Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
Customer Reviews
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
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W. Krassowski
Nothing compares to this !
If i could had only 1 plugin from UAD range would be this one.
Forget about any other Tape, Saturator, nothing compares, this is the Best Plugin hands down UAD Crew !
If you need to push up your tracks to the limit ( radio ready stuff ) but still want to sound dynamic and analog this is the plugin for you.
The Amperex gives some sort of final glue/definition and makes your mix sound just more cohesive all in all, its like Black Magic, put there, move some knobs and youre fine with another 2-3dB gain without distort.
Also makes your tracks be pushed much higher on volume without distorting, this one and a mastering compressor toguether are the ultimate Mastering Chain in your Arsenal !
YOU DESERV THIS PLUG IN YOUR STUDIO !
A. Gamez
Enhance The "In The Box" Sound Experience
The Ampex ATR-102 is a must have plug in for every engineer that wants to add warmth, depth and a 3dimensional feel to a mix. I use it for mastering and for printing stems and it always adds so much character and color to anything I throw at it. It can be used very lightly or add extreme character, according to the user's desire and input for the song, but what comes out will always be so much better that what went in.
Being a huge fan of tape machines & analog equipment, having the Ampex at my disposal without the need of calibration or demagnetization every time I use it can easily save time & a bunch of money and for only 350, this plugin is a real bad ass. 2 days into the demo and I had to purchase it, IT REALLY IS THAT GOOD!
M. Gervasi
The Final Step
Everything you've read in the reviews is true. This is as important to have in the master buss as the Studer is on the tracks. Together they give you the closest thing to tape you'll find. While this one is a lot more resource intensive it's crucial in order to get that sound you're looking for. It's not top rated through hype it's actually that good.
P. Talbot
Great on mix buss
That one is now sitting on my mix bus and it gives it a nice glue and analog color.
I love it!
E. Gorski
mastering must
this unit provides a sheen on the mix that makes that classic 70's sound. Everything just falls into place and sounds amazing. I love this plug and find myself using it often. There are certain mixes that scream for this. It is a valuable tool for a mastering chain. You may not use this all the time but you wiluse this alot
.
Vintage delight
As a writer and lover of pre 1980s guitar/rock music this plugin has allowed me to attain that special 'vintage' finish which seemed so impossible beforehand - without spending ridiculous amounts on hardware of course! Team this with an ssl G buss on the master channel and just hear your mix glue together and come to life - 'it sounds like a proper record' is a common phrase I'm now able to use!
The interface is somewhat difficult for those of the digital age, not familiar with tape machines. However this is just an opportunity for even more sonic variations and discovery. Presets are very nice too.
A bargain for the difference it makes
T. Stockwell
Ampeg is Essential
This has become an essential component of my sound. Along with the Studer, this plug is the last plugin in my Pro Tools HD Native session. Sounds Amazing.
I must confess that Slate VTM got me started on this path, but it just consumed my PT HD Native Host processor. I bought an Octo with the sole intent on using the Studer and Ampex tape plugs and I'm ecstatic I did.
The sound is fantastic.
One Suggestion: The Slate VTM "Group" option is a much nicer way of dealing with multiple machine settings. Love to see a "Machine" assignment setting incorporated into a future update of the Studer and Ampeg.
J. Murawski
ampex
The best plug.. out there, Not only for master, You can use it on individual tracks,iam. using it as a sound procesor making the track bigger ,it ads That analog Punch To do low end, And of course the nice sweetness of tape,litle EQ, ,,, You can set up the ampex as a tape delay and it's really unique,,its like having six or more Plugs in one , And when am done recording am puting it as a second to lastplug,on my stereo out, It glues Everything together, Ther are different presets for either MIX or MSTR.the only MINUs is that UAD pluggins in general dont have to many presets for any type of electronic music,,its all like rock ,jazz,country, I wish the uad People Recognize that and Release an update with some presets for electronic music,
T. Logemann
unreal
This plugin is truly amazing. I try to figure out what it does exactly. Perhaps it is the most clever combination of eq and compression, hidden behind the picture of a tape maschine. But all attemps to imitate the glue, warmth and presence of this wonderful plugin with other products failed.
By far the best plugin of UA in my collection.
T. Peters
Basically Cheating
This plug-in is ridiculously good.
I accidentally tried it out and now I'm hooked real bad.
Are you at a 90% completed mix stage but lack the energy to finish the job off?
Whack one of these suckers on. Whammy. 99.99%
Thanks UAD!
T. Spielmacher
SWEET
Not much to say.... used tastefully, things are just better! Allows recordings to sound "Legit", so much honour to the past...
E. Gryder
Sweet Sweet Plug in!
The Ampex Recorder produces an agressive sound that is excellent on things you want up front. Turn the "record: level up and watch it kick out some earth shaking lows that dont break up. This is one of my favorites!
J. Hofmann
ATR-102 is fantastic
the atr 102 plug-in does a really fantastic job. Its THE magic "glue" that i missed all the time. It´s a "must have" when using digital production of any stuff. Well done, UAD. Once more. THX to the crew. Six stars.
D. Woodford
Ampex ATR 102
Another wow plug-in!
Strap this across the stereo bus and just when you think it's effect is maybe a little bit subtle, turn it off and listen and marvel as your mix turns into a lifeless and dull two dimensional bore!
Between this and the SSL G Buss Comp, they are my first ports of call on any mix job!
Absolutely brilliant!
J. Manes
Ampex or studer..
I went with this one over the studer. While I use both, this tape machine feels beefier. I feel like the studer is more controlled, and bass resonates nicely though it, the studer feels flatter. Great plug right before the limiter on the master fader.
F. Calle
Fantastic
This PlugIn its just fantastic on whatever you put on. I dont have the chance to use the hardware unit but this plugin has a lot of character, different colors. It can completely change the sound of your source or just enhance it!
F. Gabriel
a tape recorder in your computer
i m a reaggea producer and really needed this tool for roots reaggea(1970-1980).
I was using tape recorder 3M 2inch for several year but i went to computer based recording for more eazy editing and other obvious reasons...
I found the action on dynamics ,eq ,quite good ,realistik ,but that s not the reason why i chosed to earn this plug as i have some nice hardware compressors and eq than can do this job .
The wow and flutter simulation is just magical and repoduce exactlly the sound off my favorits reaggea mix especially :guitars ,clavs ,pianos, chaleston ,cymbals, sustain it just magical no others words can describe this.
B. Keis
Another Winner
The Ampex ATR-102 Plug-in is another winner. It sounds amazing. Definitely a must-have.
H. Goldstein
Sweet Sweet Ampex
It`s actually hard for me to believe this plug-in exists...Having gone through the analog tape era and now the digital DAW era the fact that UA has gotten the vibe of analog tape in a plug-in is more than I could have wanted.
This plug adds a certain unexplained magic to either a master stereo buss or can be used to change the personality of individual instruments, vocals etc...The presets are extremely usable and simply changing the formulation of the tape and tape speed can yield great results. You do need to watch levels going in to the ampex..but not a problem.
Without any hesitation, it gets 5 stars from this user. Thank you UA !!!
PS, I`m finding that setting it up as the next to last in the signal chain works the best so far.
G. Johnson
Tape Simulation Perfection
Absolute legend of a Plugin!
I can use this in so many contexts, it has the ability to add that gentle crisp sheen to the top frequencies (in my case to match that 70s vinyl prog rock vibe), or to give some subtle drive to guitars / keys.
Across all tracks and the master buss you get a superb "glue" to the entire mix.