Abstract: A soft material separator (1) has a perforated drum (2) A pressing band (3) is guided along a circumferential section (19) of the perforated drum (2) and can be operated together with the perforated drum (2). A feed zone (7), from which a substance mixture (14) consisting of substance components (12, 13) of different consistencies is drawn in between the perforated drum (2) and the pressing band (3) to separate the substance components (12, 13). For optimization in terms of wear and energy consumption without any or without significant losses in effectiveness of the device, a detection system (9) is provided to quantitatively determine the fill level of the feed zone (7), and a control apparatus (10) which is connected to the detection system (9) is provided to adjust the speed of the perforated drum (2) and of the pressing band (3) depending on the fill level.