IK Multimedia has launched the T-RackS Tascam Tape Collection of plug-ins for mixing and mastering.
‘Since the onset of digital recording, musicians and engineers have been wanting an easy, seamless way to introduce the unique tonal characteristics of analogue sound into the contemporary DAW environment,’ observes IK Multimedia Chief Technology Officer, Davide Barbi. ‘Our new T-RackS Tascam Tape Collection does just that – with the accuracy, warmth, and subtle idiosyncrasies that made analogue so special to begin with. Together with Tascam, we have created a special set of tools that, I believe, have the ability to inject a new level of authenticity and vibrancy into a wide range of music and other recording efforts.’
The T-RackS Tascam Tape Collection draws upon the strengths of four meticulously restored Tascam analogue recorders, recognised for their tone and other character. Developed using IK’s modelling technology and in collaboration with Tascam, the result of this coordinated effort allows musicians to add the warmth and classic characteristics of some of the finest analogue recorders into digital recordings.
The Tascam Tape Collection offers four analogue tape machines. The TEAC A-6100 MkII, was an upgraded version of the original mastering recorder released in 1973 and still sought-after today for adding tape warmth and colour to recordings. The TEAC A-3340S was released in the early 1970s, and is the deck behind many famous song demos, and even whole albums made by some of the most influential rock bands ever. The Tascam 388 appeared in 1985, and combines 8-channel mixing facilities with an 8-track tape machine – hugely successful, and still commanding high prices today, the 388 is revered for its warm and evocative sound. The cassette-tape-based Tascam Porta One Ministudio from 1984 was Tascam’s best-selling Portastudio, and remains popular for creating ‘lo-fi’ sounds, creative experiments and even in live performance.
From the onset of the project, IK Multimedia and Tascam agreed that the goal was to create authentic TEAC and Tascam tape tones. To this end, Tascam selected the specific unit of each model, each rebuilt and meticulously calibrated. For greater accuracy, Tascam provided information on original analogue tape biasing.
Each tape machine module offers common controls such as input and output levels, selectable input and reproduction audio paths, and a selection of recommended and classic tape formulations. A physically modelled alignment section lets users go beyond the regular audio alignment of the machines to experiment with the effect of different bias levels, recording levels to tape, and recording and playback EQs.
Additionally, IK has included two popular features from IK’s Tape Machine collection. The Transport Modeling function accurately reproduces the small inaccuracies of the tape position in front of the head for incredible life-like performance, while True Stereo operation provides a perfect recreation of the stereo image effect produced by subtle differences that inevitably exist between the left and right channels on an analogue machine.
The T-RackS Tascam Tape Collection offers two ways to work: as a stand-alone AAX, VST2/3 and Audio Units plug-in, or inside the T-RackS 5 shell.
The T-RackS Tascam Tape Collection is available for purchase from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK worldwide at US$/€199.99. The four included individual Tascam tape machines can also be purchased separately for US$/€99.99.
More: www.tascam.com
