Best Tape Emulation VSTs For Warmth, Imperfections & Character [Top 8 Plugins + What I Use Them For]

[@NomburgMusic]

I just started looking into some vst's that are similar, so I am really glad I didn't get anything yet, perfect timing on the video drop!

[@MondoLoops]

Ayy perfect timing, have you got many emulation vsts at the moment or fresh into it?

[@NomburgMusic]

@@MondoLoops can't believe I missed this. Still fresh into it. It's hard to selectively get the right VST's. I wish I could buy all of them but doing my research has been helping out a lot

[@LoftyAssertions]

As technology has improved into ultra fidelity and AI moves onto the scene approaching perfection, the attraction to imperfection has massively grown, from photography, film, games to music. It makes perfect sense that imperfection belongs in art, but I never saw it being such a widespread aesthetic. In fact, teens manually disable autocorrect and emojis, using text ones instead as a kind of unspoken yearning for that aesthetic, and popular poetry is anything but challenging to write. So these kinds of VST's will become very popular I think

[@Zigger27]

I started using Mello-fi by Arturia. Really great as well and has very usable presets

[@MondoLoops]

Ooh I've actually not tried this one, will defo check it out thanks! How's the drive on it, nice tone?

[@Zigger27]

@@MondoLoops Actually pretty good for my taste. I use it mostly for guitar. It adds a nice texture on clean guitar chords. It does have a tone so you can tame the high end a bit.

[@fxreigner]

Just my top 5 1. Cassette 2. Sketch cassette 3. Abbey Road Vinyl 4. Tape Pro 5. Tape machine

[@MondoLoops]

Solid list, not heard of 4/5 though I don't think, who makes them? Will have to check these!

[@Humble-iq5ue]

These VSTs are amazing. I really need to get a computer and get back into my own music production again

[@MondoLoops]

Such a rewarding hobby I have to say, defo worth getting into the game again when you can!

[@myceliumbug]

I very like the j37 delay thing, is very interesting and warm

[@MondoLoops]

Honestly loving j37 in general, such a dope vst! Are you using much tape emulation at the moment?

[@myceliumbug]

@@MondoLoops I generally use and very love Rc-20, so surprise that retro color20 wasn't in your top8 o.o!! I very love that you can customize the noise with the "follow" knob, can cerate very interesting automation, the wobble is crazy and the internal EQ is cool too. Also the distortion presets (air, digital, iron..) are very colorful and interesting!

[@jravenmusic]

Bought an old cassette tape player from a charity store for this purpose once but it's a bit too broken to use 😅 Great run-down on these VSTs and their settings! I see RC-20 used a lot by some other lofi producers, would be interested to know what you think of it if you have tried it.

[@CyanideLovesong]

I guess a bunch of us just can't get enough tape emulations! Good walkthrough of some great tools. Did you try Audiothing Wires yet? It's sort of on the extreme side of tape emulation (Soviet wire recorder) but I think you'd like it.

[@leenonelofi5460]

Hey man, hope all is well, thanks so much for this video, really helpful just at the right time ! I been trying to pickup some hardware like a tascam porta and some dictaphones to add to my setup, have you experimented with any hardware? Bought the J37 plug-in but going to try and add some of these vsts 😍

[@darjeesounds5299]

Thanks, sketch cassette is my go to, I also used a lot origin by cymatics. I just need time for producing music again :(

[@MondoLoops]

Man it can be hard to make time and also get in the zone for music, hope you can work it out! Yeah love Sketchcassette, really solid VST!

[@kBeats_______]

Cymatics origin is a real nice free one!

[@novarobotslofi6596]

Very helpful Mondo, although not a VST, all this tape delay talk makes me want that new Boss RE-202 even more! Lol

[@marceloribeirosimoes8959]

It seems that the expensive ones like UAD Studer A800 or Slate Digital Tape Machine and are sadly a bit better than the "regular" ones like Waves, ToneBoosters, etc..

[@silent_nate]

imperfections makes all things natural

[@MondoLoops]

Exactly, those perfect electronic sounds are too soulless!

[@tri-unetrl3966]

No IK multimedia tape machines??? 🤦🏽

[@Mia1Goth]

neold warble is the best