IK Multimedia T-racks Tape Machine Collection

[jens]

I seriously consider these Tapes as the "next-gen" plugins in the matter of audio quality and what it does without much tweaking. For me, it's the new standard of how new plugins ad 2021 should (sonically) perform. I don't really care about CPU usage because I know that this "Currency of CPU cycles" is worth it.

Exactly this is my reasoning as well - and I don't nearly run out of CPU cycles now (my project typically have around ten to fiveteen tracks)

[jamcat]

Are you guys using the tapes on each channel, or only on the master buss, or on both?

[mixtur.se]

Are you guys using the tapes on each channel, or only on the master buss, or on both?

I tend to bounce my tracks with tape, as those plugins are very heavy. I occasionally use them on buses, if the project is light.

[plexuss]

Are you guys using the tapes on each channel, or only on the master buss, or on both?

I use 80 pretty much all the time on the master buss right before the final limiter. I only use other tape emus on tracks when I want that sound. But typically I don't because I find them to be too saturated. For the highest fidelty for tape on tracks I prefer to use Satin.

[jens]

Are you guys using the tapes on each channel, or only on the master buss, or on both?

I use them on each channel, not on the master bus though.

[jamcat]

SO I've been experimenting with Tape Machine 80 on EVERY channel.
First off, a single instance KILLS my CPU. BUT, I can get smooth playback with my audio buffer MAXED.
And, each additional instance doesn't seem to increase the CPU strain much, since they're distributed across the CPU cores.

What I've found is, with a full mix, they have a cumulative effect, and a little goes a long way as they add up. If you push an individual instance on a solo track a little bit, it gets a nice saturated tape vibe and sounds great. If you try pushing the tape on every channel, the mix starts getting pretty crispy, so back it off a bit across the mix. But, DO smash the hell out of snares and especially kicks. A kick and snare slammed to tape IS the sound of rock drums. Just don't do it with hi-hats or they become fatiguing very quickly.

Things get REALLY interesting when you use a preamp model such as IK's EQ-73 in front of the Tape Machine to drive the signal level.

[Saukar30]

On an a Hip-Hop single that I just completed for an album, I did a little experiment with the tape fx (forgot which one & Im not by the computer to check).

My host I made this in was Orion. All the instruments that I used were all NI (Battery, Massive, Razor, FM8, Massive X, Kontakt) and the mix very clean which was fine, but I wanted a lot more depth. I added the tape fix to the master and it gave me the exact sound I wanted, but I could only use 1 since my computer is old. I decided to export each of the stems out separately with the tape fix on the master bus & put them all on Reaper to process it because I wanted the sound “baked” in.

Exporting those sounds out have the mix in Reaper a super soft saturated sound. It’s now a part of it, so I just have to do all the mixing & vocal recording in Reaper. I save CPU for EQing, reverb, etc & now I can focus on getting the mix right versus mixing AND giving the sounds texture. It’s just a different way to work, giving me 1 less thing to do.

Rendering down is an extra process, but when you’re all about getting a great tape sound, there are not many other alternatives that are better than the IK tape collection for subltely or heavy realistic tape saturation. I hope they keep these updated & lower the CPU, but as of now it’s worth it as is.

[jamcat]

One thing I noticed about the Tape Machine 80 is the GUI shows a Studer A80 configured as a ¼” 2-track, though the product description says it is a 24-track multi-track machine.

A80s could be configured for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 24 tracks. Looks like IK′s graphics guy grabbed the wrong image to work from, and made it look like a stereo mixdown machine, which is a bit confusing for the user.

[plexuss]

One thing I noticed about the Tape Machine 80 is the GUI shows a Studer A80 configured as a ¼” 2-track, though the product description says it is a 24-track multi-track machine.

A80s could be configured for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 24 tracks. Looks like IK′s graphics guy grabbed the wrong image to work from, and made it look like a stereo mixdown machine, which is a bit confusing for the user.

Or, the product description and marketing are wrong and it does emulate a 2-track. Seems mostly likely since there is already a multi-track in the bundle. without the A80 being a mix/mastering deck the bundle wouldn't be as well rounded.

IK? Guidance on this?

[jens]

Why would it even just ever-so-slightly matter (unless you are really familiar with both these versions of the hardware)?

[plexuss]

Why would it even just ever-so-slightly matter (unless you are really familiar with both these versions of the hardware)?

I just want to know if anything out of curiosity. You know: information, knowledge, learning. That stuff.

[Bombadil]

I've 2 of them now, the 80 and 440. which would be better for tracking? I've thrown the 80 at a project with 17 tracks, and it didn't overload the cpu, but I found it got a bit mushy.

[jens]

Then I would guess you've been driving them too hard...

[MogwaiBoy]

Have said this before but it would be cool if they had an 'eco' mode with reduced oversampling for realtime use, and then full quality (+ linear phase filtering etc) on render export - some of the best developers do this, Voxengo for instance.

I've been too afraid to try it on every channel! It crushes my CPU, which is no slouch. However, instead of 'freezing' tracks what I'm doing is just setting up IKM Tapes where I want them, then disabling them as I work through the mix - switch them on before render. I'm using them subtly so I can safely mix with them enabled or disabled... as it's about super subtle glue and enhancement for my use. If I want crushed tape.... well, I'm looking forward to 64-bit Ferric

[Bombadil]

Then I would guess you've been driving them too hard...

You're probably right. It was really the first time I tried my 80 out, since it choked an i7 4ghz 32gb RAM iMac. I don't know the slightest thing about tape, other than the pencil trick. I'm a guitarist, damnit, not an engineer....
But thanks for the tip. In future experiments, I'll try to keep it subtle.