Tape Echo

Name: Tape Echo
Price: 99 USD
Author: AIR Music Technology

by AIR Music Technology · Delay · Multi-head tape delay

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Tape Echo recreates classic multi-head tape delay machines with selectable playheads, a preamp and a spring reverb.

Motor drift, dropouts and noise add tape behaviour; KVR lists it at $99.

Best for: Vocals, Guitars, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: tape, tape echo, spring, classic, chorus, hardware emulation, vocals, dub, electric guitar, lo-fi, modern, tempo-synced, airy, dirty, mixing, multi-tap, rhythmic, sound design, warm, wide.

What it does

Tape Echo is AIR's recreation of the classic multi-head tape delay, built around what the developer calls an "iconic multi-head echo design". It keeps the drift and wear of real tape but adds modern conveniences such as BPM sync, and it runs on MPC and Force hardware as well as in DAWs.

Multi-head echo: three playheads with selectable head combinations, for single repeats or rhythmic multi-tap patterns.
Joggable playhead: move the delay time in real time for pitch-bending, tape-style sweeps; BPM sync locks it to the tempo while keeping some tape drift.
Preamp: Dirty, Clean and Warm modes set how much colour and drive the input picks up.
Tape behaviour: motor drift, dropouts and tape noise for a worn, unstable machine.
Feedback and tone: feedback for anything from a single slap to runaway repeats, plus tone shaping of the echoes.
Chorus and spring reverb: a built-in chorus with modulation and a spring reverb, as on the classic units.
Stereo and mix: stereo offset to widen the repeats, and a dry/wet control.

KVR lists version 1.0.0.170. Neither page mentions a demo.

Source: AIR Music Technology product page

When to use it

Tape Echo is the practical choice if you work on MPC or Force hardware, since it runs there as well as in a DAW, and it covers Space Echo-style ground at a lower price than the rated tape delays. Compared with Galaxy Tape Echo, it adds a built-in chorus, a choice of preamp modes and the joggable playhead, though it does not claim the same depth of modelling of one specific unit. Against EchoBoy, it has one style rather than dozens and no groove or multi-tap rhythm editor, but it is quicker to dial in for Space Echo-type sounds. Delay TAPE-201 covers similar multi-head and spring reverb ground, but without the MPC support. If you want clean, modern or heavily modulated delays, Timeless 3 or Valhalla Delay suit better.

Best for: dub throws, warm vocal slaps, guitar echoes and spring-reverb textures, on MPC or in a DAW.
Genres: dub, reggae, hip-hop, lo-fi and indie.
Look elsewhere if: you want the most detailed model of one hardware unit (Galaxy Tape Echo) or many echo styles with groove control (EchoBoy).

Where to buy

Best Service: $99
AIR Music Technology: $99 (list price from KVR Audio; airmusictech.com shows prices only in its shop)
PluginFox: $99
AudioDeluxe: $99
Plugin Boutique: $99

Tutorials and reviews

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