Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
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It's not a record until it's mastered
on an Ampex tape machine.
The ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug-in for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces can provide the final “analog polish” to your music, turning songs, into albums. Fully authenticated by the Ampex Corporation, the ATR-102 plug-in faithfully captures the unique dynamics, colorful frequency response, and tape saturation of the original hardware.
Now You Can:
Add analog polish to your mixes with the most popular professional 2-track tape machine ever made
Harness tape “glue” and color to instrument buses for analog cohesion
Artfully color signals through the entire ATR-102 circuit, including transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
Mix with presets from noted ATR-102 users Chuck Ainlay, Richard Dodd, Buddy Miller, Mike Poole, and more
5-Minute UAD Tips
Featuring the Magnetic Tape Bundle
The Most Popular Professional 2-Track Ever
With its cohesive sound, punch, and ability to provide subtle-to-deep tape saturation and color, the ATR-102 has remained a fixture in major recording and mastering studios worldwide since 1976. The ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug-in faithfully replicates the unique dynamics, frequency response, and saturation characteristics of the original hardware. Scrutinized and fully authenticated by the Ampex Corporation, the sound of the ATR-102 plug-in is virtually indistinguishable from its analog cousin.
Color Your Sources with the Authentic Sound of Tape
Whether you’re looking to “glue” an entire mix, or add subtle analog shades to individual tracks and buses, the Ampex ATR-102 plug-in gives you myriad magnetic tape colors that can be tweaked to your heart’s delight, thanks to the deep control set.
All the Original Controls
Like the ATR-102 hardware, the plug-in allows you to choose between various Signal Paths (Input, Sync, Repro), different Tape Speeds / Emphasis EQs (NAB, CCIR, AES) and Tape Formula combinations — even including home/consumer tape. You can also use the adjustable Tape Delay feature for Automatic Double Tracking effects on vocals, guitars, and more.
“I set the UAD ATR-102 exactly the way my old Ampex machine is set up, dialed in the gains, switched back and forth… and the sound is nearly identical.”
– Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Cold War Kids)
“The UAD Ampex ATR-102 is my new secret weapon in my master buss chain, giving me the secret ingredient for that extra touch of flavor.”
– Ivan Barias (Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Estelle)
“The Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder and Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder emulations give a nice edge to bass tracks.”
– Armin Van Buuren
“The UAD Ampex ATR-102 tape emulation really captures the hardware’s punchy saturation and chunky warmth.”
– Mike Poole (Robert Plant, Martina McBride, Buddy Miller)
“I've always used limiters and compressors on the mix bus to ‘glue’ the sound together, but I've never been able to achieve the kind of musical cohesiveness like I can with the UAD ATR-102.”
– Ryan West (Eminem, Kanye West, Kid Cudi)
“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 ATR‑102 brings mixes to life with a 3D sound that no other plug-in has ever been able to achieve.”
– Adam Hawkins (Twenty One Pilots, Switchfoot, Keith Urban)Watch The Reviews
Customer Reviews
N. Bryce
July 6, 2020
Amazing slap back echo on vocals!
I play guitar and sing and didn’t really think I needed this plug-in till I slapped it on some vocals and wow! The delay effects on this are magical!...
Read MoreJ. Marshall
July 6, 2020
Sweetens up everthing
I have been using this in my mastering chains, and it adds a subtle colour and sweetens up everything I have used it on.
Read More.
June 29, 2020
Ampex over studer for mastering
Had the studer for a while and thought it was good in mastering. Demod the Ampex and was sold in 20 seconds. It's a lot more colourful sounding, and adds a really pleasant...
Read MoreM. Mchangani
June 28, 2020
Powerful Machine/Analog Mojo
I tried this in 2019 and was very impatient so I did not purchaese and thought it was not doing much...fast forward to 2020, date...
Read MoreG. Polito
June 27, 2020
My master tape
That's on every master buss of my mixes. A lot of flexibility! You get that tape compression and that eq sound. All in once. It sounds amazing. So powerful!
