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
L. Ramos Gomes
January 5, 2022
The warmth of tape.
I have been using it on every channel and paired with the Ampex ATR-102 on busses it gives a warmth and glue to the tracks that no other tape emulations do. Best tape emulation in the...
Read MoreG. sousounis
December 31, 2021
Fantastic emulation !!!
Fantastic emulation of the hardware !!
Read MoreT. Fuxa
December 31, 2021
Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder for everything!
This plugin is so powerful, I use it on each channel, and is amazing how Studer works and how many possibilities he offers.
Read MoreN. Merrick
December 28, 2021
Studer A800
I have owned a Studer A827 for years and love this plugin version of the A800!
Read MoreS. Landry
December 22, 2021
Amazing Technology
This plug-in adds so much subtle character to my sounds. I am only scratching the surface of how much the suite can do, I know I will be using it very often. I am impressed....
Read MoreD. Shapland
December 10, 2021
The magic of tape
This plug-in is amazing at adding subtle glue, weight and 3D across your session brining the mix together, it can transform a flat dull mix into a sparkly full production, or use it to...
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
L. Ramos Gomes
The warmth of tape.
I have been using it on every channel and paired with the Ampex ATR-102 on busses it gives a warmth and glue to the tracks that no other tape emulations do. Best tape emulation in the market!
G. sousounis
Fantastic emulation !!!
Fantastic emulation of the hardware !!
T. Fuxa
Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder for everything!
This plugin is so powerful, I use it on each channel, and is amazing how Studer works and how many possibilities he offers.
N. Merrick
Studer A800
I have owned a Studer A827 for years and love this plugin version of the A800!
S. Landry
Amazing Technology
This plug-in adds so much subtle character to my sounds. I am only scratching the surface of how much the suite can do, I know I will be using it very often. I am impressed.
D. Shapland
The magic of tape
This plug-in is amazing at adding subtle glue, weight and 3D across your session brining the mix together, it can transform a flat dull mix into a sparkly full production, or use it to sculpt tone and produce a more vintage vibe.
Very versatilec. maskell
Wow
Great saturation and color options. Love it.
A. Thierry
Magic
Best tape ever … and very low sharp ressources.. Best tape plugin all time
E. Chuchirdkiatskul
Best Studer Tape Emulation There Is
Look no further. If you need a tape machine simulation, this is the one.
T. Jones
Love it
Always on going in and again on my busses
B. Rovo
More than just a plugin!
Fantastic emulation of the hardware, goes on every recorded track all time!
S. Tydeman
This is definitely one plugin every home studio needs!
Such a nice TAPE emulation and I have a lot of various tape plugins. The Studer A800 is really getting some love in my mixes....it is really well designed, has awesome functionality and the warmth and sound is next level. Very versatile and honestly you may not know you need it until you put it on a track.
A. Clark
Richness & Depth
Perfect on subgroups and the mixbus. It helps glue things together while adding richness and depth to the mix.
T. Harp
Amazing!!
I demoed this on a while and then immediately bought it. With so many presets and parameter choices you can't go wrong. Whether you use presets or not it's easy to get that sound your looking for.
L. Cohen
Another favorite.
Sweetness without the introduced latency of the primary alternative.
L. Hernández López
Real magic
Sound better than you can read in reviews. Great plugin
M. Cawthra
Warm and subtle
I've been using the Oxide plugin for tape sim until I demoed this. Dropped on to the output busses it lends a lovely character. Would highly recommend you demo this and the Ampex machines, they are both excellent, as is Oxide. The Studer is just that bit more configurable and I guess that's why I prefer it now. Five stars because I love this thing but I'll flag that the Noise and Controls-Ganging across multiple instances toggles do not save with the project, at least not in Cubase. Just means you need to set these when you revisit a project for a tweak, no biggie really.
M. O'Brien
The holy grail?
Not so sure it is as good as all that. It seems to make my stuff sound dull. I will try it again on a different song.
M. Kylliäinen
Super
Turbo
J. Yearous
wow
is good
