Harrison Audio has introduced a classic analog tape saturation plugin designed to emulate the sound of 2-track reel-to-reel tape machines.
The Harrison Tape Saturator is faithfully modeled on classic machines of the golden era of recording, imparting the unmistakable character of analog tape – from subtle warmth and cohesion, to rich saturation, and everything in between.
Its warm, analogue tone is at the heart of Harrison’s unique sonic character, working in harmony with the transformer balanced mic pres, and super-smooth sound of the 32Classic console – which was typically found in studios of that era.
Tape Saturator enhances any audio signal with layers of even and odd order harmonics, thickening the low end, smoothing out the top, and gently taming the transients. It also introduces subtle, natural tape style compression that can make a mix more cohesive. Whether the goal is to add analog-style color and punch to a drum kit, soften the top end of guitars, or tighten up an entire mix, Tape Saturator delivers authentic character where it is needed most.
Tape Saturator features
- Input & Output Gain & Meters: Dedicated input and output gain controls, along with clear metering, let you easily see how hard you’re driving the Tape Saturator and monitor your final output level.
- Fidelity Selector: Choose from five tape grades, with “Best” offering the highest headroom and widest bandwidth with minimal distortion. Lower the selector to introduce more character and step into authentic lo fi analog territory.
- Speed Selector: Switch between multiple tape speeds, from 60 ips for the highest quality, studio grade performance, all the way down to 1 7/8 ips, like classic consumer cassette machines.
- Drive: Increase the Drive knob to intensify the tape saturation, adding warmth, grit, and analog-style color to your source.
- Flutter: Introduce subtle to extreme variations in tape speed, creating slight pitch fluctuations that authentically replicate the natural mechanical inconsistencies of real tape machines.
- Dropouts: Emulate the artifacts of worn or damaged magnetic tape that momentarily lose contact with the tape heads. This control adjusts both the frequency and intensity of those dropout events.
- Hiss: A classic byproduct of recording to tape, created by the magnetic particles and the mechanical nature of the machine. Add as much or as little hiss as you like to dial in the perfect amount of vintage charm on your tracks.
- Presets: Save time by choosing from curated preset sounds, each designed to emulate classic tape types and instantly add character to your tracks.
Available in VST/VST3, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS, the Harrison Tape Saturator is on sale at the Harrison store and from distributors such as Plugin Boutique and AudioDeluxe for the intro price of $29 USD until March 3rd, 2026 (regular $49 USD).
