Is there a cheap/free tape wear plugin available?

[heavymetalmixer]

Another free "tape" plugin out there is the Klevgrand FreeAmp (don't let yourself get fooled by the name, it's not an amp sim).

[Halonmusic]

FreeAmp is cool

[Mathematics]

I haven't read through all the posts but a couple years ago I experimented with Free LoFi tools and I came up with a pretty good free method that used Izotope's Vinyl (with Wear turned up and used the 1960 Year setting) and downsampled an audio clip to 8-bit 16kHz using R8Brain. Then used AudioAnimals Vinyl Sim to add that LP record sound. Actually, AA have a really nice Tape plugin now, for free, here:
https://www.audioanimals.co.uk/shop/sam ... -simulator

I suggest you use a midfrequency bandpass filter though, with the Tape Sim. Just used Izotope Vinyl and that should be fine.

I believe Izotope still has the 32-bit version of Vinyl, otherwise you can download it anywhere. AA has 32-bit versions of the tools mentioned. You have a lot of great suggestions. Post your results...I'm sure everyone would like to hear what you've come up with.

If you feel that you need more versatility in your sound production, I would very highly recommend RC-20 as a paid alternative. If I had to pick one be-all-end-all paid plugin, it would have to be RC-20. Hands down. It, literally, is the definitive choice for LoFi everything. From cynlinders to VHS heads and everything in between with flowing electrons.

[heavymetalmixer]

I haven't read through all the posts but a couple years ago I experimented with Free LoFi tools and I came up with a pretty good free method that used Izotope's Vinyl (with Wear turned up and used the 1960 Year setting) and downsampled an audio clip to 8-bit 16kHz using R8Brain. Then used AudioAnimals Vinyl Sim to add that LP record sound. Actually, AA have a really nice Tape plugin now, for free, here:
https://www.audioanimals.co.uk/shop/sam ... -simulator

I suggest you use a midfrequency bandpass filter though, with the Tape Sim. Just used Izotope Vinyl and that should be fine.

I believe Izotope still has the 32-bit version of Vinyl, otherwise you can download it anywhere. AA has 32-bit versions of the tools mentioned. You have a lot of great suggestions. Post your results...I'm sure everyone would like to hear what you've come up with.

If you feel that you need more versatility in your sound production, I would very highly recommend RC-20 as a paid alternative. If I had to pick one be-all-end-all paid plugin, it would have to be RC-20. Hands down. It, literally, is the definitive choice for LoFi everything. From cynlinders to VHS heads and everything in between with flowing electrons.

Something to note: They sounds that TapeSim is an instrument, not an FX.

[Mathematics]

Yep, as the name states, Tape Simulator. Using that with the Vinyl and the bandpass that I mentioned, will pretty much get one in the ball park of LoFi sound. In fact, some of the major plugins actually use samples to create a LoFi effect but are not actually effects, rather simulators and hybrids like Waves Vinyl. Great mastering plugin in my opinion but it uses 30 second loops of noise to make it sound like an actual vinyl record.

Anyway, we're splitting hairs here. Considering everyone else mentioned every single possible plugin, I did not see this one mentioned, so I thought a combination of sound and Vinyl qualifies for a post, hence "method." Thanks for clarification though.

[Mathematics]

Just basic presets on all these stock lame Ableton samples, nothing else except a hi and low cut at 150Hz and 4kHz. I bypassed effects on the drum breaks, only the lead sample has the effect.

The main point is the second demo, which uses only Izotope Vinyl and AA's Vinyl Simulator. That and some EQ is all I used for LoFi early in the game and I got good results. Compared to the paid plugins, I think that simulator, Vinyl, and some EQ'ing was pretty darn close to what an $80 plugin can do.

