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Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder

Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder

4.9 (1065)

Turn your recordings into records.

  • Mix and master your music with the most popular professional 2-track tape machine ever made
  • Get classic Ampex tape saturation, selectable tape types, and color to "glue" your mix together
  • Use the entire ATR-102 circuit, including its transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
  • Make adjustments to Repro/Record levels while maintaining perfect gain staging
  • Enjoy enhanced retina GUI with interactive tape reels and controls true to the original hardware
  • Use the ATR-102 LUNA Extension to produce with rich, analog tape sound right in LUNA’s mixer

Runs natively on your macOS or Windows computer, or accelerated on Apollo audio interfaces or UAD Accelerators. View full system requirements.

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Turn Your Recordings into Records

The Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder plug-in and LUNA Extension provides the final “analog glue” for your music. Fully authenticated by the Ampex Corporation, now you can get the same unique dynamics, frequency response, and saturation characteristics of the original mastering hardware, virtually indistinguishable from its analog ancestor.

New Features for Modern Workflows

Getting perfect gain staging on the Ampex ATR-102 requires meticulous calibration of the repro and record levels, a delicate art that demands precision. With Auto-Gain, you can make adjustments to either the Repro or Record levels while maintaining perfect gain staging. And with its retina-enhanced GUI, the ATR-102 is that beautifully vibey plug-in that you’ll want to leave on all the time.

Take a Deep Dive into Tape Tone

Discover vast reel-to-reel textures using three classic tape heads (¼”, ½”, and 1”) tape speeds and emphasis EQs, famous tape formulas (GP9, 456, 900, 250), and more. You can even fine-tune the machine’s calibration to open up some headroom, or get grittier tape compression and saturation.

Find Your Sound Fast

Ignite your inspiration 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.

Transform Your Mixes in LUNA

Use the Ampex ATR‑102 LUNA Extension to transform LUNA’s mixer into an analog tape wonderland. Without having to manage separate plug-in windows, this gives you rich album‑ready Ampex tape textures with all the authentic dynamics, frequency response, and saturation of the original machine.

What They Say

The most useful aspect of the UAD ATR-102 plug-in is being able to treat the 'tape path' in ways that the original couldn't be considered because of tape noise. I can now achieve and recall effects [previously impossible].

Richard Dodd

Tom Petty, George Harrison, Dixie Chicks

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

I find few things I can't make sound MUCH better with the Ampex ATR-102 plug-in. It really makes individual elements of the mix take on a more distinct presence.

Stephen Smith

Serious Clark, Showteens, Spirit and the Bride

Reviews

4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
Based on 1,065 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 981 Total 4 star reviews: 49 Total 3 star reviews: 17 Total 2 star reviews: 8 Total 1 star reviews: 10
97%would recommend this product
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1,065 reviews
  • J
    Jon
    Verified Reviewer
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    Native version missing tape delay

    I found out after I purchased that the Native version does not include several key features the Apollo version has. You have far more options compared to the Native version. The Native version is tape saturation, and that's all. But that isn't why I bought it. I bought it for some unique sounding reel to reel tape delay. If you have ever used a Studer A80 or something similar as a tape delay you'll know there's nothing like it. Tape echo units don't work the same. Many can mistake reel to reel tape delay for automatic double tracking on some famous tracks. With a tape machine the delay is thick and you have the ability to adjust it with varispeed to thicken and double the track or make it slap.. I can never get that same effect with any echo unit plugins or the stock plugins on Logic - they affect (or effect) the signal too much or not enough and sound gimmicky. Please update the native one to include reel to reel tape delay. It would be much appreciated.

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  • JB
    Janis B.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 month ago
    Amazing machine

    Best sounding tape machine plugin with different characters.

    Was this helpful?
  • JS
    John S.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 month ago
    Is it real or is it tape

    Wow, I have one other tape emulator by different brand and never used it, because the sound wasn't anything. The ATR-102 did one thing no other has for me & completely reminded myself of the days I worked with tape. I now know why pros use this one.

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  • SC
    Steve C.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 month ago
    Great tape mastering emulation.

    A worthy mastering addition for the master bus adding warmth and analogue tone .

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  • IS
    Ignacio S.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 month ago
    Love those harmonics

    The overtones that bring this plugin are very noticiable, I love them. One of the best tape saturation plugin out there.

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Frequently Asked Questions

No. These plug-ins run natively on your computer. No UA hardware is required.

Yes, 14-day plug-in demos are available. Find eligible plug‑ins

We provide three activations per license. We support activation on your computer or on an iLok USB key.

For every UAD plug-in that supports native and Apollo/UAD-2 versions, you get a license for both upon purchase, or the option to get it through an upgrade.

Native plug-ins are supported on macOS and Windows systems. See our Native UAD System Requirements article for full system requirements. An iLok account is required for managing your native plug-in licenses. We support iLok USB keys for portability, but one is not required.

Check our Knowledge Base for additional questions

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*Enhanced Retina graphics available for Mac only.