Tape Machine 80: Studer A80 Tape Emulation Plugin by IK Multimedia

Tape Machine 80 offers four tape formulations, each with its own tone. The 250 formula, modeled after the 3M/Scotch 250, is the most colored and adds warmth with more distortion and saturation than the others. The 456 formula, based on Ampex 456, is described as contributing the most to what is considered the classic tape sound, with a warm, round tone that responds to recording level. The GP9, modeled after the Quantegy GP9, accepts higher signal levels with minimal distortion and compression, which suits punchy modern recordings. The 499, based on the Ampex 499, handles high levels cleanly and adds high-frequency definition while keeping an analog sound.

Switching between formulas lets you match the tape character to the source material.

All plugins in the Tape Machine collection share the same set of controls, which makes quick A/B comparisons between them straightforward. The signal path selector switches between Input, which passes audio only through the electronic input and output stages, and Repro, which runs the signal through the full analog recording chain including the tape and playback head.

Tape speed selects between 15 and 30 inches per second. Higher speed adds fidelity, while lower speed gives a warmer, rounder tone. True Stereo reproduces small level, EQ and distortion differences between channels, and can be disabled if identical left and right processing is needed. Transport Modeling recreates small mechanical irregularities in the tape movement, and Record Bias lets you overbias for warmer saturation or underbias to boost highs and add nonlinear distortion.