Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder
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The rich analog sound of the world’s most popular multichannel tape machine.
For more than 30 years, artists and engineers alike have been drawn to the warm analog sound, solid low-end, and overall presence of the Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder. The sheer number of albums recorded on this legendary 2” analog tape machine — including classics from Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, A Tribe Called Quest, and Jeff Buckley — serve as shining examples of the musicality of analog tape.
Fully authenticated by Studer, and modeled by UA’s world‑renowned team of DSP engineers and magnetic recording expert Jay McKnight, the Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder plug-in is the first product of its kind. By faithfully modeling the entire circuit path of the famous A800 machine from Allen Sides' collection at Ocean Way Studios, this is the most accurate representation of multitrack analog tape recording available.
Track and mix with the complete Studer A800 electronic signal paths, including Input, Sync and Repro paths
Add warmth, presence, cohesion, and low-end punch that only genuine tape can provide
Create complex analog textures with the distinct sounds of multiple tape formulas
Use the Studer A800 LUNA Extension to easily add warmth to your entire mix on a per channel basis
Ways to Buy
Buy for your Apollo interface/UAD hardware or get with UAD Spark on subscription.
Buy for Apollo and UAD- •Buy once — no subscription required
- •Runs in realtime with Apollo on Mac and Windows
- •UAD Spark native version included
- •Requires Apollo or UAD hardware
Get with UAD Spark3 Months for 99¢- •Subscribe and save
- •Runs natively on Mac and Windows
- •An evolving collection of UAD plug-ins & instruments
- •No UA hardware required
TAKE A LISTEN
LUNA Extension — Integrated Multitrack Tape
With LUNA Recording System, you can use the Studer A800 as a LUNA Extension, and easily get tape character on every audio and instrument track, intuitively tweaking settings across all channels. As you build up your mix, you'll hear the cumulative "cohesive" effect of mixing from magnetic tape. Far beyond a simple tape plug-in, the Studer LUNA Extension is woven into the fabric of LUNA's mixer, giving Apollo interface users an analog inspired workflow with bona fide analog sonics to match.
A Groundbreaking Tape Machine
Introduced in 1978, the Studer A800 was the first microprocessor-controlled tape machine. Years ahead of its time, the A800 remains a sonic benchmark, and can still be found in studios worldwide. However, with their massive steel frame and meter bridge, twin half-horsepower motors and cast alloy deck plates, original A800 units tip the scales at a backbreaking 900 pounds. The Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder poses none of the hardware hassles, yet retains all the beautiful sonics that make tape a beloved recording medium.
Capturing the Magic of Tape
Just like magnetic tape, you can dial in a clean sound, or just the right amount of harmonic saturation using the Studer A800's Input and Output controls. The IPS control steps through tape speed choices (7.5, 15, or 30 IPS), each with distinct frequency shift, head bump and distortion characteristics. The tape Type control lets users choose from four of the most popular magnetic tape formulas — each with their own subtle sonic variation. There is also a secondary set of controls like Noise, EQ, and Bias for an even more jaw-dropping palette of tape textures.
Purchase of the Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder includes the UAD plug-in (Mac/Windows), LUNA Extension (Mac only), and UAD Spark (Mac only) versions
Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder plug-in
Demonstration video
“The Studer A800 plug-in is tape in a box. Tracks that are thin and dull become full of life and tone... so creative, and musical. ”
– Darrell Thorp (Beck, Radiohead, Charlotte Gainsbourg)
“No tape emulation has ever achieved this level of... should I say, completeness? I expect to smell the tape when I hit play!”
– Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs)
“The Studer A800 plug-in is the missing link for in-the-box mixing.”
– Ryan West (Eminem, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z)
“I tried the Studer A800 plug-in on drums, guitar and overheads to get a saturated, punchy sound. It sounded great, and it works for me.”
– Michael Brauer (The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, My Morning Jacket)
“I've been really loving the Studer A800 on bass, kick, overheads, horns and strings. It adds a tonal color that is very musical. ”
– Ross Hogarth (Van Halen, Ziggy Marley, Motley Crue)
“The UAD Studer A800 gives my drum bus a raw hard tone with a little distortion — all the while keeping the sound together.”
– Dean Coleman
“All of the songs on the Garbage record, Not Your Kind of People were mixed with the Studer A800 plug‑in on all the drum channels. We also used the Ampex ATR-102 plug-in on the final mix.”
– Billy Bush (Garbage)
“The UAD Studer A800 gives me all the analog goodness, without any of the cross-talk, maintenance issues, alcohol swabs, or tape alignment.”
