FerricTDS - Tape Dynamics Simulator

VOS is slowly becoming my favurite Freeware daveloper. While demoing lot of stuff recently from tube EQs to all kind of character compressors, I (sorry for comparing, but I really need to :/) found out VintageWarmer. Instant: "Aaaaah, so that's where they get this flavour!" Especially if you listen to lots of EDM, this "flavour" is everywhere. Unfortunately price tag was still a bit problematic, so I went to find something that could replace it.

I had a simple layered kickdrum and AB'd PSP's master piece to all kinds of custom made chains. Closest I got (still not much, but anyway) was with DAW's EQ, Compressor and little bass enhancer... But there was still something missing. Then I remember Ferric. That was it. Still not even 50% same and I know if Iturn even one button on VintageWarmer, it would make another cool colour I'd be recreating for hours, but fact, that this little freeware was capable of those results was amazing.

...so I tried to use it on it's own an it's great. It's amazing on wash out hihats, where (cheaper) tube saturation makes just some unpleasant hiss. Or on little subtle undisturbing, but pleasant bass saturation. Didn't try too much free tape saturators though, just few in past and can easily say, that Ferric is the best of them.

It has few downsides. Easily overuse-able as it has just one character. Would be cool to have more tape models, circuit models, but that's just neatpicking. Also on some material is efect too subtle. It could be good thing, It stops you from using it too much, but still. Sometimes is nice to hear how it sounds in extreme settings, just for good overview, but Ferric can't go that far. Anyway all together it just is amazing tape saturation. Just dowload it! :)

There are just really really really few freeware developers that could compete with payware, but this guy (guys?) is definitely one of them, if not the best.