Softube recently released their contribution to the tape emulation plugin market. And it’s a great contribution. Named simply, ‘Tape’, it looks set to become an in-the-box mixing favourite. Read our review to find out why.

The Tape of Things to Come

Digital emulation of analogue gear has become a very popular area of plugin development. With the increased processor power available to people mixing on just their laptops, it is now possible to run incredibly complex modelling algorithms without creating massive latency or melting your CPU. As the quality of these emulations gets better and better, some of the big guns are stepping in with some impressive software. Most recently, Softube have released Tape.

Tape is an emulation of… uhm… tape! Not sticky tape or measuring tape but good old fashioned, reel-to-reel, recording tape. Like they used in the old days. Ahem… The idea being that you can make your digital recordings sounds like they’ve been committed to magnetic tape as they would have been in a professional studio (and still are today in many). The reason you want to do this is because that tape adds all kinds of subtle but beautiful sounding artefacts like saturation, wow and flutter. Have a listen to our quick ‘first-play’ and read on…

[youtube=https://youtu.be/GhDmzjZAr4s&rel=0]

Let’s see what Softube have brought to the tape-ble. (Okay that pun was bad even for us… sorry.)

So you usually see 30 or 15 or 7.5 IPS (inches per second) on standard tape sims, but this also goes to like 3 3/4 and 1 7/8th, so you can make it unbelievably noisy if you like. It’s also the only tape sim we know of with crosstalk (the interaction of tracks playing between one another because of the medium). This is controlled by a knob in the interface, and it adds width without adding panning. Note that if you run this in Studio One you can have the extra benefit of being able to control the cross-talk amount per track.

Contoh undangan ulang tahun. We are pleased to inform you that BATAAN HEROES MEMORIAL COLLEGE is celebrating her 30th (Pearl) Foundation Anniversary on December 7-11, 2008. Resty Navarro Gabon, Abucay, Bataan Dear Mr & Mrs. Navarro: Greetings of Peace and Good Will. For the steadfast confidence and unwavering loyalty you and your family have reposed to BATAAN HEROES MEMORIAL COLLEGE by entrusting to her the education of at least three (3) of your children and who are now successful practitioners in their respective fields, the college administration deems it proper and fitting to award you with a Plaque of Recognition.

It’s incredible. Like voodoo.

Wow/flutter is controlled by a single knob called ‘Speed Stability’. This is easier to use, though less controllable, than other tape emulations. There is also a knob for correction of HF depending on the tape speed you use (since higher speed is more trebly and low speeds are bassy).

The colour switch has 3 positions; Swiss, Transformer and British. Each has it’s own unique flavour, which is subtle, but if you up the crosstalk it can become pretty colourful.

You can also do an actual tape-stop with it. Everyone wants a tape-stop so that’s sold it for us!

Despite all of this functionality, Tape isn’t a CPU hog like some similar emulations. With a decent spec machine you should be able to whack this on all your tracks, busses and master without it falling over. This is a massive bonus as that’s the way you want to use it for an authentic tape based studio sound. All in all this is an incredibly strong competitor in the tape emulation game. It comes at a fair price and is definitely worth considering if that’s something you are into.

Tech Specs

Version 2.0 of the Softube plug-ins have the following minimum requirements:

All Native Versions:

Mac OS X 10.9 or newer
Windows 64-bit, versions 8 or 10
Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon 64 X2 or newer
Screen resolution larger than 1280×800
1 GB RAM or more, and at least 6 GB hard disk space for installation (individual plug-ins take less space)
Any VST, VST3, AU, or AAX (Pro Tools 10.3.7, 11.0.2 or higher) compatible host application
Softube/Gobbler account
Gobbler application to manage license activation and plug-in downloads
Please make sure that you always use the latest iLok License Manager. It is not included in the Softube installer, but can be downloaded from www.ilok.com
Broadband internet access for downloading installer and register licenses​

Please Note:

Windows XP and Vista are no longer officially supported
All Softube plug-ins support both 32- and 64-bit hosts, although a 64-bit OS is required. Supported sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz, in both mono and stereo

• Sound quality
• Ease of use
• Interface
• Presets
• Value for money
• Wow! Flutter!

Summary

Tape is subtle and serves a very specific mixing purpose. And it does this very well, with enough tweakability to make it suitable for a variety of musical styles. We’d recommend trying out the demo and, if you like it, get it, and use it on everything.

Earlier today we told you about an error by AudioDeluxe including details of Softube plug-ins in an email to their subscribers. Well, we have not had to wait too long for the official announcement from Softube that they have released their new Tape Plug-in.

This tape emulation plug-in models three types of reel-to-reel tape machine without taxing CPUs or breaking the bank, with an introductory price of $79 until June 30th 2017 with the normal price of $99 thereafter, and includes a MixFX version for Studio One users called Tape Multitrack.

Check out our exclusive review.

Three In One

Softube’s Tape effectively has three distinctly different tape machine characteristics in one plug-in:

• TYPE A is based on a classic Swiss high-end reel-to-reel design, generally known and admired for its precision and linearity
• TYPE B is a much more colourful affair — a transformer-based machine that adds weight and creaminess to the low end
• TYPE C is based on a British tape machine with a visible vintage vibe.

Simple To Use

Using the Softube Tape plug-in can be as simple as selecting a tape machine, and adjusting the Amount & Color controls. Alternatively, choose one of the included presets from award-winning engineers, such as Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, Strokes, U2) and Howard Willing (Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Smashing Pumpkins), and you’re good to go!

See how distorted the flip books become as each person goes through it. Telephone sentences for adults. Goal: To interpret the pictures and phrases as accurately as possible.

Under The Hood

If you want to go under the hood, you can, users can control Tape Speed (which includes tape speeds that do not actually exist in the real world), as well as Speed Stability, Channel Crosstalk as well as other options including the mastering-grade High Freq Trim filter, which is designed to add a smooth treble boost and Run Stop sound effects

Extra Features For Presonus Users

Tape is available as a standard plug-in that will run on any DAW that hosts AAX, AU, or VST formats.

For Presonus Studio One users, Tape is also available as a MixFX plug-in called Tape Multitrack, with selectable crosstalk between individual tracks and control of all instances of the plug-in from a single interface. The Tape and Tape Multitrack license is one and the same, so someone buying Tape then later switching over to using Studio One already has Tape Multitrack installed, licensed, and ready to go. Watch out for a Studio One Expert review of Tape showing how it works as a MixFX plug-in.

What Do We Think Of Tape By Softube?

Did we need another tape emulation style plug-in? Softube thought we did and I must say that I'm so pleased to see that they've finally developed one. I've always felt that a tape style plug-in was always missing from their plug-in range. The Tape plug-in by Softube couldn't be easier to use and features a selection of really powerful controls such as dry/wet that is great for achieving tape flange effects and high freq control for shaping the top end of audio. The three tape machines are uniquely different from each other - I've already found my favourite in type B as I think it sounds the most rounded and punchy. The tape stop effect is also a nice creative addition that can add a nice production feature if used cleverly.