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 UAD Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug-in and LUNA Extension provides the final “analog polish” to your music, turning your recordings into records. Fully authenticated by the Ampex Corporation and trusted by Platinum‑selling professionals the world over, the ATR‑102 plug‑in faithfully captures the unique dynamics, colorful frequency response, and tape saturation of this industry‑standard Ampex machine.
Now You Can:
Add analog polish to your mixes with the most popular professional 2‑track tape machine ever made
Harness classic Ampex tape saturation, selectable tape types, and color to "glue" your mix together
Process your audio through the entire ATR‑102 circuit, including its transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
Use the ATR‑102 LUNA Extension to produce rich, analog tape‑infused master recordings
Learn to Add Slapback Delay to Drums
Grammy-winning engineer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton) and the Ampex ATR‑102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug‑in.
The Most Popular Professional 2‑Track Ever Made
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 and LUNA Extension 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 UAD ATR‑102 plug-in is virtually indistinguishable from its analog ancestor.
Now Fully Integrated into LUNA Recording System
With LUNA Recording System, you can now use the Ampex ATR‑102 as a LUNA Extension, where it's built into the fabric of the mixer without the need to manage separate plug-in windows. This gives you rich, album‑ready Ampex tape tones on LUNA's master fader and buses — with all the authentic dynamics, frequency response, and saturation characteristics of the original machine.
Learn more >
Authentic Calibration Controls and Tape Types
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 (GP9, 456, 900, 250) 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.
Grammy-winning Presets
Get inspired with presets from longtime ATR‑102 users Chuck Ainlay (Chris Botti, Mark Knopfler) Richard Dodd (Wilco, Robert Plant), Buddy Miller (Martina McBride, Emmylou Harris), Mike Poole (Keith Urban, Dolly Parton) and more. Use these presets as a starting point and season to taste on your mixes — you'll marvel at the cohesive, rich sound that can only come from an Ampex tape machine.
“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
5-Minute UAD Tips
Featuring the Magnetic Tape Bundle
Customer Reviews
K. Dobracki
January 24, 2022
Wow just WOW!!!
I was looking for some thickering, widering machine and i found it here :)) Highly recomended the best tape simulation ever!
Read MoreR. Aronsson
January 23, 2022
Nice
Yes, makes things nice, even my coffee! I get that ’saturation shine’ ™️ on my master. Thanks!
Read MoreP. Kurek
January 20, 2022
Keep going back...
It's actually one of the reasons to use UAD plugins... I tried many different tape emulations but keep going back to ATR-102
Read MoreC. Knight
January 18, 2022
Final Move.
This is an essential part of my master signal chain, it makes everything sit in its proper position and is the exact sound I was looking for, this is a grail plugin.
Read More -
Features
Ampex-authenticated plug-in gives you the rich, cohesive tape sound of the the most popular professional 2-track machine ever made
Emulates the entire ATR-102 electronic path, including transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
Multiple tape formulas, head configurations, and calibration levels for a variety of tones
Adjustable Wow, Flutter, Hiss, Hum, Crosstalk, and (L/R) Tape Delay controls, and more
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Customer Reviews
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
K. Dobracki
Wow just WOW!!!
I was looking for some thickering, widering machine and i found it here :)) Highly recomended the best tape simulation ever!
R. Aronsson
Nice
Yes, makes things nice, even my coffee!
I get that ’saturation shine’ ™️ on my master.
Thanks!P. Kurek
Keep going back...
It's actually one of the reasons to use UAD plugins... I tried many different tape emulations but keep going back to ATR-102
A. FREDERIC
Ampex ATR 102
A MUST HAVE ON MASTER BUS
C. Knight
Final Move.
This is an essential part of my master signal chain, it makes everything sit in its proper position and is the exact sound I was looking for, this is a grail plugin.
H. Park
Fantastic
Simply amazing on Master Buss!
M. Barrette
Sits on my Mix Bus
I only have 3 plugins on my mix bus and this is one of them. It just adds the thickness and richness of tape that I love. I use it on every track I produce:) I've had it for awhile now and it's made all my mixes sound better.
V. Garcia
Excelente
me gusta el color que imprime en los temas que masterizo
R. Byers
Phat Magic for your 2 buss
the ATR-102 adds just the right beef, sparkle and glue to your mix.
A. Hicks
Amazing!
I definitely recommend this plug-in for that final saturated analog tape sound. It’s phenomenal! If you’re in doubt like I was, demo it first & hear first-hand. Words do not describe just how great it is!
H. Fivelsdal
Special Sauce for the Master Bus
This glues my mix together and gives it the analog warmth of a vinyl record. I love it.
N. Merrick
Ampex ATR-102
Great sounding Plug-in!!!
h. kilsu
WOW! it's really fantastic!!!
This plug-in seems to change the color of the sound naturally. It is delivered more naturally and warmly to the inner ear. I'm glad I bought this!
R. van Wegberg
Essential!
Works great to give a mix that final touch!
Fantastic!UAD User
Fantastic!
Can't imagine this not being on my mix output. Could not live without it!
M. Jarzebski
Ampex is master
It is not only a mastering king, but also I use it as an insert for bass, guitar or drums. Those two tapes Studer and ATR are fantastic. Actually Luna shows me where, what and how, but I love experimenting with Ampex. It is nice to have it in Logic too. Plus a lot of fun with gain staging. 102 is much more than it seems at first. The only thing I would improve is a better graphics.
E. Kushch
Great product!!!
I bought Ampex ATR-102 at a discount, my mixes became warm and pleasant to the ear, the sound is voluminous and goes well between instruments and vocals, I really liked that it can be used not only on the master bus, but also separately on the tracks, it transmits the real sound of the tape) )
T. BRUCE
ATR-102 Mastering Tape
Magic Mojo
R. Mannucci
Great plug in
Great plug in, defenetly a must on the master
J. Gravel
ATR-102
Just wow! This plugin is magic!
