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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)

M. Woolnough

January 7, 2024

A Must Have When It Comes To Tape Emulation.

I tried the J37 and couldn't get the desired interaction of the audio transients hitting the tape machine and sounding authentic as I remembered it. Also with different tape formulas and tweaking that can be done it really sets this apart from other Tape Emulation plugins. From subtle and realistic too really slamming it and realistic !
Nice one UA - you nailed it again.

J. Anderson

January 7, 2024

Warmth and presence

Brings the warmth of analog with a presence that is lost in other tape emulations.

B. Simon

January 5, 2024

High quality plugin

Mixing is never be the same. Thank you UA!

G. Christiansen

January 3, 2024

So organic sounding that I am tempted to call my mixes vegan.

It is a studer, as a plugin and sounds like a studer tape! So glad to Get this at the xmas halfyear sale!

A. pc

January 1, 2024

muy excelente emulación de cinta

mucho mejor emulaciones que otras marcas , y se siente cálido el sonido

S. Svishchev

December 31, 2023

Amazing, now the promotion is almost free! I'm happy with the purchase!

I have all of UAD's tape processing emulations. I like this plugin for its ease of use and great bass sound. Definitely one of the best for me! Thanks guys for the great work!

D. Diaz

December 30, 2023

Great sound

New to UAD, but I’m happy to have invested in this software. Still getting around to using the studer effectively, but the color and vibe it brings to the two bus is amazing!

J. Ferge

December 29, 2023

I ALREADY OWNED THIS ITS CRAP

UAD WIPED OUT MY PURCHASE HISTORY AND MY PLUGINS RECORD SO I LOST ALMOST 2/3 OF MY PLUGINS THEY SAID THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO CALLED ME A LIAR I HATE THIS COMPANY MADE ME BUY BACK PLUGINS I ZLREADY OWNED THEY ARE THEIVES AND CROOKS

J. Pérez de Miguel

December 28, 2023

Real as the real thing

I have worked with many tape emulations from different manufacturers and was happy...
Now, I have this emulation of the A800, it's like I've been playing with toys and this really does the job. It's not that you're never 100% sure of the effect the tool produces on the sound, with a trade-off between texture/warmth and sharpness, no. You can clearly hear how the texture improves, without smearing or making things more dirty, it's magical.
This simply makes rivals obsolete.

S. PAUL

December 24, 2023

Wow !

Easy and immediate analog puchy warm sound.

A. String

December 19, 2023

The best Tape in the world

I like this tape very much! I use that to masting and get a wonderful sound what I want

m. moreau

December 15, 2023

Le fil

Superbe émulation qui fait retrouver l'impression du fil qui relie chaque note, chaque son. Pour moi de la haute couture.

F. Dove

December 14, 2023

Studer A800 Tape Recorder

I would love to review this item, but as with other UAD plugins I have, "the GUI fails to load"

P. Fiore

December 13, 2023

Espectacular

me encanta todo lo que pasa por ahí simplemente se vuelve genial, lo uso mucho en voces

A. Schindler

December 11, 2023

From Subtle Saturation to Gritty Lofi, This Plugin Does It All

I work with a real Studer A800 MKIII and this plugin has all the benefits with none of the hassle. It has a smooth, pleasing user interface and gives as much control as needed for crafting wonderful sounds. This will live on my drum bus forever.

C. A

December 11, 2023

Best tape emulation plugin out there

I've tried just about every tape plugin out there and this one to me seems the closest to the real thing. Close enough that I don't desire to have the real thing anymore.

A. Finkin

December 10, 2023

Works on everything

I’ve been trying many emulations, that one is my go to, because it’s a plug & play type of tool, and i appreciate not spending ages on tweaking knobs & stuff.
If only the Gang sync function had made it to the native version, i’d have put 5 stats hands down.

j. last

December 9, 2023

Thanks UAD

Man UAD has made my life better.I'm a guy who's retired and doesn't have a lot of money and makes music basically for myself and NEVER thought I would be able to afford UAD plugins but I can tell UAD wants to help the little guy who doesn't make money from recordings but does it for fun...Thank you so much UAD!!!

J. Connell

December 9, 2023

Stunning

I have used RC-20, Sketch Cassette, and J37 for the last couple of years. While each of them have a specific sound that I love and still refer back to, Universal Audio has created the closest emulation to a real tape machine that only adds presence without losing any character.

M. Mulligan

December 8, 2023

Icing on the Cake

I’m infatuated with this guy as of late! I’ve been strapping it to the end of my mix bus with some gentle tweaks and I haven’t regretted it yet. It’s a fantastic tape emulation that (in my opinion) goes toe-to-toe with Softube’s tape offering. Don’t hesitate to pick it up.