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
S. Auclair
December 4, 2019
The Ultimate Glue!
The first and final step in my production chain! The sound of music ;)
Read MoreG. Livingston
November 28, 2019
Master Bus Tape
It's right in my chain and on busses. There's so many creative ways to use this tape.
Read MoreC. DaPonte
November 15, 2019
Secret Sauce
Just add to your master bus to make mixes sound polished and professional.
Read MoreR. Spaulding
November 12, 2019
Exceptional feel and response!
Such a classy natural recreation that it has enough pronounced effect to 'feel' the difference in your source material, but like tape, subtle enough that it can be pushed if you are not...
Read MoreJ. von Matt
October 21, 2019
Where is your tape at?
Back in the days i used master tape recorder. When i found this one, i sold my Telefunkken M15. This sounds so good. No need to demagnetize, no cleanin and daily, weekly, monthly, and year...
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
S. Auclair
The Ultimate Glue!
The first and final step in my production chain! The sound of music ;)
G. Livingston
Master Bus Tape
It's right in my chain and on busses. There's so many creative ways to use this tape.
C. DaPonte
Secret Sauce
Just add to your master bus to make mixes sound polished and professional.
R. Spaulding
Exceptional feel and response!
Such a classy natural recreation that it has enough pronounced effect to 'feel' the difference in your source material, but like tape, subtle enough that it can be pushed if you are not mindful.. All my mastering buddies who use ATR-102 hardware in their work use this as an alternative/supplement. Exceptional tool..
J. von Matt
Where is your tape at?
Back in the days i used master tape recorder. When i found this one, i sold my Telefunkken M15. This sounds so good. No need to demagnetize, no cleanin and daily, weekly, monthly, and year services. No need to buy tapes and storage them.
I fuo love tape sound, this tape machine gives you lot!
Strongly recommended!B. JeongHun
따뜻한 소리
노이즈를 끄면 그 어떤 마스터단에 박아도 좋은 소리를 내줍니다.
K. Smith
Great to use on your master fader track
First time using this type of plug in. There is a little bit of a learning curve, manual is approx. 15 pages. It is worth it. Adds a warmth to the final mix and has some cool features to add character to the sound.
A. Greenwell
Don’t know what I’d do without it
Easy to use, but highly tweakable too. This always goes on my mix buss. Fantastic for sculpting the low end, sweetening transients and making everything sound fuller, warmer, more interesting and alive!
J. Hayek
Best must have plugin for mastering !
This is the best master plugin I have buy!
This have change my sound very professionell!!
I love it very muchl. morrish-thomas
Just makes mixes better
As someone that's pretty much solely worked in the digital domain in my recording/mixing career, I've been continuously looking for different emulations to give my mixes the "glue" you can get from mixing on a desk onto tape. I've been quite happily using waves and slate tape machines for years, but when I get this on the master bus, it just feels like a step up
J. Kraus
Easy
Really essay to use, does a subtle but good job
J. Kraus
Perfect for me
Adds a nice analog vibe to my stuff!!
J. Pickett
Fantastic effect and a useful tool.
So useful and at times exciting. Highly recommended!
K. Kouchian
Always on my master bus
I use this plugin for master rendering or when recording my master from my summing amp. It just doesn't feel finished without it. But it also does a great job when tracking or to give a dirt treatment to separate channels in the mix: I often dirt hi hats with it, or use it on drum buss . It is definitely one of my favorite plugin on the UAD platform, if not my favorite.
S. Panayiotou
The best of the best
This Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder is something you have to hear and feel to understand. It makes sounds HUGE and gives a lot of warmth and dimension. Things just feel warmer, bigger and authentic. A fantastic Mastering Tape recorder emulation that is constantly part of my work flow now.
E. Bureau
Wow & Flutter
This plugin is awesome. Obviously great for master, but I also use it to process my tracks if I need a more apparent ‘tape sound’ than what the Studer or Oxide plug-ins deliver. The secret weapon of this plugin is the wow & flutter and stereo crossover blend. You can really melt tracks into warbley lo-fi goodness! The delay also sounds great, and you can use it to create both ADT and real tape flange effects!
C. Wilson
Great
Awesome
U. Amuli
Ampex pluggins!!!!!!!
OMG!!! That is one of the best pluggins I purchased ...Thanks UAD team !!
V. .
Best Ampex® ATR-102
Welcome to Universal Audio.
Any product of your company is the result of professional work, and this plugin is no exception.
I am very happy with the Ampex® ATR-102.
I strongly recommend to have this plugin to work on the master channel.V. .
Ampex® ATR-102
Welcome to Universal Audio.
Any product of your company is the result of professional work, and this plugin is no exception.
I am very happy with the Ampex® ATR-102.
I strongly recommend to have this plugin to work on the master channel.
