How to Use The Tape Machine Plugins?

Hi! This is Jooyoung Kim, mixing engineer and music producer.

A few days ago, I met my teacher, who taught me guitar and MIDI. We talked about various topics, including tape machine plugins. That conversation inspired me to write a blog post about using tape machine plugins.

If you purchase a plugin through a link in this article, I may receive a small commission.

Let’s dive in!

Basics of Mixing – 9.4 Tape Saturation

First, I wrote an article about tape saturation. If you wonder how it works, please read the post above.

UAD (Universal Audio Digital)

Purchase UAD Analog Tape Bundle at Plugin Boutique

Recently, Plugin Boutique was having a bundle sale on tapes.

Among this bundle, I will talk about three: Oxide Tape Recorder, Studer A800 Tape Recorder, and Ampex ATR-102 Master Tape.

Oxide Tape Recorder

https://www.pluginboutique.com/products/10182/?a_aid=622ea9ee9160c

Oxide Tape Recorder is one of the best tape machine plugin made by UAD. The user interface of the Oxide Tape Recorder is simple and intuitive.

IPS means “Inches Per Second”. For example, when IPS is 15, the tape moves 15 inches per one second.

When EQ parameter is on NAB, left side is the frequency response of IPS 15, the other side is IPS 7.5
More gain at IPS 7.5
When EQ parameter is on NAB, left side is the harmonic distortion of IPS 15, the other side is IPS 7.5

You can see how IPS affects the frequency response and harmonic distortion.

When EQ parameter is on CCIR, left side is the frequency response of IPS 15, the other side is IPS 7.5
If the input gain is too high, compression acts like a soft clipper.

The EQ parameter has two different values: NAB(National Association of Broadcasters) & CCIR(Comité Consultatif International des Radiocommunications, Now ITU-R)

People used to emphasize high frequency by recording process with tape recorder. This is due to high-frequency loss caused by the tape head and the machine. And then, de-emphasize the high frequency when the costumer play the tape.

At those situations, the EQ called NAB & CCIR was used.

NAB was the standard of the electricity with 60Hz alternating current like USA, and CCIR was the standard of 50Hz alternating current like EU(European Union).

The NAB standard sounds smoother and warmer than CCIR, whereas CCIR sounds clearer and sharper than NAB. It means CCIR more emphasize the high frequency field. You can see how the two differ by the upper frequency response graph.

The NR parameter means just “Noise Reduction”. If it turns off, the noise occurs.

That’s all you need to know about the Oxide Tape Recorder plugin. Simple!

Ampex ATR-102 Master Tape

https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/2-Effects/96-Tape-Emulation/12716-Ampex-ATR-102-Mastering-Tape-Recorder/?a_aid=622ea9ee9160c

The parameters of the Ampex ATR-102 Master Tape are not as simple as those of the Oxide Tape Recorder. However, if you understand NAB, CCIR, and IPS, it’s easy to use.

Let’s see the parameters.

The record(input) and reproduce(output) knobs are located at the top of the plugin.

Down side of the plugin, there are buttons that enable detailed adjustments(open and close), and to choose NAB or CCIR.

The right side, you could change type of the tape, calibrate the volume, and choose the tape head width.

Based on 250 tape and NAB(when you choose IPS 30, couldn’t choice Emphasis EQ),

Left – IPS 3.75, Right – IPS 7.5
Left – IPS 15, Right – IPS 30

there are significant differences in frequency response.

When the tape speed is at IPS 15, this graph shows how the frequency response change by selecting NAB to the other(CCIR).

Input gain and output gain value also make some difference, but it’s not that important..

Compression characteristic is unusual – increase high-volume signals even more – however, it’s not a noticeable difference, so I’ll skip the explanation.

Studer A800 Tape Recorder

https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/2-Effects/96-Tape-Emulation/10185-Studer-A800-Tape-Recorder/?a_aid=622ea9ee9160c

The parameter – tape type, calibration, IPS…

Left – IPS 7.5, Right – IPS 15
IPS 30

now it’s really simple. Isn’t it?

