KNOWING your
TAPE SATURATION plug-in
Today, we are all only using DAW, to record, mix and master.
Since the digital revolution took place in the early 90’s, we all
are now into full-fledged computer based recording. Before
the digital recordings, the audio was recorded on a tape based
format to store the content. Today, the current generation has
not even heard of tape based recording. Many people think it
has hiss noise but they don’t realize that the tape has these
core important sound and terms of the Bias /Wow / Flutter and
Flux. Let me explain them in short below. Before jumping into
these terms, we also know what is their tape size and recording
capacity. can handle before distortion. Vintage tapes have a thicker low-
end sound while the modern tapes have a punchier sound which
means more extended headroom and less noise/saturation.
Generally these can be controlled in today’s tape saturation
plugins in our DAW!
In earlier times, the studios used a multichannel tape machine
for recording and a two track tape machine for mastering
their final stereo track. The tape is also referred to as “OPEN
REEL” format which is commonly used in the audio industry.
Typically, fewer tracks will require maintaining fidelity so a
two-track machine will be for that and for multi-track recording
they would use a 4-tracks, 8-tracks, 16-tracks or 24-tracks. The
bigger tape machine companies were Studer, Tascam and Otari
to name a few. 3. 900 – To have a punchier sound
Now coming to the Tape speed, it overall affects the sound. All
the tape machines use the head bump and little boost in the LOW
frequency. It all depends on the Tape speed which is measured
in inches per second or IPS. Faster Tape speed offers great high
quality recording or good fidelity and slower tape speed reduces
the High frequency and boost low and mid frequency in your
recordings.
Here are some tips of tape type and how to set it.
1. 250 – Greater noise floor and the high frequency is rolled off
and big low frequency boost
2. 456 – To get good Low frequency boost
4. GP9 - To have least distortion and a flat frequency response
The great part of the tape saturation plug-ins is the luxury they
offer to tweak their settings in our DAW in digital domain to get
the best result. Here are the few tech terms of the TAPES
• Bias – To prevent artefacts. Over biasing adds extra 3db to 4db
of ultrasonic signal were some engineers prefer
• Flux – A control which dictates when the signal will distort.
Higher the flux rate is you can have source hit the signal before
distortion.
• Wow – It’s the fluctuations in the frequency below 4Hz caused
by the moment in the tape machines
• Flutter – The fluctuations in the frequency above 4Hz caused
by the moment the tape machines
The standard Tape speeds are Tape Emulation plugins
• 7.5 ips – considered more low fidelity, more Low frequency and
mid but less High Frequency • Waves – J37 is based on the 4-track Multichannel Tape machine
• 15 ips - considered more midrange boost around 100 Hz to
110Hz, good for heavy rock music!
• 30 ips - considered to the best, more boost in the low midrange
around 200 Hz
Another important thing to consider is the Type of TAPES.
Each tape has its own characteristic of frequency response,
compression and distortion. This is defined by the Input they
• Slate Digital – Virtual Tape machine – based on the Studer
A827 2 inches 16-track Tape machine
• UAD – Is based on the Studer A800 Multichannel Tape machine
and also Ampex ATR 102 Mastering Tape machines
• Softtube – Is based on Studer, ATR and EMI Tape machines
Hope these tape saturation terms and tips help you produce
great analogue sounding tone in your mix and master. Happy
Mixing and Mastering!
Author: Baba.L.Prasad. He is the owner and chief Sound/Mix and Mastering Engineer at Digi Sound Studio. He also teaches Sound Engineering
and Music Production courses. For more details, visit www.digisoundacademy.com
40
The
Score Magazine
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