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 Ampex ATR-102 UAD plug-in and LUNA Extension provides the final “analog glue” for your music, turning your recordings into records.
The only emulation that’s fully authenticated by the Ampex Corporation, and trusted by producers and engineers the world over, the Ampex ATR-102 puts the colorful saturation, warmth, and harmonics of this industry-standard tape machine at your command.Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- New! With Auto-Gain, make adjustments to Repro/Record levels while maintaining perfect gain staging
- New! Enjoy enhanced Retina GUI with interactive tape reels and controls true to the original hardware*
- 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
- Experience the entire ATR-102 circuit, including its transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
- Use the LUNA Extension version of ATR-102 to produce with rich, analog tape sound right in LUNA’s mixer
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.*
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.
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.
“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, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z)
“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, Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney)
“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)*Enhanced Retina graphics available for Mac only.Customer Reviews
A. Talun
December 20, 2024
Late to the game
I didn't think that it would make such a difference. It doesn't work on all material, but when it works - man. I read someone writing that it gives this professional polish and that's...
Read MoreD. Kirschbaum
December 18, 2024
Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
This is a really cool plugin, I will add it to the master bus to glue the mix before mastering using different presets depending on the style of the track or song. I recommend this plugin...
Read MoreD. Fernandes
December 6, 2024
A must on my mix bus
This plugin is great! It adds that final 5% that my mixes needs to take it to the next level Highly recommended
Read MoreM. Kulev
December 5, 2024
Ampex ATR-102
The best Ampex ATR-102 emulation to give the ultimate analog "glue" that will turn your work to perfection.
Read MoreS. Cohen
December 5, 2024
Vintage sound
Still learning how to use this device... looking for a way to bring out a bit of saturtion without changing the character of the kick and low end... the potential is there, need to keep...
Read Moree. tanaka
November 26, 2024
The magic touch for the master bus!
The best tool on the master, simply the best tape emulation to give the final touch.
Read More -
Customer Reviews
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
A. Talun
Late to the game
I didn't think that it would make such a difference. It doesn't work on all material, but when it works - man. I read someone writing that it gives this professional polish and that's true. It won't fix your mix, but it would make it sound more like finished record. It sounds great bot on master and on busses. Highly recommended.
D. Kirschbaum
Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
This is a really cool plugin, I will add it to the master bus to glue the mix before mastering using different presets depending on the style of the track or song. I recommend this plugin to anyone who wants to achieve a professional sound.
D. Fernandes
A must on my mix bus
This plugin is great! It adds that final 5% that my mixes needs to take it to the next level
Highly recommendedM. Kulev
Ampex ATR-102
The best Ampex ATR-102 emulation to give the ultimate analog "glue" that will turn your work to perfection.
S. Cohen
Vintage sound
Still learning how to use this device... looking for a way to bring out a bit of saturtion without changing the character of the kick and low end... the potential is there, need to keep exploring.
e. tanaka
The magic touch for the master bus!
The best tool on the master, simply the best tape emulation to give the final touch.
L. Predator
Ampex ATR-102
Não fico mais sem o Ampex ATR-102 no master! É otimo para as tracks individuais também! Parabéns UAD!
P. Lobos
Useful tool to enhance a mix
Although this plugin cannot save a bad mix, it can help you add that crucial 5-10% that makes the difference between a good mix and a truly interesting one. It has now become one of my go-to plugins on my mix bus.
R. Anza
Excelent Piece of gear
I've been using it for a while and I can say that this is like magic. Everything sounds X3 better than before.
J. Eggert
I didn’t get it .. until I tried it
Everyone was praising this plugin everywhere and I didn’t understand how it could be all that people were talking about. Then I tried it and played around for about 1h until I got it and now it’s on all my mixes. Just that glue and not surgical (in a good way). It would be great to have a “view” where it was easier to navigate (don’t need to look like they actual hardware)
D. Roberts
Ampex tape machine
I've got a few tape emulations this one adds the magic I like , I'm not a pro audio engineer but this seems to add the weight and depth that people rave about,makes my mixes sound better which is good enough for me.
R. Patricio
Best Plugin ever!!!
This is pure magic! Love it!
B. Teeter
Skimped on the native version
Great plugin. I was excited when the native version came out, only to realize it’s not quite the same plugin. No tape delay or controls for amount of crosstalk, wow and flutter. Plus you can’t copy presets from the non-native version to the native version. And they don’t have the same preset library! UAD-2 DSP version is superior, unfortunately. Come on UAD….
I. Inkilä
A must have
The Ampex ATR-102 -plugin was the missing link that set my mixes and masters on par with all my favourite records. It’s currently my favourite tool and a definitive must have 6/5.
O. Okoke
Best Tape Emulation in the Market
Best Tape Emulation in the Market, Great on the Master Buss
s. ayton
ok as
nice as an EQ/Compressor effect but wouldn't pay more than a few dollars for it. It can mess up your dynamics and nice clean recording which is good or bad depending on how old you are haha. I'm personally so glad to not have to suffer tape machines anymore these days having been recording since the 70's and owned and repaired a dozen machines from 1/8", 1/4", 1/2", 1". 2" as engineer and service tech so know them inside out literally. I use this for it's texture. I just wish the interface was clean with faders instead of graphics. I'm trying to make things sound good and could not give a toss what the plugin looks like. I need minimum fuss and memory/DSP usage.
A. Navarro
Tape por defecto en MIX BUS
desde que la compré ha sido por defecto mi tape en la ultima cadena de mezcla y master . Magnífica
S. Hopkins
Amoex Atr 102
Great but of kit added to my master chain, just what I was looking for.
G. Freimanis
You ask, I answer
Another color that was not in my plugin forest before.
D. Pintaldi
Strategic Weapon
As I used a real one in 80s , I love the sound of tapes and all their nuances .
This plugin , very close to original one is helpful to change the nuance, harmonics, dynamics and EQs of the programs or instruments in very special way. Be careful ! !t’s addictive ;).
