Kramer Master Tape is a tape emulation effect plugin from Waves, developed with studio engineer Eddie Kramer. It models an American tube tape recorder with adjustable speed, bias and flux, plus a tape delay.
Kramer Master Tape is built around the sound of early 1/4-inch analog tape recording, the kind associated with classic rock records. Waves developed it with Eddie Kramer, the studio engineer known for his work with Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. The plugin models the American tube recorder used at Olympic Studios and adds the tape character that comes with pushing analog tape toward distortion. It is an effect for adding warmth, texture and grit to digital recordings rather than a general-purpose mixing tool.
Kramer Master Tape focuses on the coloration of early analog tape. Tube saturation is included to warm up harsh-sounding instruments, which makes it a practical option for sources that feel thin or brittle in the digital domain.
The plugin also adds wow, flutter and hiss. Waves describes these as a way to add extra authenticity, so you can introduce the subtle instability of a real tape machine without leaving the DAW.
The core controls are speed, bias and flux, which let you shape how the tape model responds. Changing them is how you move the sound between a cleaner, more open character and a more compressed, driven one.
A tape delay is included with a range of up to 500 ms. It offers time, feedback and filter controls, so it can serve as a textured echo alongside the tape sound rather than a separate effect.
Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.
| Developer | Waves |
|---|---|
| Type | Plugin |
| Category | Tape Emulation |
| Formats | VST2, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS |
Kramer Master Tape is an effect plugin from Waves that emulates early analog tape recording. It was developed with Eddie Kramer and models an American tube tape recorder.
Kramer Master Tape is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.
Mac users need macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 or Sequoia 15 for the VST, AU and AAX versions. PC users need Windows 10 or later for the VST and AAX versions.
The tape delay goes up to 500 ms and includes time, feedback and filter controls. It is designed to work with the tape character of the plugin.
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