Now, without further ado, you can think of it as a friend that emphasizes the low range, and the frequency response changes like this depending on the IPS!

IK Multimedia

Purchase IK Multimedia Total Studio 4 MAX at Plugin Boutique

IK Multimedia makes various plugins like virtual instruments, mixing and mastering effects – their tape machine plugins are really great.

The total bundle sale started on Black Friday, but it’s still on sale. T-racks 5 MAX included in the total bundle includes a total of four tape machine plug-ins: Tape Machine 24, 80, 99, and 440. Let’s look around.

Parameters seems similar.. Tape types, IPS..

IPS 15 in GP9 tape

True stereo parameter makes the difference response between left and right, and transport modeling makes the variation value of the volume by time.

IPS 30 in GP9 tape

The other plugins’ parameters are same as Tape Machine 24 plugin. Just the machines are different, and they make difference in frequency response.

Simple!

Softube Tape

https://www.pluginboutique.com/products/3416/?a_aid=622ea9ee9160c

Softube’s Tape plugin is very clean tape machine plugin. The harmonic distortion quantity could changeable by Amount parameter, and tape type could be selected by the Type parameter. (Type A is clean side, B has quit a lot of low frequencies, C has the characteristic between A and B)

Left – Default type A, Right – Default type B
Default type C

Tape speed could be changed by IPS too.

Type A tape Left – IPS 7/8, Right – IPS 3 3/4
Type A tape Left – IPS 7 1/2, Right – IPS 15
Type A tape IPS 30

Waves also has a famous tape machine plugin called Kramer and J37, but as I was writing this, the patterns became too similar, so I will omit them.

However, there is a parameter called Bias that exists only in Waves.

Basics of Mixing – 9.4 Tape Saturation

If you wonder about the bias, please read upper article.

If you look at it so far, you will feel something. IPS, EQ and the tape type are everything about a tape machine.

I think that just remembering this will make it easier to use the tape plugins.

Thanks for reading! See you in the next post.

Basics of Mixing – 14.1 Pre-Mastering Audio

Hi! This is Jooyoung Kim, mixing engineer & music producer.

Before, we talked about hardware. Today, I’ll begin by introducing mastering. This article is based on my book, Basics of Mixing, published in South Korea.

Let’s dive in!

What is Mastering?

Why do we master audio?

  1. The loudness of mixed music is too low
  2. So gain more volume for the mixed music, maintaining the instruments’ balance

Of course, mastering involves many aspects. You can easily understand mastering with the two sentences above.

Simply put, mastering is the final step in music production. It can also be described as packaging the mixed music. The package does not change after mastering.

What a simple and beautiful setup! – https://gearspace.com/board/mastering-forum/1252793-mastering-studio-photo-thread.html

Room acoustics are the most important factor in building a mastering studio. Also, great quality ADC(Analog-Digital Converter)/DAC(Digital-Analog Converter), speakers and hardware are necessary too.

Building a mixing studio is also expensive. However, in mixing studio, audio hardwares take quite large volumes-they make room acoustics worse.

A desk with hardware may look good and fancy, but it takes up a lot of space. This can lead to comb-filtering effects. Removing the desk is a great solution, but as you know, it’s easier said than done..

One more thing, a mixing engineer listens to a song too many times, making it hard for them to recognize problems. Therefore, when you need to master a song or an album, I recommend hiring a mastering engineer.

Nevertheless a mixing engineer should provide a louder monitor file to clients than the mixed file. Due to budget constraints, mixing engineers sometimes have to master their own files.

In this chapter, for those situations, I’ll talk about the process and concepts about mastering.

The full details start next post! 🙂

Brainworx Saturators Overview & Sale (SPL Machine Head, SPL Vitalizer MK2-T, Elysia Karacter)

Hello everyone! I’m Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer.

Recently, Brainworx released a plugin emulation of the SPL Machine Head, a classic saturation device. Since it’s currently on sale, I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce not only this plugin but also two other renowned Brainworx saturators: SPL Vitalizer MK2-T and Elysia Karacter.

