Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
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It's not a record until it's mastered on an Ampex® tape machine.
The UAD Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug-in and LUNA Extension provides the final “analog polish” to your music, turning your recordings into records. Fully authenticated by the Ampex Corporation and trusted by Platinum‑selling professionals the world over, the ATR‑102 plug‑in faithfully captures the unique dynamics, colorful frequency response, and tape saturation of this industry‑standard Ampex machine.
Add analog polish to your mixes with the most popular professional 2‑track tape machine ever made
Harness classic Ampex tape saturation, selectable tape types, and color to "glue" your mix together
Process your audio through the entire ATR‑102 circuit, including its transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
Use the ATR‑102 LUNA Extension to produce rich, analog tape‑infused master recordings
Learn to Add Slapback Delay to Drums
Grammy-winning engineer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton) and the Ampex ATR‑102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug‑in.
The Most Popular Professional 2‑Track Ever Made
With its cohesive sound, punch, and ability to provide subtle‑to‑deep tape saturation and color, the ATR‑102 has remained a fixture in major recording and mastering studios worldwide since 1976.
The ATR‑102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug‑in and LUNA Extension faithfully replicates the unique dynamics, frequency response, and saturation characteristics of the original hardware. Scrutinized and fully authenticated by the Ampex Corporation, the sound of the UAD ATR‑102 plug-in is virtually indistinguishable from its analog ancestor.
Now Fully Integrated into LUNA Recording System
With LUNA Recording System, you can now use the Ampex ATR‑102 as a LUNA Extension, where it's built into the fabric of the mixer without the need to manage separate plug-in windows. This gives you rich, album‑ready Ampex tape tones on LUNA's master fader and buses — with all the authentic dynamics, frequency response, and saturation characteristics of the original machine.
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Authentic Calibration Controls and Tape Types
Like the ATR‑102 hardware, the plug-in allows you to choose between various Signal Paths (Input, Sync, Repro), different Tape Speeds / Emphasis EQs (NAB, CCIR, AES) and Tape Formula (GP9, 456, 900, 250) combinations — even including home/consumer tape. You can also use the adjustable Tape Delay feature for Automatic Double Tracking effects on vocals, guitars, and more.
Grammy-winning Presets
Get inspired with presets from longtime ATR‑102 users Chuck Ainlay (Chris Botti, Mark Knopfler) Richard Dodd (Wilco, Robert Plant), Buddy Miller (Martina McBride, Emmylou Harris), Mike Poole (Keith Urban, Dolly Parton) and more. Use these presets as a starting point and season to taste on your mixes — you'll marvel at the cohesive, rich sound that can only come from an Ampex tape machine.
“I set the UAD ATR-102 exactly the way my old Ampex machine is set up, dialed in the gains, switched back and forth… and the sound is nearly identical.”
– Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Cold War Kids)
“The UAD Ampex ATR-102 is my new secret weapon in my master buss chain, giving me the secret ingredient for that extra touch of flavor.”
– Ivan Barias (Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Estelle)
“The Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder and Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder emulations give a nice edge to bass tracks.”
– Armin Van Buuren
“The UAD Ampex ATR-102 tape emulation really captures the hardware’s punchy saturation and chunky warmth.”
– Mike Poole (Robert Plant, Martina McBride, Buddy Miller)
“I've always used limiters and compressors on the mix bus to ‘glue’ the sound together, but I've never been able to achieve the kind of musical cohesiveness like I can with the UAD ATR-102.”
– Ryan West (Eminem, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z)
“All of the songs on the Garbage record, Not Your Kind of People were mixed with the Studer A800 plug‑in on all the drum channels. We also used the Ampex ATR-102 plug-in on the final mix.”
– Billy Bush (Garbage, Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney)
“The UAD ATR‑102 brings mixes to life with a 3D sound that no other plug-in has ever been able to achieve.”
– Adam Hawkins (Twenty One Pilots, Switchfoot, Keith Urban)Watch The Reviews
5-Minute UAD Tips
Featuring the Magnetic Tape Bundle
Customer Reviews
V. Kozarin
January 23, 2023
Must Have For A Mix
It makes a big difference, sounds more refined just like a real record / recording. Absolutely must have it in your collection.
Read MoreA. Monov
January 16, 2023
ATR 102
Well, i ownd them all from waves back to all the others and also own all spectrum of und Tapes. I must say, nothing is greater than this one. Believe me. I don't know how the hardware...
Read MoreT. MATSUMURA
January 14, 2023
my favarit one!
If you want good sound, you have to try this plugin‼︎ you will encount special feeling!!
Read MoreJ. Szeszel
January 13, 2023
First impressions positive.
I've used many tape emulations in digital form. I've never used analog. I just close my eyes and listen. I listen and if something is unpleasant for me, I reach for ATR. very nice....
Read More -
Features
Ampex-authenticated plug-in gives you the rich, cohesive tape sound of the the most popular professional 2-track machine ever made
Emulates the entire ATR-102 electronic path, including transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
Multiple tape formulas, head configurations, and calibration levels for a variety of tones
Adjustable Wow, Flutter, Hiss, Hum, Crosstalk, and (L/R) Tape Delay controls, and more
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Customer Reviews
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
V. Kozarin
Must Have For A Mix
It makes a big difference, sounds more refined just like a real record / recording. Absolutely must have it in your collection.
A. Hillman
Incredible
Just brilliant
A. Monov
ATR 102
Well, i ownd them all
from waves back to all the others and also own all spectrum of und Tapes. I must say, nothing is greater than this one. Believe me. I don't know how the hardware sounds, i hear it back in the day 1994. At this time i haven't any clu what thats means, cause i was just the musician boy recording. Now, ton of years later i can understand....you can hear it.R. Mendez
Amazing
Must have for mastering! Amazing saturation
T. MATSUMURA
my favarit one!
If you want good sound,
you have to try this plugin‼︎
you will encount special feeling!!J. Szeszel
First impressions positive.
I've used many tape emulations in digital form. I've never used analog. I just close my eyes and listen. I listen and if something is unpleasant for me, I reach for ATR. very nice.
S. Lopez
THE SAUCE
Can you dig it? Sucka!!!!
I. Voevodin
Excelent
Good
c. rosario
Warm sound
Love that old-school analog sound
U. PATAPENKA
Great for mastering
ATR-102 - Is onne of the best plugins I have ever used. Highly recommend.
J. Tarka
Sounds like a record
Its a fantastic sounding tape emulation, but when used in LUNA in the Master Tape Slot, it sounds like a finished mix! Its perfect
A. Neto
Great tool
I love to use it on my buses and keys.
Y. Albañil
ampex
I forgot how the tape machine sounded until I found this wonder
A. Sis
Best Mastering Tape Plugin
I Love how it sounds on my mix bus.
L. Spilger
Gold on your Mix Bus
Dial it in as the Last plug on your mixbus. Then bypass, compare and just buy it!
R. Mannucci
este plugin suena increíble!
este plugin si es increvable ! uno de mis favoritos de uad!
D. Weigleb
Simply the Best Tape Plugin I've ever used!
I've used the Eddie Kramer Waves, Slates Tape machine (Pretty good) but this beats them all! Just slap as many as you can across your tracks!
A. Litwinowicz
The best UAD Tape Machine as plug-in.
The best UAD Tape Machine as plug-in. Every music track, every mix, every mastering will always sound better with the Ampex® ATR-102 :-) Simply a great plugin!
A. Acharya
A must plugins
Meet the expectations . As usual one of the must plugins from UA
J. Tofte
Me encanta!
If you´re looking for some analog warmth and tape saturation, look no further. A must on the mixbus
