Universal Audio (UAD) is renowned for its cutting-edge plugins that bring vintage analog warmth and character to modern digital recordings. The UAD Oxide Tape Recorder plugin is no exception, providing users with an authentic tape emulation experience that captures the classic sound of reel-to-reel tape recorders.
In this Oxide Tape Recorder review, we will explore 4 specific categories relating to this plugin: a brief Overview of the plugin, Interface and Controls, Price and Value, and System Requirements and Compatibility. With all that said, let's dive in.
Overview
The UAD Oxide Tape Recorder plugin is a meticulous recreation of a classic reel-to-reel tape recorder, bringing the unmistakable warmth and color of analog tape to digital recordings. This plugin is designed to infuse your audio with the vintage characteristics that have made tape machines coveted tools for generations of audio professionals.
The Oxide Tape Recorder plugin captures the essence of tape saturation, imparting a pleasing harmonic distortion and subtle compression that enhances instruments and vocals alike. The tape emulation subtly rounds off transients, adding a sense of cohesion and a gentle compression effect to your mixes. People often refer to this as "gluing" your mix together, which is something tape is famous for.
Interface and Controls
The Oxide Tape plugin boasts a simple design, offering only a few controls, making it quick and easy to dial in the sound you're looking for. Let's look at each of the parameters you can control:
IPS (Inches per Second): This parameter allows you to choose between 7.5 and 15 IPS Tape Speeds. 7.5 IPS has a bit more of a "lo-fi" sound while 15 IPS sounds a bit cleaner, among other subtle differences.
EQ (Equalization): This parameter allows you to switch between CCIR (European) and NAB (American) standardized EQs, which each have their own sonic character.
NR (Noise Reduction): This parameter allows you to reduce the tape "hiss" and subtle electronic noise typically produced from analog tape machines. While the hiss contributes to the lo-fi analog sound, it isn't always desired so it's helpful to be able to turn it on or off.
Input/Output Gain: The Input dial is the main way you can control the overall amount of tape saturation being applied. Higher input = more tape saturation and vice versa. You can then use the Output knob to match the gain from the original signal.
Input/Repro Paths: Input and Repro are the two monitoring paths you can choose from. Input gives you the sound of the machine electronics only (without magnetic tape), and Repro gives you the complete sonics of the machine electronics with playback of the recorded tape signal.
The video below shows some great examples of how Oxide Tape will affect various audio sources:
Price and Value
As of the writing of this article, the Oxide Tape Recorder plugin is currently listed at $149 (although it is often on sale for less on sites like Plugin Boutique). While this is relatively expensive for a plugin, it's not an uncommon price for UAD plugins, which are renowned for their extremely high quality.
And, as mentioned above, you can take advantage of the frequent sales offered on Plugin Boutique or purchase it as part of a plugin bundle to reduce the cost.
System Requirements and Compatibility
While you used to need UA hardware with DSP abilities to run any UAD plugins, now you are able to download UAD plugins natively and run them using whatever hardware you have. So, your Oxide Tape purchase comes with a UAD Native version (runs on your Mac or PC without any UA hardware) and an Apollo Realtime & UAD-2 version (runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD-2 hardware).
This plugin will also work in any major DAW and has the following system requirements:
macOS 10.15 Catalina, 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura
Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit only Editions)
Intel, AMD, or Apple silicon processor
Internet connection to download software and authorize UADx plug-ins
Free iLok account with iLok Cloud or iLok USB (2nd generation or higher)
Oxide Tape Recorder Review: Conclusion
The UAD Oxide Tape Recorder plugin is a powerful tool that transports users to the world of vintage tape machines, offering warm saturation, harmonic richness, and the allure of analog magic. Once you try it out for yourself, this plugin's versatility and authenticity will make it an indispensable addition to your audio arsenal.
Even with many tape emulation plugins out there, the Oxide Tape Recorder from Universal Audio remains a top choice for those seeking to add the coveted analog tape warmth to their digital audio projects.
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