Waves Kramer Master Tape

Waves Kramer Master Tape - Classic Tape Simulation Plugin | Recreate the Warmth and Saturation of Rock's Golden Age

Early analog tape was more than just a recording medium; it was the sonic signature of rock and roll. From Jimi Hendrix to Led Zeppelin, countless legendary recording engineers pushed analog tape to its limits, creating unique tape compression and saturation that gave music unparalleled power and cohesion. To this day, those early 1/4-inch reel-to-reel tape machines with their tube circuits remain the holy grail of recording studios, but their rarity and high maintenance costs make them inaccessible for most. Now, Waves has partnered with legendary producer Eddie Kramer to bring the soul of this classic machine into the digital world with the Kramer Master Tape plugin.

This plugin is more than a simple emulation; it deeply captures every detail of the original hardware, from the physical properties of the tape to the warm coloration of the tube circuitry. Whether you want to add vintage texture to individual tracks or perform mastering on your bus, Kramer Master Tape can inject a true analog soul into your digital audio. It's a powerful analog tape simulation tool that gives you precise control over audio saturation, allowing you to recreate the sound of the golden age that birthed countless classic albums. With it, you not only get a warm, punchy sound but also experience the musicality and creativity of an analog workflow.

Core Features & Applications

The Digital Incarnation of a Legendary Sound
Kramer Master Tape meticulously models the classic reel-to-reel signal chain used at Olympic Studios for recordings by superstars like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones. Now, you can easily achieve the legendary tone that defined an era, right in your own DAW.

The Dual Charm of Tape and Tubes
This is a dual-function plugin. It models the harmonic distortion and preamp saturation of the tubes separately from the compression and distortion characteristics of the tape. This means you not only get the full tape simulation effect but can also use it as a high-quality tube saturator to add warmth and rich harmonic detail to your tracks.

Infinite Possibilities with Flux Control
The unique Flux control is the core of your tone shaping. It simultaneously adjusts tape saturation, compression, and the amount of harmonic distortion. Turn it clockwise for an aggressive, gritty punch; turn it counter-clockwise for a cleaner, more subtle sound with just a hint of tape and tube coloration.

More Than an Emulation, a Powerful Saturation Tool
Although primarily designed for tape simulation, the Kramer Master Tape excels as an audio saturation processor. Use it to make a bass stand out in the mix, clip a drum bus for added punch, or add pleasant overdrive to keyboards for musically rich results.

Built-in Classic Tape Delay Effect
The plugin includes a fully functional tape delay module, offering up to 500ms of delay time with Feedback and Low-Pass Filter controls. It's perfect for creating slapback echo on vocals or rhythm guitars, adding hardcore dub effects to drums, or giving space and atmosphere to keyboards and string pads.

Recreate the Complete Classic Signal Chain
For the ultimate vintage tone, you can combine the Kramer Master Tape with the Kramer HLS Channel and Kramer PIE Compressor plugins to fully recreate the complete Olympic Studios signal chain—from preamp and compression to reel-to-reel recording—giving your productions an impeccable classic rock pedigree.

Tech Specs

• Plugin Type: Analog Tape Simulator, Saturator, Delay
• Collaboration: Eddie Kramer
• Modeled After: Classic 1/4-inch reel-to-reel machine & new 3M Scotch 207 tape
• Main Controls: Tape Speed (7.5/15 IPS), Bias, Flux, Wow & Flutter, Record Level, Playback Level, Link I/O, Noise
• Delay Controls: Delay Time (ms), Feedback (0-100), Low-Pass Filter (LPF), Delay Level (Wet/Dry)
• Channel Modes: Mono-to-Mono, Mono-to-Stereo, Stereo
• Latency: 0 ms (Zero Latency)
• Max Resolution: 24-bit / 192 kHz
• Supported Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
• Plugin Formats: VST3, AU, AAX Native
• Compatibility: Compatible with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Ableton Live, Studio One, etc.
• Authorization: Online activation via Waves Central or offline authorization to a USB flash drive