Original
https://soundcloud.com/user-401942083/1 ... al/s-ALxiD

Izotope Vinyl and Audio Animal's Vinyl Simulator
https://soundcloud.com/user-401942083/1 ... im/s-ed9YJ

RC-20
https://soundcloud.com/user-401942083/1 ... 20/s-G4RhR

Audiothing's Reels
https://soundcloud.com/user-401942083/1 ... ls/s-oaVji

Audiothing's Vinylstrip and Speaker
https://soundcloud.com/user-401942083/1 ... er/s-WxkN4

With actual care, you can get great results. I consider these all just mediocre since they are literally, random pulldown presets, nothing tailored.

[deastman]

I’ve been chasing that worn tape sound with various plugins for quite a while now. While they all produce interesting textures, I’ve found that nothing quite compares to the real thing. My advice is to get a cheap cassette recorder and bounce your tracks to tape and back into the DAW. It sounds real because it is real.

I’ve gone even further down that rabbit hole with a multitrack cassette recorder, a real tape echo, an Onde Magnetique, and a Landscape HC-TT v2. But just to get the basic sound, nothing compares to a worn out old tape in a cheap cassette deck.

[Lotuz2019]

Here's Amulets showing us another way to mangle a tape loop.

If the plugin could make your audio sound somewhat like this...

Another free "tape" plugin out there is the Klevgrand FreeAmp (don't let yourself get fooled by the name, it's not an amp sim).

Thanks, but FreeAmp is not the tape effect this topic is about.

Yep, as the name states, Tape Simulator. Using that with the Vinyl and the bandpass that I mentioned, will pretty much get one in the ball park of LoFi sound.

Tape Simulator is a very useful plugin to add noise. Indeed it's a VST Instrument, but you could sample the noise and use it in a plugin like Sonitex STX-1260 or Beatskillz That Thing. The RC-20 is a great all-in-one lofi plugin, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to allow you to load your own noise samples. But again, this topic is about tape wear.

Thank you for the examples.

I’ve been chasing that worn tape sound with various plugins for quite a while now. While they all produce interesting textures, I’ve found that nothing quite compares to the real thing. My advice is to get a cheap cassette recorder and bounce your tracks to tape and back into the DAW. It sounds real because it is real.

I’ve gone even further down that rabbit hole with a multitrack cassette recorder, a real tape echo, an Onde Magnetique, and a Landscape HC-TT v2. But just to get the basic sound, nothing compares to a worn out old tape in a cheap cassette deck.

That's cool, but I prefer the flexibility of a plugin. That way I can always change the sound if I want to.

[NAD]

Wow and flutter is one the most essential elements of this sound. You'll want to make sure that whatever you're using doesn't cause a ton aliasing like most of the older plugins did. Goodhertz Wow Control is fantastic.

Asperity noise also really helps for a convincing effect. I really like the one in ReelBus.

What I find is really missing from most these plugins is volume fluctuation and dropouts. RC-20 does this but unfortunately not very well in my opinion. Bad Connection is a great little plugin for ReaJS that can sort of get you partway there if used subtly.

[wakax]

NAD:
I googled for Bad Connection. not found:(
can you post a good link to it?
thanks.

[JerGoertz]

The best I've found are: TB Reelbus, Audiothing Reels, and Softube Tape. All these can be had on sale/normal for around $50. So, not super cheap, but pretty inexpensive.

[wakax]

my favs:
Goodhertz Wow Control (not cheap but unique)
U-he Satin (not cheap but good...)
&
VHS Audio Degradation Suite (free ens for Reaktor)
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... how/11003/

[vom]

NAD:
I googled for Bad Connection. not found:(
can you post a good link to it?
thanks.

Found it:
https://geraintluff.github.io/jsfx/

Looks like an interesting set of plugins!

[wakax]

thanks Vom!!!!

[Lotuz2019]

NAD:
I googled for Bad Connection. not found:(
can you post a good link to it?
thanks.

Found it:
https://geraintluff.github.io/jsfx/

Looks like an interesting set of plugins!

I'll check out Bad Connection later.