Purchase SPL Machine Head at Plugin Boutique

I received an NFR (Not for Resale) copy of this plugin from Plugin Boutique for review. If you purchase through the links in this blog, I receive a small commission, which helps me continue my work. Your support is greatly appreciated!

SPL Machine Head

The SPL Machine Head was originally released in 1997 as a tape machine saturation simulator. Unlike traditional analog tape machines, this hardware version was fully digital, eliminating wow, flutter, and noise while allowing precise control over the saturation process.

Brainworx has faithfully recreated this in plugin form, bringing its unique sonic characteristics to the digital domain.

Controls Overview:

  • The Original version has 4 knobs, while the Ultimate version has 5.
  • Besides Input and Output levels, the main controls include Drive, High Frequency, and Low Frequency.
Left one is original, right one is ultimate

In the default state, it slightly boosts the high frequencies and enhances third-order harmonics.

Left one is original, right one is ultimate

When increasing the Tape Speed, an actual tape machine would typically alter the frequency response by rolling off both low and high frequencies. However, in this plugin, it seems to achieve a similar effect by adjusting volume and high-frequency slope.

Key Takeaways:

  • Functions as an EQ (HF knob boosts/cuts highs, LF knob boosts/cuts lows)
  • Adds third-order harmonics for natural saturation
  • Slight compression effect at higher input levels

Compared to other saturators I’ve used, the effect is subtle and very natural. I find it particularly useful for enhancing high frequencies, similar to the Maag EQ4 or Baxandall EQ.

Purchase SPL Machine Head at Plugin Boutique

🔹 On Sale Until April 22 🔹

Plugin Alliance plugins typically see deeper discounts about a year after release, so if you’re not in a rush, you can wait for an even better deal.

🔹 Recommended Master Bus Settings: 🔹

  1. Ultimate mode
  2. Drive at 0.5
  3. High Tape Speed On (30 IPS)

SPL Vitalizer MK2-T

The SPL Vitalizer MK2-T is a tube-based saturator with versatile tone-shaping capabilities.

I once debated whether to buy this hardware unit or another compressor. I went with the compressor, but the Vitalizer remains an incredibly flexible tool.

The SPL Vitalizer offers four main processing areas:

  1. Drive
  2. Bass & High-Frequency Control
  3. LC (Inductor-Capacitor) Filter-based High Shelf EQ
  4. Stereo Expander

Control Breakdown:

  • Drive: Determines how much effect is applied, not just input gain.
  • Bass (Soft <0> Tight):
    • Soft: Boosts overall bass
    • Tight: Slightly reduces overall levels while enhancing only the bass region.
  • Compression: Works only on the bass frequencies, with automatic Threshold, Attack, and Release settings. The Compression knob adjusts the ratio.
  • Mid-Hi Tune: A shelving EQ for the mid-to-high range.
  • Process: Controls the overall amount of bass, compression, and mid-high tuning applied.
  • LC-EQ: A high-shelf EQ using LC circuits.
  • Stereo Expander: A stereo enhancement tool.

Initially, the controls may feel unfamiliar, but once you get used to them, you’ll find many creative applications.

Purchase SPL Vitalizer MK2-T at Plugin Boutique

This plugin goes on sale frequently, so check out the demo before purchasing!

Elysia Karacter

The Elysia Karacter is a highly regarded hardware saturator, now available as a plugin.

It features automatic oversampling:

  • 4x oversampling for sample rates below 50kHz
  • 2x oversampling for sample rates below 100kHz
  • No oversampling for rates 100kHz and above

It also includes MS mode, Turbo Boost mode, and FET Shred mode.

On the left, we have the default settings, while the right shows the FET mode, which emulates the classic “Smile EQ” curve.

⚠️ Caution:

  • If driven too hard, it automatically compresses the signal.
  • This isn’t standard compression but rather an emulation of analog clipping.

Increasing the Drive lowers the compression Threshold, so careful gain staging is crucial.

Color Knob:

  • Turn left: Boosts ultra-low frequencies (5–50Hz)
  • Turn right: Boosts overall low frequencies (below 100Hz)

I love the saturation in FET mode, but due to its aggressive nature, I recommend placing gain plugins before and after it to control input and output levels.

