Tape Emulator Shootout - UA Studer A800, Zulu 500, Make Believe Mixhead, Overloud Tapedesk 

you da man! I appreciate your videos!

Facts

In my opinion it's a plugin that either works really well, or really doesn't, depending on the exact source. Kinda like in the drum section, I didn't really dig it on the drums in this case, but as soon as I slapped it on the guitar I loved it.

Also it’s interesting to see mix head in this because it doesn’t sound like tape while the others are definitely trying to emulate tape but that’s the quirky thing about that box!

Not mention “mixfx” functionality

Criminally underrated.

There's a lot of plugins and hardware out there to choose from, I just picked some of the ones that were of interest to me... and not even all of them because the video is already 30min. I left out Cranesong Phoenix which is a classic as well.

@@coldskoolbeatzfor real. I have that as well as the many usuals and a Zulu desktop and Satin is cool sometimes in what it does to low end slightly breaking up. Found myself using it in tracking keys with big pads pushing to the edge of breakup with a pillowy sort vibe. Something I found satin did very well compared to others was it’s kind of breakup wasn’t advertising the function like others do. It saturates like tape is supposed to but doesn’t have this like no saturation to too much even low point. Very natural

​​@@nikdrownIf you had to pick between the Zulu and Satin for your sole tape emulator, which would you go with?

The only real difference is that the Master fader volume is pre-insert whereas a submix aux would have a post fader output. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. I typically use an aux, but that's just what I'm used to.

@@WeissAdvice Thank you for the reply. . I also tend to use an aux most of the time due to the pre fader inserts.

I'd bring this early on if not from the very beginning of the mix - just like an actual tape layback. Although in this case I didn't, oddly enough.

@@WeissAdvice even the Mixhead?

the crane song you're seeing is an Avocet II which is a monitor controller, not signal processor.

Matt's technique of pushing highs into the mixdown deck actually has it's roots in the old school days of mixing to 1/4" tape. You'd often see console EQ on the channels boosted heavily to get as much treble onto tape, so it could counteract the expected 14khz roll off that analog tape was known for! It created some amazing top end clarity opportunities that we had to add to Zulu's DNA. Personally I love what tape does to bottom end.

I generally use tape emulators in two contexts - sound design, and sweetener. For sweeteners I'm typically placing it on a bus, unless I'm trying to tame down harshness. For sound design, on the individual channel.

Remember it’s emulating a digital tape emulator… so it’s not going to necessarily have the “expected” tone qualities, which is part of why I picked it for this

Dude…..Zulu is so deserving of being experimented with. I highly suggest trying it in whatever platform and try different pres going in and out. It’s loaded with unique vibe and just nothing else like it. Dimensionality on top of tracking with it different flavors of tape formula can do some crazy cumulative effects you’ll find by the end of tracking this weight on your RMS levels getting close to mastering point without losing the dynamic.

@@nikdrown yeah. For sure. I absolutely liked it, I just didn’t like the design. I don’t have tons of room so I’d have to pull it off the shelf and run XLR to 1/4 cables into the patch bay. So I would mainly use it on a full mix or a bus. The 500 ones look awesome though. I have a couple slots open so it would be a much smoother and used piece of gear compared to the desktop unit imo.

Come back to Zulukanda. Enjoy the warmth. We have some of the best mouser pads in the industry!

@@langstonmasingale3365 I was just looking at the 500 modules. Are they available still? The link sent me to a Reverb page that said sold out.

​@davidasher22 we will be on sale on the 4th of July! Keep your eyes and coins ready!