Echo Cat tape echo plugin interface by Wavesfactory showing playback heads and tape loop

Echo Cat: Tape Echo Plugin by Wavesfactory Free Download

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (540 ratings)

Echo Cat is a tape echo delay plugin by Wavesfactory that models the sound and behavior of a classic Copicat-style unit. It adds modern features such as tempo sync, ducking, M/S processing and feedback-path filters, and is available in VST3 and VST2 formats for Windows and macOS.

VST3VST2WindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

Echo Cat is a delay effect that reproduces the character of a vintage tape echo unit. It simulates three playback heads and a continuously spinning tape loop, so the repeats behave the way tape does rather than sounding like a clean digital copy. Wavesfactory built the model by analyzing signals from the original hardware, which the developer says was the basis for the sound. Alongside that core, the plugin adds tempo-synced delay times, ducking, stereo and mid/side controls and filters in the feedback path. It runs as a VST3 or VST2 effect on Windows and macOS.

Best for

Vintage tape delay
Guitar echo effects
Dub-style delays
Ducked vocal delays
Feedback and self-oscillation
Mix-bus stereo widening

Developer: Wavesfactory
Category: Delays
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Tape echo model with three independent playback heads
Tempo-synced or millisecond delay times per head
Tape hiss, wow and flutter, and signal loss controls
Varispeed control with optional LFO modulation
Hum control in the Motor section
Ducking on the full stereo signal or mid channel only
M/S processing with separate mid and side volumes
Filters placed outside the feedback loop
Mono, stereo or pseudo-stereo output mode

03In depth

Authentic Tape Echo Sound and Controls

Echo Cat's main view shows the record and erase heads along with the three playback heads and the tape loop. Each head can be synced to your host tempo or set freely in milliseconds, with its own volume, pan and LP/HP filter. Three LED indicators show when signal is present on the selected head, which helps when you are tracking the repeats.

The Tape section covers the parts that give tape its character. It includes mono or stereo hiss, wow and flutter for speed fluctuations, tape age with asperity noise and erasures, and random high-frequency signal loss. The Loop Gap parameter imitates the joint where the tape is physically looped.

The Motor section provides hum and Varispeed control, and Varispeed can also be modulated with an LFO.

Ducking, M/S and Modern Delay Features

For mixing, Echo Cat offers ducking that lowers the wet signal while the dry signal is playing, so the delay stays out of the way of the main sound. Filters can be applied outside the feedback loop, and the mid and side levels can be controlled separately.

The output can be set to mono, stereo or a pseudo-stereo mode that adds a 5 ms delay to the right channel only. Wavesfactory describes the plugin as having pro presets and a stereo widener as well.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Wavesfactory
Type	Plugin
Category	Delay
Formats	VST3, VST2
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Echo Cat support?

Echo Cat is available in VST3 and VST2 formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.

Does Echo Cat work on 32-bit systems?

No. Echo Cat is available in 64-bit format only and will not function on 32-bit systems. It requires a 64-bit DAW and operating system.

What do I need to use Echo Cat?

On macOS you need version 10.9 or higher, with Intel or Apple Silicon supported natively. On Windows you need Windows 7, 8 or 10 (64-bit) and a DAW that can host VST or VST3 plugins, or Pro Tools.