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  • Overview
  • Features
  • Customer Reviews
  • 4.9/5
    (418)
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Regular Price: $349.00

$175.00

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4.9/5
(418)

The rich analog sound of the world’s most popular multichannel tape machine.

For more than 30 years, artists and engineers alike have been drawn to the warm analog sound, solid low-end, and overall presence of the Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder. The sheer number of albums recorded on this legendary 2” analog tape machine — including classics from Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, A Tribe Called Quest, and Jeff Buckley — serve as shining examples of the musicality of analog tape.

Fully authenticated by Studer, and modeled by UA’s world‑renowned team of DSP engineers and magnetic recording expert Jay McKnight, the Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder plug-in is the first product of its kind. By faithfully modeling the entire circuit path of the famous A800 machine from Allen Sides' collection at Ocean Way Studios, this is the most accurate representation of multitrack analog tape recording available.

Included Versions

UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.

Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.

UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.

  • Track and mix with the complete Studer A800 electronic signal paths, including Input, Sync and Repro paths
  • Add warmth, presence, cohesion, and low-end punch that only genuine tape can provide
  • Create complex analog textures with the distinct sounds of multiple tape formulas
  • Use the Studer A800 LUNA Extension to easily add warmth to your entire mix on a per channel basis

Want to Try It?

Use this plug-in free for 14 days and find out if it's right for you.

Try it free

TAKE A LISTEN

LUNA Extension — Integrated Multitrack Tape

LUNA Extension — Integrated Multitrack Tape

With LUNA Recording System, you can use the Studer A800 as a LUNA Extension, and easily get tape character on every audio and instrument track, intuitively tweaking settings across all channels. As you build up your mix, you'll hear the cumulative "cohesive" effect of mixing from magnetic tape. Far beyond a simple tape plug-in, the Studer LUNA Extension is woven into the fabric of LUNA's mixer, giving Apollo interface users an analog inspired workflow with bona fide analog sonics to match.

A Groundbreaking Tape Machine

A Groundbreaking Tape Machine

Introduced in 1978, the Studer A800 was the first microprocessor-controlled tape machine. Years ahead of its time, the A800 remains a sonic benchmark, and can still be found in studios worldwide. However, with their massive steel frame and meter bridge, twin half-horsepower motors and cast alloy deck plates, original A800 units tip the scales at a backbreaking 900 pounds. The Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder poses none of the hardware hassles, yet retains all the beautiful sonics that make tape a beloved recording medium.

Capturing the Magic of Tape

Capturing the Magic of Tape

Just like magnetic tape, you can dial in a clean sound, or just the right amount of harmonic saturation using the Studer A800's Input and Output controls. The IPS control steps through tape speed choices (7.5, 15, or 30 IPS), each with distinct frequency shift, head bump and distortion characteristics. The tape Type control lets users choose from four of the most popular magnetic tape formulas — each with their own subtle sonic variation. There is also a secondary set of controls like Noise, EQ, and Bias for an even more jaw-dropping palette of tape textures.

Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder plug-in
Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder plug-in

Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder plug-in

Demonstration video

Key Features

Studer-endorsed, UA modeled emulation of legendary A800 Multitrack Tape Machine

Provides the warm, natural sound and punchy low-end response of 2” analog tape — on Mac and PC

Models complete A800 electronic signal paths, including Input, Sync and Repro paths

Features four of the most popular Tape Formulas and Calibration Levels

Tape saturation and overdrive via easy-to-use Input / Output controls

Provides dead-on magnetic tape sound without the hassles of calibration, maintenance, tape degradation, etc.

IPS Speed/Emphasis Curve chooses between 7.5 NAB, 7.5 CCIR, 15 NAB, 15 CCIR, 30 AES

Gang Controls allows for fast global adjustment of all instances

Run 24+ tracks with a single UAD-2 QUAD DSP Accelerator Package

Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface available from authorized dealers worldwide

Customer Reviews

Studer® A800 Tape Recorder

Overall Rating

4.9/5
(418)

N. NKABINDE

April 5, 2023

Sounds great on everything.

Add according to your taste

N. NKABINDE

April 5, 2023

Sounds great on everything.

Add according to your taste

T. Fouda

April 2, 2023

Makes any demo sound like a Record!

I've used many tape emulation plugins from different manufacturers and honestly nothing even comes close to this one! This thing does what it does best. The amount of warmth & cohesiveness it adds is incomparable! Simply put, It makes any demo sound like a record

D. Ho

March 14, 2023

Blend and warmth

An ideal way to blend tracks in a mix and make them sound rich and warm. I love the sound of Ampex 456 at 15ips. Back in the day, we used to automate each track to reduce tape hiss. I LOVE being able to turn off the tape hiss with the click of a button!

D. Gastaldi

February 23, 2023

Un jolly

E' un plug, ma consente di far molte cose, dalla compressione alla saturazine, ma anche all'equalizzazion. Riesce a dare una bella botta di bassi alle batterie e grazie alla versione nativa si puo' mettere su tutte le tracce senza pensarci due volte, rispetto altri plugin di altri marchi pesa meno

A. Fotakis

January 30, 2023

Very Nice!

Makes a huge difference.

A. Jepson

January 30, 2023

Just magical

Heavy guitars sound magical. There isnt a bad setting on here, its fairy dust sprinkled on everything I track at home to send to the producer.

P. Robbins

January 29, 2023

Great sound.

Makes things come to life and adds a lot of warmth

K. Didvalis

January 28, 2023

Excelent

Great Tape!

K. Cromwell

January 15, 2023

Nice unreal

While you can EQ and adjust the tone of your music this device is something different it just adds texture and tone that is just unreal worth it!

J. Forest

January 14, 2023

Excellent tape

Great on every track ! Sounds great !

L. Brown

January 12, 2023

Excellent… A+

Excellent… A+

J. FALCONERY

January 10, 2023

Som maravilhoso

Ótimo plugin. Linda textura.

R. Dann

January 9, 2023

Sounds good

Pretty good overall, lots of options and sounds good

Q. Phùng

January 9, 2023

Good!

The sound is smoother.

I. Voevodin

January 6, 2023

Excelent

Good

C. Ventura

January 6, 2023

Amazing

The color that makes a big difference in sound. Got it and always using it. Recomendes

J. Reyes

January 4, 2023

Great Tape!

Excelent and now Uadx!

A. Bertók

January 4, 2023

Must have

So much soul and life on all tracks! Absolutely love this on everything

J. Rincón Pérez

January 2, 2023

A800 makes everything come alive!

With this plugin each and every channel comes to life.