"Tape saturation" type plugins

[Armistice]

What are people's views on these things?

I've got a few freebies - useful for taking the edge of something that seems a bit brittle, if re-recording it with a better sound isn't an option, but that's about all I've ever used them for.

You?

[Minerman]

All of 'em that I've used seem to do what you already have said, take the edge off, maybe "round" the transients a bit...Depends on which plug, & what options you've got too though...

I think all of the drum vst's I use benefit from a tape sim, it seems to smooth the "plastic" sound a little, especially the Toontrack stuff...Throw one on your drum buss & see if you agree...

[Armistice]

I think all of the drum vst's I use benefit from a tape sim, it seems to smooth the "plastic" sound a little, especially the Toontrack stuff...Throw one on your drum buss & see if you agree...

Ah, never tried that use. Will give it a go next mix perhaps.

[Greg_L]

I don't use them intentionally. I have a few compressors and such that are modeled after good old-school analog units, and that's good enough for me. That's not really "tape saturation" though. I personally have no use for tape saturation.

The only tape plug I have, that I'm aware of, is a freebie called Modern Analoguer. It thickens and takes some sheen off a track. I never use it. About the only thing I think it'd be good for is a hot distorted vocal effect, and I've yet to want that.

[Minerman]

I don't use them intentionally. I have a few compressors and such that are modeled after good old-school analog units, and that's good enough for me. That's not really "tape saturation" though. I personally have no use for tape saturation.

This is where me & the Gerg split off onto different paths...I'm guilty of falling in with the guys at RR, using emulations/plugins of modeled gear...I don't use them on everything, but they all have their uses, for me...

I get why you don't use 'em though dude, & I need all the help I can get with everything...

[Greg_L]

This is where me & the Gerg split off onto different paths...I'm guilty of falling in with the guys at RR, using emulations/plugins of modeled gear...I don't use them on everything, but they all have their uses, for me...

I get why you don't use 'em though dude, & I need all the help I can get with everything...

That's not necessarily "tape saturation" though. A plug in modeling analog gear doesn't necessarily have anything to do with "tape". I use plugs that model analog hardware. It doesn't yield "tape sound". It hopefully yields an analog sound. Hardware emulation and tape saturation are two separate entities.

[Minerman]

That's not necessarily "tape saturation" though. A plug in modeling analog gear doesn't necessarily have anything to do with "tape". I use plugs that model analog hardware. It doesn't yield "tape sound". It hopefully yields an analog sound. Hardware emulation and tape saturation are two separate entities.

Yes good sir, I stand corrected, but the way I use these plugins, they're one big signal chain, for example, that goes:
tape sim>eq>comp>channel strip, then that goes to the master, which has: tape sim>channel strip>console

I know it's still not the same as using tape saturation, but you gotta remember who you're talking to here dude...

[Greg_L]

So what "tape sim" do you use?

I'd give it a try if I knew of a good one.

[Roman]

The analog process is a complex affair where ones and zeros are not moving along the audio chain but electrons.

There are so many variables in the signal path that all have their own effect on what you finally hear at output.

Tape saturation is just one small piece of the puzzle.

So a tape saturation plug in is just a small step towards that "analog sound"........if that's what you're after.

I've heard that the Eddie Kramer is good. Never used it.

Blah blah blah. Yeah im just talking. Nothing earthshaking here.

[Bboot]

The Slate virtual tape machines is very good. I have about 5 tape sims and the Slate one is my favorite. The Decapitator from Soundtoys is another amazing saturation plugin. I use the Slate on the master Buss, Drum buss and on snare and bass guitar. Toms too. All in small doses, but I drive the snare pretty hard with it for aggressive music. It helps it cut through without altering the output too much.

[Minerman]

So what "tape sim" do you use?

I'd give it a try if I knew of a good one.

Slate VTM is my favorite right now...I think it's better than the Waves Kramer Tape plugin...I bought a bundle of Slate's plugins on sale a couple years ago...They all sound good (IMO), & work together really well (like the signal chain I mentioned)...Gain-staging is important with these plugins (the -18 digital = 0 analog), but you knew that already...

