Waves
| Product | Kramer Master Tape |
| Developer | Waves |
| Price (MSRP) | $200 |
| Type / Tags |
| Effect(s) |
| Operating System |
Latest Version |
Download | Released |
| 9.92 |
Downloads |  |
|
| 9.92 |
Downloads | |
| Copy Protection | Online Activation (Challenge / Response) |
Developed in association with Eddie Kramer, the Kramer Master Tape plugin is modeled on a rare machine consisting of an Ampex 350 transport and 351 electronics. With adjustable tape speed, bias, flux, wow & flutter, and noise parameters, the MPX provides comprehensive control over the contours of your sound. And to top it off, Waves added a flexible slap & feedback delay, ideal for rock, dance, dub, you name it. For recording, mixing, mastering, and more, bring the richness and warmth of real tape saturation to your DAW with the MPX Master Tape.
The Dream Team
Special thanks go out to Eric Schilling (Shakira, Gloria Estefan, Natalie Cole, Elton John) who provided Waves with the machine, Bob Olhsson (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross) and especially John Haeny (Bonnie Raitt, Weather Report, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Jim Morrison, Tom Jones), who provided invaluable assistance in the development of the MPX plugin.
Features:
- Modeled on the Ampex 350/351 1/4" reel-to-reel.
- Adjustable tape speed, bias, flux, wow & flutter.
- Slap & feedback delay.
- Up to 24-bit 96kHz resolution.
- Mono and Stereo components.
- Supports TDM, RTAS, Audio Suite, VST, AU.
- PC and Mac compatible.
Controls:
- SPEED selects the simulated tape speed.
- MONITOR selects the monitoring mode.
- BIAS controls the level of the ultrasonic bias signal.
- VU METER displays input or output level.
- VU CALIBRATION controls the VU meter headroom calibration.
- DELAY TIME controls the time of the tape delay effect, with settings for 7.5 ips (266 milliseconds) and 15 ips (133 ms).
- DELAY TYPE toggles between delay modes.
- FEEDBACK controls the amount of the delayed output signal.
- LOWPASS controls the LP cutoff frequency on the delay path.
- RECORD LEVEL controls the input level.
- LINK I/O links Record and Playback Levels controls.
- PLAYBACK LEVEL controls the total signal output level.
- FLUX controls the level of simulated magnetic radiation emitted from the record head.
- WOW & FLUTTER controls the speed and gain modulations and fluctuations.
- NOISE controls the level of added modeled noise but not noise modulations and signal additive noise.
Reviewed By MadAnthony81
April 7, 2014
I'm rating this a 10 because I think it sounds genuinely authentic. It has a hard sound to it contrary to most tapes. Possibly could be used in something like Dubstep or Metal. Definitely Industrial music.
It is possible on the right settings to get it to sound softer in the presence and harshness aspect.
Read moreReviewed By jam92189
August 15, 2012
- I am redoing my original review. not because people complained but because I have started using this a little more since then just to see what I thought. I like it. its still not a amazing tape sound but the controls are pretty dope and simple.
- I still like the slap delay and I like how 15 and 7.5 ips do make actually a difference.
- 15Ips has more high end. and 7.5ips is a nice subtle DEesser if you need it. saturation is still pretty nice. I do love how you can change the calibration on all of the plugins in the bundle thats awesome I still love the eq and comp. and think this thing is pretty good for what it is.
- but to be honest Its not worth the price just alone. I would say go to Waves universe get it on sale as a bundle you wont be disappointed.
- I do like how this does not really kill transients easy thought that is always a plus in any tape style plugin. a lot of bad ones just do massive compression.
- Now as far as CPU goes I have a good computer so I can have a good amount of plugins on at once. but I notice it does use a little more CPU than other great tape emulations I own. still not much more though.
- I am not a fan of moving parts I think its tacky. someone said you can stop it from spinning I know that. I still think its tacky so no matter what I don't like that.
- oh and its stable as hell no crashes with any of the plugins I have used always a plus.
- okay so.
- Looks amazing.
- Quality good.
- Sound good.
- CPU pretty good.
- Stability great.
- Control good.
- Learning curve easy.
bad
- Moving parts are tacky.
- Uses a little more CPU than other plugins of its kind.
- Not the best tape emulation.
- Pricy for it alone but not bad in a bundle.
Discussion
The spinning tape can be stopped if you click on the reel.
I know just still think its kinda annoying.
Pretty sparse review sorry.. that was pretty uninformative. FWIW i disagree and would give it at least an 8 anyway.
THIS POST HAS BEEN REMOVED
ha I fully redid the review I decided to really make myself use it for about a week and so far I like it I still say its not amazing but its a nice plugin.
I didn't like this plug...sounds too muddy, seems to be like a dirty distortion thant like a tape emu imo. I prefer the Roundtone, the Reelbus or for the more expensive one : the virtual tape machine from Steven Slate. Just my humble point of view...
yes I agree but its a okay tape plugin not amazing I like reel bus and roundtone better to. its pretty okay though at times some sources just dont sound right with those two. and I dont have a ilok so no slate tape even though I have heard it and its pretty amazing.
Endor, if you hear dirty distortion maybe you are cranking up the knobs too much.
I think KMT is really good for subtle tape-like coloring and vibe. There are and will be better ones, but I rate it at least 8.
honestly I want to give it a 7.5 or something only for a really stupid reason. but yes if your hearing it mud up and distort turn it down also you can set the VU meter. so if you are putting stuff it really hot you can make it have more headroom to. but its a good plugin not bad at all I use it a lot of vocals lately. yes the distortion can get over distorted easy but that's why you can control headroom and distortion.
What I'm saying is that it just sounds too harsh and coarse to my ears, tape sound tends to be more smooth/round and gently compressed. To me Roundtone (for example) is less agressive and more subtle. I would give MPX a 7 not more, also considering the fact that it's not worth the price Waves is selling it (200$). But once again it's my subjective point of view, just my feeling after trying it so I can also understand that lot of people can fall in love with the MPX. Anyway, lot of kvr members still say that there are no true tape emu for the moment...pretty hard quest !!
its not a great tape emulation to me it feels kinda like a saturation plus eq with some delays if you want em. but its okay not bad but not amazing I do like the other two mentioned before way better but this is a good plugin effect. not a amazing tape emulation but a decent tool and effect.
"not a amazing tape emulation but a decent tool and effect" +1
yea that is basically the way I think of this plugin I love my roundtone and reelbus. yea they are not perfect but they sound great this works on some things that those don't so I am more than happy they are all tools.
I like subtle vibe it delivers, for instance "Mastering Soft Clean Compression" -preset.
If that preset is harsh and coarse check your gain staging.
Please log in to join the discussion
