Hi all,

I am currently embarking on the quest for the best tape saturation solution outside of an actual classic multi-track tape machine. (for use with ProTools on a new iMac OSX)

So far I have my options as the following:

1.) Plug-ins (RTAS) - Voxengo VariSaturator, VirSyn VTAPE, DaD Tape, Colortone Pro, Massey Tapehead, PSP Vintage Warmer or URS Saturation plug-in?

2.) Outboard Tape Emulators - Empirical Labs Fatso Jr, Neve 5042 or ATS-1 Analog Tape Simulator?

Have I missed any options?

Any and all help/opinions/experience is VERY much appreciated!

Thanks.

There is also the DIGIDESIGN REEL TAPE SUITE (ANALOG TAPE EMULATION PLUG-INS). More on that here:
http://remixmag.com/gear/new_products/remix_new_products_59/

However, although all of the hardware and software you listed is usable and will give you slightly different sounds which are subjective to judge, DUY DaD Tape and Massey Tapehead plug-ins come highly recommended.

Also, we got a tip on tape saturation from recording engineer Jon Smeltz, who worked on The Roots’ latest album;
“As soon as the [Pro Tools] HD systems came in, I found that the [Digi] 192 converters were much better,” Smeltz recalls, “even though I still find myself pulling a little 1K8 to 3K1 [1.8 kHz to 3.1 kHz] out just a little bit, because it lets the bottom around 400 [Hz] and a little bit of the air at the top wrap around the midrange more. More than any tape-saturation plug-in, I try to get the harmonic structure to wrap around itself. I’m no scientist, but I’m betting that the 1K to 3K range getting punched down happens due to tape compression, and that’s where that ‘tape-saturated’ sound comes from.”

That one’s a freebie! For the complete Roots article, check out the upcoming July ‘08 issue of Remix, and good luck on the tape saturation quest.
-Markkus