Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
Customer Reviews
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
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A. Elliott
WTM BIGTIME!
Worth The Money. I got it on sale, but so worth the full price. Brings clarity and glue to my mixes like nothing else. Absolutely LOVEIT!
J. Cranman
Pretty Freakin Sweet
I'm going with 4 stars instead of 5 just because it's not real tape and their of course will always be some sort of analog magic, some ethereal sparkle that no digital device will ever re-capture. . . But this sounds awesome in it's own right and gets very close to my memories of nice tape machines. . . But it's kindof it's own thing. Adds a certain heft and density to the recording that is subtle but very very cool for taking tracks "over the edge". . .
T. Zimmerman
Fantastic Recreation
What I love about the ATR-102, is the sound.
While you can push it to extremes for effect purposes, for me it is the subtle quality it imparts when you use it as you would the actual machine(s). Tape saturation and compression should be subtle, if the machine is set up properly. The ATR-102 gives you all the options of the real thing, with a variable sonic signatures you get from various tape speeds and formulations. This plug-in won't work magic, but it will finesse your mix to bring out some hidden qualities, which is part of the charm of tape. I actual wish UA had given us the sound of the head engaging just to round out the overall package.
Excellent plug-in, well worth the price.
E. Parise
Utterly Amazing! A Must Have!
I was at Sweetwater Gearfest and went to the UA workshop with Ryan West. He shared how the ATR-102 just has magic behind it and was he ever so right. I put this on the Master Bus of a track and the song just came alive. My favorite part is the ability to tweak the Repro High Frequency and Low Frequency knobs and Bias. Adjusting these different knobs turns the tape machine into a living EQ that gives warmth and air to the top end and tightens up the low end giving that true record sound. Utterly Amazing! A Must Have!
S. Key
Grown Man — Cried Like A Baby!
Having owned the predecessor AG-440C, I missed the warmth and analog 'glue' in all my 24/88 ITB mixes. I kept complaining to my mixing/mastering guy about the brittle sound—a bit too clean & sterile.
I've had this plug for less than a day and plopped it into the first slot of a finished mix. (Slot 2 contains Ozone 5.)
I started going through the presets and tears came to my eyes—tears of joy... Hell, I cried like a baby!
I instantly heard a radio-ready master.
My problem now is deciding which finished sound is right for each Golden Master—and I probably have to remaster several projects I've put to bed. It'll be worth it!
And I'm doing this on a MacBook Pro.
Damn impressive UAD and thank you AMPEX for partnering up!
S. Derose
Ampex ATR-102 Mastering
Awesome-
The final step in a mix before sending out for mastering!!!
Perfect!
D. Brown
Love this software plug.
Just invested in an octo card and upgraded to pt 11. Next I picked up an Apollo twin duo. And a used MacBook pro to run those sweet preamp plugs. 1073neve and the 610b. Sounds unbelievable. thanks uad for a new outlook and upgraded sound. Nothing left for your sale sh.....
C. Busch
Great plugin
This plugin is great on the master. Capable of adding some great character to the final mix.
A. Shailer
Absolutely blinding...
Been wanting this plug for ages... and now I've finally got it. Pretty much a mainstay on all my synths... using the bias and degredaton for ultimate retro effect without the hassle of real tape machines.
Brilliant.
R. Arciszewski
The Game Changer
Such an amazing plugin. You can go on and on with it trying different combinations and you just never get bored! ..and the Sound - Sweat and Warm - I am addicted ;)
P. Gill
Fantastic tone shaper
I've never owned or used a real analogue 2-track recorder, however I can only re-iterate what others have already said about this plug-in. I've had it for several months now and find it can really make a difference - from subtle to slamming. On the 2 buss it has the ability to transform mixes into records, but it's just as capable on subgroups and individual tracks. I've mapped the fiddly under the hood controls to a midi controller which I find makes it much easier to use (and more fun). I also own the Satin tape plug-in, and with the two of them I'm more than covered for great itb tape emulation.
G. Harold
Mastering...
I feel like this is all I need to get my master bus sounding stellar...a limiter helps as well.
S. Mcnulty
Amazing!
I am truly amazed.
This thing sounds incredible.
Thanks!
S. Gilroy
Old Geezer Stuff
Not impressed because I have native plugins that do the same thing. If you need the power buy it and use it on your DSP system but don't be intimidated by the name, just another tape simulator. Typical UAD model something 50 years old. What a Geezer company. I hate how complicated this plugin is, like it takes some magic genie to run it or something. Tape emulators should be simple, like the Phoenix.
S. Gouillard
Wow, that is special
if you want to make somethin sounding good? Go for it
K. Sedaghat
one other best investment, buying Ampex ATR-102
It is as like as those complements that iv read during articles on web ... obvious affects of it could be touched as the first attempt to send it at the master bus and unbelievably its warm would faced to you...after using Apollo and several other universal AUDIO plug-ings im indeedly satisfied to use ATR-102 and the next job is having (STUDER) buy the way...THANKS UA
D. Hoiem
This thing makes hit records.
Just tried the demo on a finished mix and the artists, my radio guy, and I all just listened in awe. Drums are thunderously awesome, and not out of control. And you can put that "dolby shine trick" on the track. Unreal. Buying now.
There are certain sounds that you just know and have heard on hit records for decades like the LA-2A on guitars, the Fairchild on fat mixes, and now this bad boy. Thank you Universal Audio! You make us make hit records!
L. Carter
Awesome!!
Buy it, you wont regret it.. One the the must have plug-ins from UAD.
M. Carter
Got Tape?
I Do… the Ampex is the best tape emulator on the market.. Since I made the purchase I lands and all my 2 tracks. Full, fat, warm… everything Im looking for in tape!
M. Smith
Best tape emulation I've used
Great job UA! This is the best tape plug out there IMHO! Thank you for the ability to turn the noise off! I use this on 95% of the projects I do! Gets more use than the Studer plug which is also great!