Which is the best Tape emulation?

Discussion in 'Software' started by Alex Philipp, Apr 15, 2018.

  1. Alex Philipp

    Alex Philipp Platinum Record

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    Hello Everybody!
    What do You think which is the best Tape emulation plugin apart from UAD. I like a lot a UAD Studer A800 but have to travel a lot and it not convenient to have my satellite with me cos it has weight.
    So what do You think which one? Satin, Softube, Slate VTM, Overloud or may be other one or Nebula library? I ask here cos believe that somebody already made such comparisons and I believe your ears.
    Cheers!

    [​IMG]

     
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  3. Talmi

    Talmi Audiosexual

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    If I want simple and effective - and yet free but awesome - I go for ToTape5 from airwindows. If I want complex my favorite is Satin.
     
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  4. mild pump milk

    mild pump milk Russian Milk Drunkard

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    If a tape plugin emulates all bad/worn cassette tape nuances very-very close, it also may emulate a studio tape, because it requires less tape bad-nuances to be both precise and warm. It depends on what you need or not, what you expect or not and material...
     
  5. TW

    TW Guest

    Satin is my favorite. Tapedesk for a smaller footprint.
     
  6. 11Fletcher

    11Fletcher Platinum Record

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    I use a lot the Slate VTM for when I want to add some warmth to a track or a master, even sometime on all the track. It give me good result for that, Satin sounds nice too and is probably more versatile, but I got the result Im looking for with the Slate so I tend to stay with this one (I also have the Stutter 800 from UAD but still prefer the Slate for what I want)
     
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  7. MMJ2017

    MMJ2017 Audiosexual

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    i never use less that 6 or 7 tape sims at one time (each barely doing anything)
    there are not any that resemble the real thing.
    a "tape sim" is marketing code for

    "soft clipping"
    flutter and wow
    light compression
    harmonic flavor


    so by using a bunch of tape sims very lightly you can achieve a more realistic approach.
     
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  8. Nick12

    Nick12 Platinum Record

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    By the way when I use Satin I hear or get noise? Is that normal or do you have that too?

    Slate VTM is a really nice one. This one does a big thing to your low end. It can make everything so much more powerful. It's crazy! Softube Tape is really nice aswell. Especially the B type in here sounds amazing!
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2018
  9. LHO

    LHO Ultrasonic

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    Hey Nick, in the "Service-Panel" of Satin (little arrow bottom left in the GUI) there's a "Hiss" knob. Turn that down to get rid of the noise. If you want to keep the noise during playback, use the "Auto-Mute" right next to it.

    To OP: Satin has been my go-to for quite some time. Love it so much, especially when stacking multiple instances.
    Recently got Magnetite by Black Rooster and really like it as well. If you haven't tried/heard of it, check it out! Also, it was on sale recently, so if you drop them a line maybe they'll prolong the sale for you.
     
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  10. freefeet12

    freefeet12 Rock Star

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    Just so I make sure I understand, in serial? As in the accumulative effect of 6-7 tape sims?
     
  11. arsstudios

    arsstudios Newbie

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    I own both the ATR 102 and A800 from UA. I purchased the Slate tape emulation a few months ago and it blows away the UA stuff. It is half the price of one UA plugin also.
     
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  12. Plendix

    Plendix Platinum Record

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    If you don't need to tweak the sound, I would recommend Nebula.
    It's a Revox B77 / Ampex sample I use most of the time.
    You can alter the sound a bit by having it a little more or less driven, but even for that purpose there are programs for it's own.
    So the main disadvantage is that you need to find that one library that got that one sound you love.
    As I have a B77 that was the easy part for me, and I can say it sounds exactly like the real thing.
    When I did some comparison, I found that slate or waves didn't extend the low end like a real tape does. Nebula did.
     
  13. pine

    pine Ultrasonic

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    Best Answer
    Don't take my word for it, use your ears:

     
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  14. stevitch

    stevitch Audiosexual

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    I was tempted to be snarky and say, "Tape," but Satin is really good.
     
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  15. Nightmix

    Nightmix Producer

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    For everything I keep trying, I keep coming back to PSP Vintage Warmer. I'm probably just too accustomed to liking it. :bleh:
     
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  16. MMJ2017

    MMJ2017 Audiosexual

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    yes. take the humming and static off though and the transients tip is hitting the tape around -0.5 db each plugin
    this way you get accumulation.
    (makes it more 3d)
    each one by itself will sound like nothing is happening but when you add them all together it sounds more 3d.

    make 7 tape sims have the total impact 1 normally would
    you want to iron out the wrinkles in the fine grain detail ( when using plugins)

    you never want any single plugin to sound audibly different because that means you are working on the larger part of the audio instead of the atomic level texture.
    working this way gives you results of the best made pro albums.

    you start out with plain audio which the transients are all over the place, by dealing with the smallest levels you slowly make them even
    (as opposed to drastic compression and limiting,which is the larger structure, not the atomic level tiniest texture)

    this way of working is to ignore the picture and text name of a plugin , and instead use it based on how it actually effects the signal.
    Next you create a chain of 50 or so plugins that when totaled up imitates the signal flow of real analog equipment.

    a real piece of gear say a Neve 1073 has many stages the sound passes through each one does tiny bit to the tiniest fine grain texture detail.

    [​IMG]

    you can see here the signal passes through several "blocks" each make their own impact at tiny level of detail.

    you might as well use plugins this way and create any sound you could ever want right?
    you can create a plugin chain of 50 plugins that give a signature sound that a real piece or couple of pieces of real gear would give you.then just save your chain as a preset

    next you load up the preset BUT adjust each plugin specific to what is unique to the audio file you are working on, this gives you the ability to "build a virtual" piece of new analog gear for each track you ever have, custom Taylored to the fingerprint of that audio.

    the only requirement really is powerful system and speakers good enough to hear tiniest level of detail in audio the rest is your playground it will change your life.
    (ps not just for tape, but every aspect of mixing ,production,engineering and mastering with plugins)
    [​IMG]

    one thing to remember with a long plugin chain( where each is barely doing anything noticeable)
    you have to pay special attention to how hard the signal is hitting that chain

    you want a result where the plugins are invisible , meaning you are looking for the results themselves on the audio not a sound of plugins being there.



    you can custom this whole technique to your needs and taste

    maybe you want to start with 5 plugins replacing what 1 used to.
    maybe you use it more on vocals and bass than guitars or drums? whatever you want!

    the technique is based on using harmonics and tiny fine grain detail alterations to your audio to shape it to the exact result you want
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2018
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  17. refix

    refix Platinum Record

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    good point. i remember many years ago (10 years +) the vintage warmer was the first plugin that alerted me to to possibility that digital signal could sound like what i remembered 'analogue' sounding like. i used to push it way too hard, but then again i think i always pushed too hard through amps and to tape anyway (youthful over-zealousness and poor engineering skills).
     
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  18. Yup, same here. Great minds....
     
  19. phloopy

    phloopy Audiosexual

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    Thanks for your head up Talmi ...... That´s indeed a simple app, very usefull and makes a lot of sense when it comes "tapes"! :wink:
     
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  20. Moogerfooger

    Moogerfooger Audiosexual

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    Nebula Cdsoundmaster stuff
     
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  21. Lambchop

    Lambchop Banned

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    [​IMG]
     
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