Waves Abbey Road J37 Tape

Waves Abbey Road J37 Tape - Tape Emulation Plugin | Recreate the Legendary Beatles Sound, Infuse the Warm Soul of Classic Analog Tape

The Waves Abbey Road J37 Tape is a meticulously crafted tape emulation plugin that is more than just a tool—it's a faithful recreation of a piece of audio history. This plugin perfectly models the legendary Studer J37 four-track tape machine from Abbey Road Studios—the very machine used by countless iconic bands like The Beatles and Pink Floyd to shape the sound of their classic albums. The unique warm harmonic distortion and saturation of tape were the secret weapons that made records from that golden era sound so vivid and full of life. Now, with the J37, you can inject that magic into your own digital music productions.

Whether on vocals, drums, synths, or the entire mix bus, the J37 adds authentic analog tape saturation. When you compare tracks before and after, you'll immediately feel the sound become warmer, richer in detail, and more cohesive (the so-called "glue" effect). Most importantly, your music will sound more engaging and captivating than ever before. This Abbey Road J37 plugin is the result of a deep collaboration between Waves and Abbey Road Studios, designed to provide modern musicians with the most authentic and comprehensive analog saturation processing available. It is your ultimate solution for achieving that coveted analog texture in a digital environment, suitable for all kinds of mixing and mastering workflows.

Key Features & Applications

The Sound of a Legendary Studio
The J37 is not just an algorithm; it's a digital preservation of a historical treasure from Abbey Road Studios. From the subtle non-linearities of the tube circuitry to the saturation curves of the tape heads, every component has been precisely modeled, putting the iconic sound of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album at your fingertips.

Three Rare EMI Tape Formulas
From the Abbey Road archives, we have recreated three extremely rare original EMI tape formulas. Type 888 takes you back to the lo-fi, rustic feel of the early '60s; Type 811 is the refined sound of the mid-'60s; and Type 815 represents the technological peak of the early '70s, offering both character and minimal coloration. You can choose the perfect tape soul to match your musical style.

Precise Control Over Analog Texture
Part of the charm of the analog world comes from its "imperfections." The J37 gives you complete control over these subtle variations. You can freely adjust Wow (slow pitch drift), Flutter (fast pitch drift), and Hiss (tape noise), allowing you to add a unique vintage flavor or maintain a clean sound—the choice is yours.

Dual Tape Speed Selection
Two classic tape speeds are available. Choose 15 ips (inches per second) for the best high-frequency response and lowest distortion, with a slight low-frequency bump around 100 Hz. Selecting 7.5 ips produces a more pronounced low-end bump around 50 Hz, perfect for processing low-frequency instruments like kick drums and bass.

Versatile Application from Individual Tracks to Mastering
When processing individual tracks, you can use the saturation characteristics to push instruments forward or pull them back in the mix. In mastering, by adjusting the speed, tape type, and bias settings, you can create a wide, open, and highly cohesive stereo image.

Built-in Classic Tape Delay Effect
Before the invention of digital delay, tape machines themselves were the tools for creating warm and lush delay effects. The J37 includes this classic feature, with three modes: Slapback, Feedback, and Ping-Pong stereo delay, all imbued with rich tape coloration.

Technical Specifications (Tech Specs)

• Software Type: Tape Saturation & Delay Plugin
• Modeled After: Abbey Road Studios Studer J37 4-Track Tape Recorder
• Tape Speed Options: 7.5 ips, 15 ips
• Selectable Tape Formulas: 3 exclusive EMI tapes (EMI Tape 888, 811, 815)
• Controllable Parameters: Wow, Flutter, Hiss, Saturation, Bias, Speed, Input Level, Output Level
• Built-in Effects: Tape Delay
• Delay Modes: Slap, Feedback (with Inserts), Ping-Pong
• Channel Modes: Mono, Stereo, Mono-to-Stereo
• Supported Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX Native, AudioSuite
• Sample Rate Support: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
• Delay Time: 1-5000 ms, supports host sync
• Authorization: Waves Central online authorization
• System Requirements (Mac): macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 (Intel & Apple Silicon supported)
• System Requirements (PC): Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11