Universal Audio Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder Plug-In

Universal Audio LUNA-STUDER-A800-COLLECTION Overview

Add the timeless, unmistakably warm sound of analog tape to your productions with the Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder Plug-In from Universal Audio. The software painstakingly recreates the distinctive color and punchy bottom end from this legendary 24-track studio staple, which records to 2" analog tape. Years ahead of its time, the A800 remains a sonic benchmark, and can still be found in studios all over the planet. This emulation was created over a 12-month period and faithfully reproduces the circuit path of the famous A800 machine from Allen Sides collection at Ocean Way.

You can choose among 7.5, 15, and 30 IPS tape speeds to create complex analog textures. You can choose to process the audio through a simulated input, which uses the machine s input electronics without tape processing, or simulate playback from the Sync or Repro heads. Four of the most popular 2 magnetic tape formulas are modeled in the A800 plug-in: 250, 456, 900, and GP9. Each type has its own subtle sonic variation, distortion onset, and tape compression characteristics. This plug-in software download includes a native version that will run on Mac and Windows computers without UA hardware as well as a second version that runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD-2 hardware. If you ve been craving the warmth and cohesion that analog tape has imparted to countless classic recordings without having a massive tape machine in your studio, the Studer A800 plug-in might be the perfect fit for your DAW tool kit.

A Groundbreaking Tape Machine

Introduced in 1978, the Studer A800 was the first microprocessor-controlled tape machine. Years ahead of its time, the A800 remains a sonic benchmark, and can still be found in studios worldwide. However, with their massive steel frame and meter bridge, twin half-horsepower motors and cast alloy deck plates, original A800 units tip the scales at a backbreaking 900 pounds. The Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder poses none of the hardware hassles, yet retains all the beautiful sonics that make tape a beloved recording medium.

Capturing the Magic of Tape

Just like magnetic tape, you can dial in a clean sound, or just the right amount of harmonic saturation using the Studer A800 s Input and Output controls. The IPS control steps through tape-speed choices (7.5, 15, or 30 IPS), each with distinct frequency shift, head-bump, and distortion characteristics. The tape Type control lets users choose from four of the most popular magnetic tape formulas each with their own subtle sonic variation. There is also a secondary set of controls like Noise, EQ, and Bias for an even more jaw-dropping palette of tape textures.