If you’re thinking this is another lo-fi plugin and you’ve got 57 of those already, it’s not! HoRNet’s TapeLite plugin is a simple (and free) plugin not to dirty up but to warm up your sound.
TapeLite is based on the concept of magnetic tape recording and the subtle sound differences endemic to tape recordings. TapeLite is designed to bring “non-linear” digital capture characteristic of magnetic tape recording to digital recordings. It adds “harmonic distortion, the subtle compression and the frequency bumps that act as ‘glue.'”
TapeLite is based on the Otari MX-80, a two inch tape machine that was manufactured in Japan in the 1980s and can still be found in some studios. TapeLite emulates the Otari MX-80’s “punchy low end” and “smooth highs” through a simple user interface. Select which of two speeds (15 IPS is recommended for “fatter” sounds like drums and bass, 30 IPS for “brighter” sounds like vocals), adjust input/output knobs and increase or lower the bias. There is also a “mix” setting to blend for parallel processing.
TapeLite is made by HoRNet, a company I wasn’t familiar with but which has a large portfolio of narrowly defined but seemingly useful plugins for audio. TapeLite is free, and they say “free forever,” and is fully functional; there is also a premium version called Tape MK2 which includes four other emulated tape machines. It’s simple enough that you can determine quickly if this will help your music.
⚪️ more music making apps and plugins /
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