– Glenn Rosenstein (Ziggy Marley, U2)
“The UAD Studer A800 adds great personality to drums, bass, guitar and vocals.”
– Jeff Balding (Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Florida Georgia Line)Customer Reviews
J. Ay
September 5, 2022
Done the Job
Very handy. I used them on strings. The sound sit on an appropriate balance. Well done.
Read MoreJ. Vanderhorst
August 31, 2022
A Must !!!
I love the way it sounds & integrates with Luna.
Read MoreU. Juhl
August 6, 2022
Good sound
Sound amazing. Can be used in many ways. I use it on 90% of tracks and allways on bus and master.
Read Morej. nieva
August 1, 2022
A must have!
This is the best tape machine plugin I have worked with,it's amazing!It is like use varnish if you use in the mixbus, every source gets its spot instantly,very glued and defined.Great 3D...
Read MoreS. Giampietro
July 27, 2022
Gives a little chime
Brings a little chime in the upper frequencies
Read More -
Key Features
Studer-endorsed, UA modeled emulation of legendary A800 Multitrack Tape Machine
Provides the warm, natural sound and punchy low-end response of 2” analog tape — on Mac and PC
Models complete A800 electronic signal paths, including Input, Sync and Repro paths
Features four of the most popular Tape Formulas and Calibration Levels
Tape saturation and overdrive via easy-to-use Input / Output controls
Provides dead-on magnetic tape sound without the hassles of calibration, maintenance, tape degradation, etc.
IPS Speed/Emphasis Curve chooses between 7.5 NAB, 7.5 CCIR, 15 NAB, 15 CCIR, 30 AES
Gang Controls allows for fast global adjustment of all instances
Run 24+ tracks with a single UAD-2 QUAD DSP Accelerator Package
Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface available from authorized dealers worldwide
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Customer Reviews
Studer® A800 Tape Recorder
J. Ay
Done the Job
Very handy.
I used them on strings.
The sound sit on an appropriate balance.
Well done.J. Vanderhorst
A Must !!!
I love the way it sounds & integrates with Luna.
U. Juhl
Good sound
Sound amazing.
Can be used in many ways. I use it on 90% of tracks and allways on bus and master.j. nieva
A must have!
This is the best tape machine plugin I have worked with,it's amazing!It is like use varnish if you use in the mixbus, every source gets its spot instantly,very glued and defined.Great 3D sounding!
S. Giampietro
Gives a little chime
Brings a little chime in the upper frequencies
c. jinho
fine
this fx has character for my vox channel
G. Slany
Adds Nice Color when overdriven
I like to use it as a sounddesign tool sometimes with extreme settings. The distortion sounds nice and warm.
I still try out what sounds best and how to use it to it's full potential, but i am sure i will use it often and especially for mastering.
Very good sounding tape emulation, i didn't expect it to sound that good.S. Walles
Phat
Phat! Gooey Glue!
C. Gomez
simply amazing
Nothing else to say. Amazing is the word. simple to use, and it gives the sound you want.
h. kim
good. sounds good!
very good i'm happy now
Y. Ziv
Oh mama
Just try it , words are for the air , just try it on everything , on the mix buss, drums!!! , oh common , this is to much , love it .
J. Maffeo
Studer A800 Tape Machine
Really enjoy this plugin, bought it around 2013 for $349!.. and now it's much cheaper.. happy to be able to help jumpstart the audio plugin industry..
M. Bernabel
Best Tape Emulation Plugin in the Digital Domain
This Studer along with the ATR are the kings. Just add the Studer to your individual tracks and watch your mixes start to levitate. OMG
A. Keuter
nice
nice emulation
k. kim
정말 좋아요
최고의 사운드를 제공해준 유니버셜 오디오에 감사드립니다
B. ELLIOT
The Studer A800 is ridiculous!!
This plugin is truly the real deal for that compression that tape would give when you hit it hard! I’m in shock what a cumulative effect has on the over all mix.
Great!!R. Rasiński
Gives life !!!
It adds life and pleasant musicality to soulless virtual instruments.
M. Thielges
oldie but goodie
still a nice tape emulation in 2022 - adds some nice subtle compression and can soften signals and spread them out, making them more pleasant.
R. Visbal
Never Track without it!!!
I record and commit my tracks with the Studer… It just makes everything sound AMAZING!!! Thank You UA for creating this awesome plugin!!!
A. Monov
Studer A800
It's perfect. Better than the original and kind of handling it easy ;-).
