Tape DSP — Plugins, Online Tape Machine & Mastering
Tape plugins for your DAW (VST3, AU, LV2). Print through the online Tape Machine. Master a finished mix for streaming.
Tape DSP makes tape plugins for your DAW, an online Tape Machine, and Studio Mastering for streaming-ready masters.
The Tape DSP plugin pack.
Works in any DAW that hosts VST3, Audio Unit, or LV2 — on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
All the plugins are free. An Expansion unlocks the advanced controls on one plugin with a one-time payment. No subscription. Available Expansions: Tape Machine, Tape Compressor, Tape Echo.
Take the mix all the way.
Print through the online Tape Machine, or send a finished mix through automated mastering.
Online Tape Machine
Upload the mix, set tape speed, drive, and character, then export a high-resolution tape print. Compare before you commit: Level-matched A/B lets you hear exactly what the tape path is adding. The same tape engine: Use the same modeled tape path as the plugin, with speed, drive and character controls. Render at full quality: Export a high-resolution final print with extra resolution and format options.
Tape DSP Studio
Automated mastering
Upload the track. Hear it next to the original. Download a WAV aimed at streaming loudness. Upload and compare: Hear the master against the original before you download. Built from the whole song: Balance, punch, width, and level come from the full track, not a preset curve.
Studio Mastering on the homepage
Features
- Tape plugins for your DAW (VST3, AU, and LV2)
- Windows, macOS, and Linux
- One-time Expansions for extra controls
- Physically modeled reel-to-reel analog tone
- Tape speeds, wow & flutter, head bump, and tape compression
- Online Tape Machine — tape print in the browser
- Studio Mastering — streaming-ready masters
Frequently asked questions
What is Tape DSP?
Tape DSP makes tape plugins for your DAW, an online Tape Machine, and Studio Mastering for a streaming-ready bounce. Plugins install as VST3, AU, and LV2.
How much does Tape DSP cost?
All the plugins are free. An Expansion unlocks the advanced controls on one plugin with a one-time payment. No subscription.
Do I have to buy the plugins?
No. The plugins are free to run — the main controls are already there. An Expansion unlocks the extra controls on that plugin.
Do you have a VST/AU plugin?
Yes. The plugin pack installs as VST3, AU, and LV2 for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What is the difference between the plugins and the online Tape Machine?
The plugins run live in your DAW. The online Tape Machine prints the same tape character in the browser when you want an offline render.
What does the Tape DSP Compressor do?
It mixes tape compression with an opto and a FET compressor, chained together in a unique way. You get glue, weight, and controlled dynamics on a track or bus.
What does the Tape DSP Echo do?
Tape DSP Echo is a tape delay: repeats go back through the tape engine so they warm, saturate, and drift. Expansion adds Detune Speed, Tape Comp, Ducking, and extra heads.
Can I use Tape DSP for mastering?
Yes. Use the plugins on the mix bus for analog glue, or open Studio Mastering for a streaming-ready master aimed at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and similar platforms.
What is Studio Mastering?
Studio Mastering is Tape DSP's smart, automated mastering engine. It reads tonal balance, dynamics, and stereo image across the full track, then applies adaptive EQ, dynamics, and loudness so you get an easy, analysis-driven master built for streaming platforms — competitive level and platform-aware delivery specs for Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and similar services. Use it after the tape stage or on its own.
What tape effects does the engine produce?
Tape DSP models the full character of analog tape: magnetic warmth and harmonics, speed-dependent head bump, high-frequency roll-off, gentle tape compression, and a touch of wow & flutter for organic movement. You get vintage and modern tape effects ranging from subtle warmth to heavier lo-fi coloration.
What formats, platforms, and specs does Tape DSP support?
Plugins — VST3, AU, and LV2 for Windows, macOS, and Linux, running in real time in your DAW. Optional online tools accept WAV (16/24/32-bit float) and MP3, and export 32-bit float, 24-bit, or 16-bit WAV with TPDF dither and true-peak awareness.
How does the online engine work?
In Studio you upload a WAV or MP3, choose tape speed, drive, and other settings, then process on our high-resolution DSP engine — with an instant level-matched A/B compare and analyzer readouts for RMS, peak, and LUFS before exporting a 32-bit float, 24-bit, or 16-bit WAV. Studio Mastering follows the same upload-and-compare flow with an automatic, analysis-driven chain instead of tape controls.
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