Nothing approaches IK Tape BUT it hates my computer! Alternatives? SOLVED!

[briefcasemanx]

I don't think anyone is saying that IK Tape is using static IRs to model non-linear behavior, if it's some sort of sampling (and I'm guessing it is given how good it sounds compared to other algorithmic plugins), then it's definitely some form of dynamic sampling/IR/volterra kernels/etc

Again: I never read or heard anything that would in any way hint at the IK tapes having anything to do with IRs or Volterrra kernelling AT ALL. Up to this point it seems just like an unfounded rumour to me and I would suggest to either come up with evidence or stop mentioning it altogether. This sort of continued rumour spreading is just really really really crap.

Please let's stick with the facts! Who likes facts here?

If their algorithms warped this far ahead of the competition overnight it would imply a major breakthrough and we all would have heard about it a million times by now. It's very obviously some sort of non-static sampling.

[jens]

Again: I never read or heard anything that would in any way hint at the IK tapes having anything to do with IRs or Volterrra kernelling AT ALL. Up to this point it seems just like an unfounded rumour to me and I would suggest to either come up with evidence or stop mentioning it altogether. This sort of continued rumour spreading is just really really really crap.

Please let's stick with the facts! Who likes facts here?

I don't know why you keep harping on about IRs? What does it have to do with this thread?

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trtapemac/

This model now works in symbiosis with a powerful dynamic convolution engine

Using a careful mix of convolution and physical modeling

Oh, right - it says it right there! My bad!



I am pretty sure it isn't anything like Volterra kernelling though. Acustica have been at this - and only this - for I think over a decade now and while it got a lot better, you can still feel it's sample-based whenever you tweak a parameter (it's quite sluggish) - plus the libraries are huge... and they also seem to sound and behave weird to me. IK's tapes are nothing like that.

[jens]

If their algorithms warped this far ahead of the competition overnight it would imply a major breakthrough and we all would have heard about it a million times by now. It's very obviously some sort of non-static sampling.

When they came out about two years ago people indeed were pretty extatic about them.

[Ploki]

No IK tapes aren't like that, i agree, and i also agree about the notion about acustica audio - weird is a good descriptor.

I do wonder what part IK did sample (and why they didn't just go algorithmic all the way like u-he/softube). It's too bad they don't publish more of that, i like reading u-he's papers on their plugins.

[briefcasemanx]

I don't think you can infer much from Acusticas implementation of Volterra kernels. I really just don't think they care at all about the customer experience, thus just keep pumping out super buggy stuff that at times borders on complete nonsense. They're lost in their own very strange world.

[MadDogE134]

yeah the mix is better i think using the two... the 'modeling' code gives life or movement to the static image. static images are only good for certain things like reverbs, cabs, etc. and the like. but i DO like where things are heading. makes ITB much more tolerable.

i am getting old and most of this is beyond me but i DO like keeping up with the tech advances and would like to get more info on the workings but most is all guarded which i can understand. got to keep ahead of the competition in a business sense i suppose.

as for AA plugs... i really like them except for the loads and sluggish response to adjustments (they have to reload images into memory) but i will say i for the most part don't get on with the comps... they are the 'weird' to me lol but as for the EQs and preamps... i think they are the bomb.

cheers and i will let this be

p.s. don't know much of volterra kerneling but i suppose it is STILL only taking slices... but multiple slices.

[Scarlet Pumpernickel]

Satin is a serious alternative, you can tweak just about any tape sound you want from it.
Softube Tape is also very good and only £40

https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/ ... fab6b6401c

With about 20-30 different tape emulation plugins, I've tried or used for a long time over the years, I agree with SLiC.

[The Noodlist]

I don't think you can infer much from Acusticas implementation of Volterra kernels. I really just don't think they care at all about the customer experience, thus just keep pumping out super buggy stuff that at times borders on complete nonsense. They're lost in their own very strange world.

Their manuals are also rather eccentric and impractical, check out the Cream2 manual. I like the software sound, especially Tim P and Cupwise. I love the Cream2 compressor and pres (which have a tape machine setting and can found in the "Buy an .Sell" for cheap).

[plexuss]

I don't think you can infer much from Acusticas implementation of Volterra kernels. I really just don't think they care at all about the customer experience, thus just keep pumping out super buggy stuff that at times borders on complete nonsense. They're lost in their own very strange world.

Their manuals are also rather eccentric and impractical, check out the Cream2 manual. I like the software sound, especially Tim P and Cupwise. I love the Cream2 compressor and pres (which have a tape machine setting and can found in the "Buy an .Sell" for cheap).

I love AA's manuals but I am a visual designer and appreciate the design aspects. I also apprecuate the detailed plots which help to describe the plugin. YMMV

[MogwaiBoy]

Taupe is the only true serious contender in my opinion. Softube Tape is great though but in terms of modelling detail, hats off to IK Multimedia, they even modelled the subtle frequency shifts over time as the tape spins/stretches. Taupe is more like static impulses but very "3D" and they nailed the compression.

However, that's kind of from a master bus type of angle... for sound design, my favourite tapes for pushing to overload/breakup are the classic VoS Ferric, and Fuse's Flywheel.

[Halonmusic]

bounce, bounce and again.. bounce. some plugins will always be very cpu hungry, like tape emus

[SteveWZ]

The Slate tape emulation is not bad, less CPU.

[nonstatic]

IK tape uses dynamic convolution, which has been around since the days of the Focusrite Liquid Mix. It is more complex than standard convo as it allows the 'sampling' of processes which are affected by different gain levels. AA's implementation is also dynamic convolution, but the voltera thing is somewhat more complex and also based on real math, but I'm not a mathematician so cannot explain further than that.

You can equate standard vs. dynamic convo to something like a sampled piano with one velocity sample per note (standard) vs. round robin multiple velocity samples per note (dynamic). Not exactly the same but you can definitely tell the difference in getting closer to the real thing. It's also a giveaway when a dynamic convo plugin requires much more space, due to the amount of samples at different gain levels.

[The Noodlist]

...

[jamcat]

IK tape uses dynamic convolution

I don't think that is correct. I believe it uses a hybrid of convolution and algorithmic DSP. Convolution imparts the "character" and an algorithm provides the dynamic saturation and other non-linearities.