Abbey Road Reel ADT is a Waves vocal effects plugin that recreates the tape-delay Artificial Double Tracking process developed at Abbey Road Studios, producing a doubled vocal from a single take.
Abbey Road Reel ADT is built around Artificial Double Tracking, the tape-based technique Abbey Road Studios technician Ken Townsend developed for the Beatles and John Lennon. Instead of simply delaying a copy of the vocal, the effect lets the doubled part drift ahead of and behind the original, keeping the doubling rhythmically alive. Waves developed the plugin in close collaboration with Abbey Road Studios and models the tape recorders still used there.
Reel ADT runs two independent tape decks, one for the source and one for the double. Each deck has its own pan, saturation and phase settings, so you can place the doubled part where it sits best in the mix.
The delay range is variable, letting you spread the doubled parts wider or narrower. Varispeed adds fluctuation to the delay speed of the doubled parts, which is where the moving, living quality of the effect comes from.
Tape speed can be controlled manually, with an LFO, synced to the host, or set to random. Varispeed can be handled manually or automated, so you decide how much of the drift is controlled and how much is left to chance.
For live performance, a low-latency version offers delay-only ADT. Manual control can be assigned to MIDI for hands-on adjustment during a session or show.
Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.
| Developer | Waves |
|---|---|
| Type | Plugin |
| Category | Vocal Processing |
| Formats | VST2, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS |
Reel ADT is a Waves vocal effects plugin that recreates the tape-delay Artificial Double Tracking process developed at Abbey Road Studios.
Reel ADT is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats for macOS, and in VST and AAX formats for Windows. Mac support covers macOS Monterey 12 through Sequoia 15, and PC support covers Windows 10 and later.
Yes. A low-latency version provides delay-only ADT for live performance, and manual control can be assigned to MIDI.
