the balance between subtle warmth and heavier tube crunch.
- Real-time circuit solving. The full circuit is solved in real time, so harmonic density responds to each change of setting.
Compatibility
Available as VST3, AU and AAX for Windows 10 and macOS 12 in 64-bit builds, with native support for Apple Silicon listed. Activation requires iLok, and 8 GB of RAM is listed.
Color Drive compared with similar plugins
WARM by KERN Audio is a Effects / Saturation plugin available as VST3 and AU for Windows and macOS. Saturator X by IK Multimedia is also Effects / Saturation and comes as VST3, VST2, AU and AAX for Windows and macOS.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color Drive | Relab Development | Saturation | VST3, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €38.68 (regular €78.34) |
| WARM | KERN Audio | Saturation | VST3, AU | Windows, macOS | €30.74 |
| Saturator X | IK Multimedia | Saturation | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €118.99 |
| Transformer X | Three-Body Technology | Saturation | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €88.26 |
| Mass | The Tone Foundry | Saturation | VST3, AU | Windows, macOS | €14.88 (regular €38.68) |
Price and availability
Color Drive was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €38.68, reduced from €78.34. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
Color Drive FAQ
Where can I download Color Drive crack for free?
The release circulates as a repack, and the Relab build is typically packed as .rar and .iso files for Windows and macOS.
Is there a working serial key or keygen for Color Drive?
Queries pair the plugin name with keygen and serial key, but the plugin uses iLok activation, which the license manager handles.