There is a demo, not sure how long it lasts, but I like what it does to most of my tracks...YMMV...

On the freebie side, there's Ferric, Softube's Saturation Knob, & some more here

[Greg_L]

Ack, I'll never buy Slate anything.

I have that Ferric one already. Don't think I've ever used it. I'll give it a shot.

[rammer24]

I throw this on my bass and vocals almost always now. It might be psycho-acoustics, but I find it smooths shit out a bit.

Only problem with them is that I only use the free version, which is only mono. So, I can't stick it on my master, only individual instruments, which is fine with me.

https://www.masseyplugins.com/plugin/tapehead

I also love this simple EQ. The top end is especially really nice:

https://www.masseyplugins.com/plugin/vt3

[Lt. Bob]

since I don't use plug-ins (don't use a 'puter based rig) I have no idea how any of them sound.
but IF I were to switch I'd prolly use the crap out of them.

Slate has a newish mic modeler sim that looks really interesting to me. It the Virtual Mic something or other.
I guess I can't use it but I wish I could

[Minerman]

Ack, I'll never buy Slate anything.

I have that Ferric one already. Don't think I've ever used it. I'll give it a shot.

I'd bet if you ever used any of his mixing plugins you'd like 'em Greg...I tried Ferric a long time ago, but wasn't far along enough to notice it doing anything, due to user error...

Rami: I've tried that Massey plug too, & always wondered about the full version, but never got around to it...

Bob: You need to invest in a computer for recording dude, I'm sure you could make your existing gear work with it too...

[Greg_L]

I'd bet if you ever used any of his mixing plugins you'd like 'em Greg...

Maybe, but I aint giving that tool one penny. I hate his entire business model and what he's doing to music recording.

[JD01]

I'd bet if you ever used any of his mixing plugins you'd like 'em Greg...

Maybe, but I aint giving that tool one penny. I hate his entire business model and what he's doing to music recording.

I know nothing about "slate" what's the problem with them? I might be buying a couple of plugins soon; specifically a couple by Studio One.

[rayc]

Slate have a "freebie" up at the moment, Revival, BUT you need iLok2 to use it.
I have no idea what that is but don't use stuff that requires other stuff.
I just checked the saturation knob and the freebie requires some other prior or something, (No iLok is required for using the Saturation Knob. For any of the other Softube plug-ins in the installer package, iLok owners can download 20 day demonstration licenses. To demo Solid State Logic XL 9000 K-Series for Console 1, a Console 1 system is required. Download the installer package and enjoy your free Saturation Knob!
Propellerheads Reason users can get it from the Propellerheads store: shop.propellerheads.se​/product​/softube-saturation-knob), so that's no go for me either.
Massey say they don't make VSTs or Reaper usable stuff. Odd.

[Greg_L]

I know nothing about "slate" what's the problem with them? I might be buying a couple of plugins soon; specifically a couple by Studio One.

There's nothing wrong with Slate's plugs. They're very good, high quality. What I hate about his business model is "buy this, and this, and subscribe to this, you can do whatever you want without having to know how to do anything at all!" He makes pro level plug ins for total n00bs that have no idea how to make a good mix through technique or experience.

[JD01]

I know nothing about "slate" what's the problem with them? I might be buying a couple of plugins soon; specifically a couple by Studio One.

There's nothing wrong with Slate's plugs. They're very good, high quality. What I hate about his business model is "buy this, and this, and subscribe to this, you can do whatever you want without having to know how to do anything at all!" He makes pro level plug ins for total n00bs that have no idea how to make a good mix through technique or experience.

Ah... that's fair enough. Is it like amp sims "Click here and sound like Angus Young!" without actually knowing anything about how to record a good track.

I wouldn't avoid them on that ground though, as all those things will do for n00bs in the long run is hold them back - that's what I found using sims for ages. What I'm after is a good (but simple to use) vocal EQ - although I might just learn to use the ones I have better and a vocal distortion.