Purchase Elysia Karacter at Plugin Boutique

This plugin also goes on sale frequently, so keep an eye out!

Plugin Alliance vs. Plugin Boutique Pricing

Recently, Plugin Alliance started adding a 10% tax at checkout. Because of this, Plugin Boutique often offers a better deal, especially considering their loyalty points and free plugins.

That’s it for today’s review! Hope this helps you decide which saturator fits your needs.

See you in the next post!

SSL X-EQ 2 and DeEss Plugin Overview + 90% Off Sale (Ends 1/29)

Hello! I’m Juyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer.

It’s been a while since I shared plugin sale news, hasn’t it?
Over the holiday season and into early January, my manager was on vacation, and most major sales wrapped up at the start of the year. So, I didn’t have much to share.

One notable ongoing deal is IK Multimedia’s Total Studio 4 MAX sale.

That said, I recently came across SSL’s sale on X-EQ 2 and DeEss, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you!

Purchase SSL X-EQ 2 & DeEss Bundle at plugin boutique

Disclosure

This product was provided as an NFR (Not for Resale) through Plugin Boutique. If you make a purchase using the links in this post, I’ll earn a small commission, which helps me keep doing what I do.

Let’s dive in!

SSL X-EQ 2

The SSL X-EQ 2 is a feature-packed EQ plugin. These days, DAW-native EQs are so powerful that standalone EQ plugins need to have a competitive edge to stand out—and X-EQ 2 delivers.

Key features include:

  • Mid/Side processing
  • Presets to remove 50Hz and 60Hz hum (ideal for handling electrical noise)

You can double-click to create points and adjust EQ type, frequency (Hz), bandwidth (Q), and gain (dB) with ease.

A particularly fun feature is the knob-like interface—select a parameter (Hz, dB, Q) and adjust it by dragging your mouse, mimicking the feel of turning a physical knob.

It also includes an analyzer (activated via the top-right button) and lets you choose between parallel or serial processing from the top-left menu.

Additionally, you can activate Phase Analysis to see phase shifts (dotted lines) or enable Step Response Mode to view how signals evolve over time after passing through the EQ.

Heaviside Step Function

For those unfamiliar with Step Response:
The Step Response of a system refers to how the system reacts over time to a sudden change in input, specifically when the input shifts instantaneously from 0 to 1 (a Heaviside Step function). It demonstrates:

  1. The system’s transient behavior, showing how it initially reacts to the input change.
  2. The steady-state behavior, revealing how the system settles after the transient phase.
  3. The time it takes to stabilize, which indicates the system’s responsiveness.

In the context of EQs, a longer Step Response often correlates with ringing artifacts, where the EQ introduces unintended resonances that make the sound linger beyond its natural decay. This visualization helps engineers fine-tune the EQ to minimize these artifacts.

Purchase SSL X-EQ 2 at plugin boutique

I love all the features, but the only downside is that the window size can’t be adjusted. But if you see the price, it could be convinced!

DeEss Plugin

The DeEss plugin offers highly detailed sibilance control.

Key features:

  • Adjustable target range: 1kHz to 20kHz
  • Mid/Side processing
  • Compression intensity and Brighten (high-shelving EQ) controls
  • Lookahead capability for precise processing

A standout feature is the Auto Listen mode, which allows you to hear both the filtered signal and the original detection, making adjustments much easier.

Purchase SSL DeEss at Plugin Boutiuqe

This DeEss plugin is one of the most versatile I’ve come across, and it’s surprisingly lightweight unless oversampling is applied. If you don’t already have a dedicated de-esser, this is an excellent choice.

Bonus: Free Plugin Offer

If you purchase any plugin from Plugin Boutique this month, you’ll receive Klevgrand’s Richter Compressor Plugin for free. Don’t forget to claim it when checking out!

Final Thoughts

Both the SSL X-EQ 2 and DeEss plugins are incredibly versatile and user-friendly tools for mixing and production. The 90% discount makes this deal even sweeter—don’t miss out before the sale ends on January 29!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Until next time!