Read More -
Key Features
Ampex®-authenticated plug-in emulation of the ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder — the most popular professional 2-track machine ever made
Provides rich, cohesive tape sound, without the hassles of calibration, maintenance, tape degradation, etc.
Models entire ATR-102 electronic path, including transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
Features multiple tape formulas, head configurations, and calibration levels
Adjustable Wow, Flutter, Hiss, Hum, Crosstalk, and (L/R) Tape Delay
Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface available from authorized dealers worldwide
Independent L/R Input Gain (Record) and Output (Reproduce) Level
IPS Speed/Emphasis Curve chooses between 3.75 NAB, 7.5 NAB, 7.5 CCIR, 15 NAB, 15 CCIR, 30 AES
Independent L/R record Bias, Record EQ, and Playback EQs, with Auto and Manual Cal capabilities
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Customer Reviews
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
N. Bryce
Amazing slap back echo on vocals!
I play guitar and sing and didn’t really think I needed this plug-in till I slapped it on some vocals and wow! The delay effects on this are magical!
J. Marshall
Sweetens up everthing
I have been using this in my mastering chains, and it adds a subtle colour and sweetens up everything I have used it on.
Y. Gorobets
very good for drum bus
perfect tone saturation on drum bus.
C. Gabbianelli
Corrupts Delay Compensation in PT
Consistently corrupts the delay compensation in my PT sessions. Pretty disappointed in UAD's lack of resolution to this issue after all of the money I've invested into using their hardware and software.
UAD User
Ampex over studer for mastering
Had the studer for a while and thought it was good in mastering. Demod the Ampex and was sold in 20 seconds. It's a lot more colourful sounding, and adds a really pleasant saturation to the entire mix. Studer sounds too subtle for Mastering in my opinion. But as its less dsp heavy its good for subtle smoothing in mix.
M. Mchangani
Powerful Machine/Analog Mojo
I tried this in 2019 and was very impatient so I did not purchaese and thought it was not doing much...fast forward to 2020, date 26th of june! I inserted this plugin on my master and tweaked it for 8 minutes....Damn!!!!!!!! had to buy it on the 28th of June after an extensive trial period! luckily it was on sale!!
G. Polito
My master tape
That's on every master buss of my mixes. A lot of flexibility! You get that tape compression and that eq sound. All in once. It sounds amazing. So powerful!
D. Berriman
Adds so much flavour
This really does add a lot of depth to an otherwise 'lifeless' track/mix. This is quite a unique plugin. Highly recommended!
E. Irarrázabal
TAPE TAPE TAPE clean and jerk
This is nice. It can be a bit tricky but the presest list is a good guide
UAD User
Thick chewy goodness
Look, I’m not a “pro” guy, but damn this is nice. I’m old (66) and old school, but this plug is doing what I’ve been missing in digi land. The old “make a thick bottom end stew” trick that tape naturally did.
Makes a mix SIT DOWN AND STAY.
Nice job fellasB. Carter
Perfect Plug-in
I use Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder on EVERYTHING! It's the perfect plugin!
D. Trufan
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
WOW Use it on my 2 track master. What a significant change. Great saturation plugin....
L. Cuman
Must Have!
Always in my mastering plugin chain!
G. Porrino
Ampex ATR-102
Very happy with the results.
b. village
Sick
I’m glad I picked this one up and spent some time learning it. You don’t need much else if you can use it well.
E. Ferreira
Perfect Tape
Favorite tape plugin ever!
Y. Chen
That analog warmth
I put this on my master every time and it never fails me, I love the warm sound, it brings a whole new depth!
D. Świątek
Best of the best.
Best tape emulation for mastering!
D. Jaramillo
Ampex
Love this plugin. Everything just sound great. It’s like each instrument sticks out
T. Rice
It lives on my mixbus.
It's amazing how good the ATR-102 sounds. The presets are killer, and they really help dial in what you want, from subtle to extreme.
