Tape Echoes by Softube tape delay plugin interface

Tape Echoes: Analog Tape Delay Plugin by Softube

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (339 ratings)

Tape Echoes is a tape delay effect plugin by Softube that models vintage tape echo hardware. Its Drive & Dirt controls add distortion, wow, flutter and dropouts, from clean to heavily degraded.

VST3VST2AUAAXRTASWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

Tape Echoes is a tape delay effect from Softube, built around a model of classic vintage tape delay hardware. Its Drive and Dirt features cover everything from realistic tape saturation to wobbly, lo-fi dub textures. Setting Dirt on its own, with the reverb off, gives old-school tape grit without repeats. The plugin is available in three versions: a native plugin, a version for Amp Room, and a version for Modular.

Best for

Dub delay effects
Lo-fi vocal delays
Guitar and bass echo
Experimental sound design
Tape wobble textures

Developer: Softube
Category: Delays
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Models classic vintage tape delay hardware behavior and sound
Drive control for preamp and tape distortion
Dirt control for wow, flutter, dropouts and frequency response
Just Dirt setting for tape grit with reverb off
Number of Taps knob for one, two or three taps
Spring reverb placed in parallel or before the delay
Tempo sync, tap tempo and stereo or dual-mono modes
Wet/dry control with fully automatable parameters

03In depth

Tape delay sound and character

Softube says the plugin reproduces the sound and behavior of vintage tape delay hardware. The Number of Taps control switches between one, two or three taps, with feedback used to emphasize them. The delay time fader sets the timing of the first tap, and the others follow.

A spring reverb can sit in parallel with the delay or before it, letting you move from clean analog echo to heavily distorted repeats. Turning down delay time and reverb leaves a pure tape effect.

Drive and Dirt controls for workflow

Drive adds preamp and tape distortion. Dirt affects tape speed, wobble, flutter, dropouts and frequency response, along with crosstalk and pitch, and the randomness of those parameters. Tape Glitch adds further experimental options alongside them.

Tape Echoes also offers tempo sync, tap tempo, stereo and dual-mono modes, and a wet/dry control. All parameters can be automated in the DAW.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

Developer	Softube
Type	Plugin
Category	Delay
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, RTAS
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Tape Echoes support?

Tape Echoes is available in VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and RTAS formats. Softube notes that TDM, VENUE and RTAS are no longer supported, and AAX DSP is not in active development.

Which operating systems can run Tape Echoes?

Tape Echoes runs on Windows 10 (64-bit) and Windows 11, and on macOS Big Sur 11, Monterey 12 and Ventura 13. It is a 64-bit plugin.

What do I need to use Tape Echoes?

You need a Softube account, an iLok account, a compatible AU, VST, VST3 or AAX host, and internet access for installers and license management. Make sure you use the latest iLok License Manager, which must be downloaded separately from ilok.com.