Tape Saturation Plug-ins (or similar) - The Unofficial Access Virus & Virus TI Forum

MonkeyMan · #1 31.01.2006, 04:30 PM

Can anyone recommend any decent Tape Saturation plug-ins? (or similar)

I would also be interested in peoples opinions in using them.

Drammy · #2 31.01.2006, 04:40 PM

I use Voxengo's Tape Sim in Analogflux (AFTapebus) on just about every channel.

Definately worth trying on demo.

On a slightly related topic: UAD are due to release their Space Echo emulation, so hopefully they may have cracked true Tape simulation and release a dedicated plug-in...

MonkeyMan · #3 31.01.2006, 04:44 PM

Cheers Drammy. Rub it in talking about UAD products - I have a new G5 with it's PCI-E issues!

When using the Voxengo plug - I see that you use it on every channel as opposed to overall when mastering. Is this correct?

Tomer=Trance · #4 31.01.2006, 05:46 PM

i belive PSP have something like that.

http://www.pspaudioware.com/

Drammy · #5 31.01.2006, 06:40 PM

Thats pretty much correct, mostly only with minimal settings.

I suppose busses is more accurate than each individual channel, for example the percussion and drums will be bussed together and the tape sim put over the drum bus, here are a couple of examples:

Drum example 1 is mild tape simulation (voxengo's AFTapeBus, Convincing Drums preset)
Drum example 2 is strong tape simulation (voxengo's AFTapeBus, Smashed Drums preset - I have slightly tinkered this one though)

Both demos have the 4 Bar Loop drum sample (Stylus RMX) dry first and then wet (with only Voxengo's AFTapeBus)

I have tried to manage the levels properly so you don't hear any increase in Gain, just the preset...

Was going to put the UAD Precision Limiter over it, but that would just be dangling the carrot on a stick!

Overall I think it would be fair to say that most VST Tapesims can give a nice sound whilst not really catching the true essence of Tape Saturation.

Drammy

MonkeyMan · #6 01.02.2006, 10:14 AM

Cheers D. Sounds very useable and interesting. It's the same effect that William Orbit has used throughout his new album. I Will have to wait until Voxengo make an AU version for my Mac!

How do the PSP plugs compare in use?

techno_7 · #7 01.02.2006, 07:33 PM

I use Ozone 3 (www.izotope.com) which includes a harmonic exiter with differents forms of soft saturation and distortion...just like tape sat. I don't know alot about howto use it, but i usually saturate the middle frequencies of the track (300-10000) a bit, and maybe a little in the top too. Is some fatness is needed i delay it with a couple of milliseconds. I usually do this in the stereo imager though.

Drammy · #8 01.02.2006, 09:26 PM

There isn't a PSP Tape Sim. Not that I know of anyway...

There is a vintage compressor that people have raved about, personally I'm not impressed - it makes things louder but at the expense of sound quality and doesn't sound very "vintage" to me...

MonkeyMan · #9 01.02.2006, 10:00 PM

They also do a PSP MixSaturator pack which consists of 4 plug-ins - I think it is aimed at mixing as opposed to mastering. D - Out of interest what sort of music do you produce?

Just reading about the Ozone pack on the KVR Audio site. This sounds like a great plug in.

Keep 'em coming.

Merlot · #10 01.02.2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drammy

There is a vintage compressor that people have raved about, personally I'm not impressed - it makes things louder but at the expense of sound quality and doesn't sound very "vintage" to me...

I enjoy the vintage warmer sound. I think it sounds good on drums and vocals. I even use it as a mastering tool sometimes. To each thier own though.