
Its four EQ bands are overlapped significantly to aid in dual roles as problem solver and sweetening device with each band offering seven switchable filter frequencies that span four-to-five octaves.

Rather than offer a huge assortment of complex features, the API 550b provides exactly the right number of controls. The API 550B is unlike any other equalizer. On the first, the input signal is sent in at the normal level, on +3 and +5 the signal is driven further to amplify the sound and hence provides a more noticeable effect.The delay time on the plugin can either be kept in sync to have unison between the left and right channel or you can displace the same by hand to create a wider stereo image. The noise knob simply produces a white noise to depict the classic tape effect and the saturation control, allows for how much saturation you would like to apply on the overall sound.The bias section has three options, nom, + 3 and + 5.


The wow and flutter settings make for a brilliant addition especially on sounds like guitars, strings and pads to create an organic tremolo effect. 7.5 used sparsely on low toms, claps, snares and other percussive or low/ low mid material gives the desired effect.Since tape by its very nature applies a gradual cut on the extreme highs and on the lows, placing the same after a delay in a chain can sometimes lead to a more closed off sound, which may or may not be what you desire. From right to left, the 815 is an emulation of tape from a more recent time frame while the 811 and 888 are based on more classic tape types.ĭriving the input control further on the plugin will start to give you a more saturated sound which can be a great tool for gluing your drums together, the output/input link option allows you to have the desired effect without driving the overall volume up and acts as a makeup gain knob would on a compressor.Whilst the tape speed on 7.5 I.P.S(Inches Per Second) brings out the low end in the overall sound, 15 I.P.S brings out the highs more distinctly and is what I’d generally go to for taming hats, shakers and other percussions in the region.

The J 37 is a tape emulation/ saturation plugin with three different types of tape, the 815 formula gives you a replication of the sound which is closer to the original sound yet provides for the sonic warmth you’d expect from tape, going down to the 811 and the 888 formulas you get a more distorted colouring of the sound. The choices at bay are almost limitless and hence we’ve compiled our five most essential plugins to help you navigate through the maze. The Waves Audio plugins bundle, offers an almost intimidating amount of compressors, saturators, tape emulations, equalisers, and pretty much every audio processing device, with surgical precision.
