Denise has taken the worst elements of tape and put them in a plugin
So bad it’s good?
We’re used to hearing developers big up the sound quality of their plugins, but with Bad Tape, Denise is taking a rather different approach.
Promising to emulate “extreme tape artifacts,” the plugin enables you to create a range of ‘undesirable’ effects.
You can randomly detune pitch to make it sound like the tape is playing at an inconsistent speed; add sequel and noise; emulate the sound of ‘failing’ tape thanks to subtle bitcrushing; and create a tape stop effect that’s similar to what you’d hear if you placed your finger on a tape reel while it was playing.
You can use Bad Tape on all kinds of material, and it’s available now for PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats. The regular price is €48.90, but it’s currently on sale for €14.99. Get down and dirty on the Denise website.
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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.