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)
“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
J. Herrera
April 11, 2023
Cream!
When I think of mixing I have a picture of a vintage console and a tape machine, not that you need either, it’s just that the best records (when recorded well) didn’t go without...
Read MoreT. 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 &...
Read MoreD. 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...
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
J. Karlén
Adds great warmth
This is my goto tape machine
J. Herrera
Cream!
When I think of mixing I have a picture of a vintage console and a tape machine, not that you need either, it’s just that the best records (when recorded well) didn’t go without passing through these circuits. I was in need of something to balance my record, and needed what ever I used not to remove what sizzled in my ears. This tape machine brought music to my master. I guess you can say am now a believer of old school technics. Try it, it’s magic.
N. NKABINDE
Sounds great on everything.
Add according to your taste
N. NKABINDE
Sounds great on everything.
Add according to your taste
T. Fouda
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
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
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
Very Nice!
Makes a huge difference.
A. Jepson
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
Great sound.
Makes things come to life and adds a lot of warmth
K. Didvalis
Excelent
Great Tape!
K. Cromwell
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
Excellent tape
Great on every track ! Sounds great !
L. Brown
Excellent… A+
Excellent… A+
J. FALCONERY
Som maravilhoso
Ótimo plugin. Linda textura.
R. Dann
Sounds good
Pretty good overall, lots of options and sounds good
Q. Phùng
Good!
The sound is smoother.
I. Voevodin
Excelent
Good
C. Ventura
Amazing
The color that makes a big difference in sound. Got it and always using it. Recomendes
J. Reyes
Great Tape!
Excelent and now Uadx!
