TapeMachine 2
Two-Machine Analog Tape Emulation
Available Now
TapeMachine 2 is the next-generation Dusk Audio tape engine with two faithfully modeled reel-to-reel machines, each bringing authentic saturation, head response, and machine character. Completely free.
Overview
Analog tape has shaped the sound of recorded music for decades. TapeMachine 2 captures the magic of two legendary studio machines with anti-aliased waveshaping saturation and per-speed head-response modeling, tuned against reference hardware behavior.
Whether you want subtle glue on your mix bus, punchy tracking color, or heavy lo-fi character, TapeMachine 2 delivers authentic tape sound across two distinct machines.
Tape Machine Models
TapeMachine 2 recreates two iconic decks, each with its own saturation character and head response:
Swiss (Studer A800-style)
- Clean, punchy, and precise
- Transformerless signal path
- Tight low end with extended highs
- The modern studio workhorse
American (Ampex ATR-102-style)
- Warm, rich, and musical
- Transformer coloration with adjustable head width
- Pronounced head bump and smooth top end
- ATR-style front-panel toggles: Crosstalk, Wow & Flutter, and Transformer
- The mastering room classic
Tape Formulations
Choose from four tape types, each with distinct sonic characteristics:
| Type | Character | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 456 | Warm, punchy saturation | Rock, pop, mix bus |
| GP9 | Clean, extended headroom | Mastering, classical |
| 900 | European precision | Warmth, character |
| 250 | Vintage, early saturation | Lo-fi, creative effects |
Tape Speeds
Four selectable speeds, each with its own head bump and high-frequency response:
| Speed | Character |
|---|---|
| 30 IPS | Tightest low end, most extended highs |
| 15 IPS | The studio standard, balanced head bump |
| 7.5 IPS | Warmer, more pronounced low-frequency bump |
| 3.75 IPS | Lo-fi character (American) |
Signal Path Modes
Like a real tape machine, TapeMachine 2 offers multiple signal paths:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Repro | Full tape processing, the classic sound |
| Sync | Record-head playback with extra HF rolloff (for overdub workflows) |
| Input | Electronics only, hear just transformers and EQ coloration |
| Thru | Clean bypass for A/B comparison |
EQ Standards
Two professional equalization standards on both machines:
| Standard | Character |
|---|---|
| NAB | American: more HF pre-emphasis, warmer saturation |
| CCIR | European: balanced, precise response |
Head Width & Bias
- Head width (American machine only): 1/4”, 1/2”, or 1” head stack for different weight and low-end behavior.
- Bias & Auto Bias: dial in bias manually, or let Auto Bias find the optimal operating point.
- Auto Compensation: holds unity output while driving the tape for color, so louder saturation never means a louder mix.
Repro EQ
A four-band advanced Repro EQ models the hardware repro-head path:
- LF shelf: low-frequency weight and body
- LMF peak: low-mid warmth and fullness
- HMF peak: presence and high-mid detail
- HF shelf: air and top-end sheen
Wow & Flutter
TapeMachine 2 features separate controls for wow and flutter:
Wow: slow pitch drift
- Creates subtle vinyl-like wobble
- Adds organic movement to sustained notes
- Perfect for lo-fi and vintage vibes
Flutter: faster modulation
- Adds tape machine character
- Creates subtle chorus-like effects
Both effects share coherent stereo processing for a natural, phase-aligned sound, and can be disabled together from the American front panel.
Factory Presets
TapeMachine 2 ships with 20 factory presets, each modeled on the hardware units’ classic settings, across five categories:
American: Master
- Big 456 Master, Nice 456 Master, Jazz Vision Master, Clean 900 Master
American: Color
- Fat 456 Master, GP9 Drum Bus, Bass Bump, Bright & Sizzly
Swiss: Mix
- Classic Rock Crisp, Modern Rock, Drum Bus, Hi-Fi Shine, Lush Film, Jazz Warmth
Swiss: Color
- Thick Saturation, Hip-Hop Punch, Vocal Presence
Lo-Fi
- Sunbaked Cassette, Analog Warmth, Old Tape
Technical Specifications
DSP Details
- Saturation: anti-aliased waveshaping with per-speed head-bump and HF response modeling
- Oversampling: fixed 2x core with deep local anti-aliasing (ADAA) on the nonlinearities for alias-free saturation with no user tuning needed
- Repro path: four-band advanced Repro EQ modeled on the hardware repro head
- Metering: dual stereo VU meters with vintage analog ballistics
Parameter Ranges
- Input Gain (drive): ±12dB
- Output Gain: ±12dB
- Bias: 0 to 100%
- Wow: 0 to 100%
- Flutter: 0 to 100%
- Highpass Filter: 20 to 500 Hz
- Lowpass Filter: 3 kHz to 20 kHz
- Repro EQ (per band): ±12dB
Installation
Linux
VST3: ~/.vst3/TapeMachine2.vst3
CLAP: ~/.clap/TapeMachine2.clap
LV2: ~/.lv2/TapeMachine2.lv2
macOS
AU: ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/TapeMachine2.component
VST3: ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/TapeMachine2.vst3
CLAP: ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP/TapeMachine2.clap
Open Source
TapeMachine 2 is open source under GPL-3.0. View the source, report issues, or contribute on GitHub.
Disclaimer: This is an independent emulation inspired by classic tape machines. This project is not affiliated with or endorsed by any hardware manufacturer.
Features
- Two modeled machines: Swiss (Studer A800-style) and American (Ampex ATR-102-style)
- Anti-aliased waveshaping saturation (ADAA with internal oversampling)
- Per-speed head bump and high-frequency response modeling
- Four tape speeds: 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 IPS
- Four tape formulations: 456, GP9, 900, 250
- Adjustable head width (American machine): 1/4", 1/2", 1"
- Machine-authentic front-panel toggles: Crosstalk, Wow & Flutter, Transformer
- Four signal path modes: Repro, Sync, Input, Thru
- NAB and CCIR EQ standards
- Separate Wow & Flutter controls with coherent stereo processing
- Four-band advanced Repro EQ (LF / LMF / HMF / HF)
- Bias and Auto Bias controls for fine-tuning tape response
- Auto Compensation mode for unity gain across drive levels
- Dual stereo VU meters with vintage analog styling
- 20 factory presets modeled on the hardware units' classic settings
- Resizable interface
- Full automation support
Changelog
v1.0.1 2026-07-19
- {"Program-band tone matching"=>"new correction bands keyed to a 500 Hz program envelope, neutral at the calibration anchor"}
- Deep-sub program bloom restores the reference decks' low-end thickening on hot material
- Per-preset repro sub-bell and lowpass resonance for closer factory-preset matching
- Crosstalk retuned to the reference; presets now honor their own Crosstalk switch
- Preset "Massive Bass" renamed "Bass Bump"
- Click the title nameplate to view Patreon supporters
- Fixed presets resetting when closing the DAW, and a gain-linking issue
v1.0.0 2026-07-15
- Ground-up DPF rebuild of TapeMachine with AU, VST3, CLAP, and LV2 support
- Swiss (Studer A800-style) and American (Ampex ATR-102-style) machines
- Anti-aliased waveshaping saturation with per-speed head bump and HF response
- Four tape speeds (3.75 to 30 IPS) and four tape formulations
- Adjustable head width and ATR-style front-panel toggles on American
- Four-band advanced Repro EQ modeled on the hardware repro path
- 20 factory presets modeled on the hardware units' classic settings