Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder
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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
TAKE A LISTEN
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
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
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
Demonstration video
“The Studer A800 plug-in is tape in a box. Tracks that are thin and dull become full of life and tone... so creative, and musical. ”
– Darrell Thorp (Beck, Radiohead, Charlotte Gainsbourg)
“No tape emulation has ever achieved this level of... should I say, completeness? I expect to smell the tape when I hit play!”
– Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs)
“The Studer A800 plug-in is the missing link for in-the-box mixing.”
– Ryan West (Eminem, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z)
“I tried the Studer A800 plug-in on drums, guitar and overheads to get a saturated, punchy sound. It sounded great, and it works for me.”
– Michael Brauer (The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, My Morning Jacket)
“I've been really loving the Studer A800 on bass, kick, overheads, horns and strings. It adds a tonal color that is very musical. ”
– Ross Hogarth (Van Halen, Ziggy Marley, Motley Crue)
“The UAD Studer A800 gives my drum bus a raw hard tone with a little distortion — all the while keeping the sound together.”
– Dean Coleman
“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 Studer A800 gives me all the analog goodness, without any of the cross-talk, maintenance issues, alcohol swabs, or tape alignment.”
– Glenn Rosenstein (Ziggy Marley, U2)
“The UAD Studer A800 adds great personality to drums, bass, guitar and vocals.”
– Jeff Balding (Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Florida Georgia Line)Customer Reviews
E. Starzhynskiy
November 27, 2023
Studer® A800 Tape Recorder
Warm sound. Professionally, without unnecessary questions!
Read MoreK. L
November 24, 2023
Warmth
Using it on every track, it gives the mix a total warmth I love!
Read MoreR. Khan
November 23, 2023
Another UPLIFT, MOJO enhancer
I already owned one of the other tape plug-ins, but this one has more options, especially in changing the tape types. It takes up the same amount of processing power, so no advantage there,...
Read More -
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
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Customer Reviews
Studer® A800 Tape Recorder
A. Zelghi
Magneto
Loud sound
E. Starzhynskiy
Studer® A800 Tape Recorder
Warm sound. Professionally, without unnecessary questions!
K. L
Warmth
Using it on every track, it gives the mix a total warmth I love!
R. Khan
Another UPLIFT, MOJO enhancer
I already owned one of the other tape plug-ins, but this one has more options, especially in changing the tape types. It takes up the same amount of processing power, so no advantage there, but still. You don't need all the tape plug-ins, you can go with this one if you want a few more options, but the other, slightly cheaper one, could also work.
Whether I put it on some instruments/tracks, or on the master track, it does what it's supposed to, which is give me more options to fuse the sound of the whole thing and uplift the tune and its mojo just that bit more...L. Marchetti
Tape
Tape magic you get!
Š. Kominko
Wau, wau, wau
Pre mňa top emulácia pásky.
V. Vasiliev
Amazing!
Great plugin! Good for vocals etc.
O. Pedersen
Instant tape magic
Like duct tape for sound. Instant glue!
A. Giroux
Smooth and warm
Adds silk, crunch, smoothness all at once. Takes the brittle glassy sound out that digital bring I to a recording. Glad I got on sale. Great tool for acoustic guitar and make a big difference on fiddle and mandolin tracks. :)
C. Asker
One of the greatest UAD plugins ever.
This one is my magic trick. It makes things sound warmer, brighter, older, and more like a record. It's on every single project, every bus, every stereo mix. Just get it, it is a must have.
J. SANMARTI
Awesome!
Love this, simply great and natural sounding for recording! Amazing!
J. SANMARTI
Simply great!
Love this, simply great and natural sounding for recording! Amazing!
S. Ramsay
Helps add thickness to synths
Been using this a lot on software synths that need a bit more warmth and love. Highly recommended across various elements in a mix.
j. borowski
warm it up
your plugins are great everything I dreamed of owning of 50 years of recording adds warmth all over don't be afraid to make your own settings you will be more satisfied
I. Arce
Analog Sound
Being completely honest, I have never worked on real analog tape, but this plugin brings some analog punch (to my ears) especially on the low end. Try it on individual tracks!!
J. Pollocks
Very well worth it
Love this, great and natural sounding! Thanks!
J. Frýbert
Super
Great tape machine.
M. Martinez
Wonderful!
I love it!
F. Antonio
Studer A800 - As real as it gets
Oh man....that is REALLY good. It brings drums home very fast with way less compression.
J. Heywood
The best of the tape emulation plugins by some distance.
Warmth, improved treble clarity and natural compression. Especially good at adding musical fairy dust to sampled drums.
