When most of us think of a professional studio, we often conjure up images of Neve 80 Series or SSL 4000/9000 Series consoles and a Studer A800 tape machine. Then we look at our humble DAW-based setup and feel a bit inadequate. After all, how can we — with our modest collection of gear — create the larger-than-life, analog-flavored sound associated with the big studios? Small-scale hybrid setups (a DAW with analog outboard and summing) can achieve this, but they’re unwieldy and can cost a bundle. And what if you simply like to work in the box? That’s where saturation plug-ins come in. You’d be surprised at how much analog flavor you can inject into a mix with a few well-placed virtual processors. And they’re a whole lot cheaper than a $1,500 analog summing box (not to mention a $100,000 console).

Duplicating a Hybrid Studio Workflow
Many large-scale analog-based studios that still track to tape use DAWs for editing and processing. Their workflow is like this: track to tape, bounce the tape recording into their DAW, run their tracks through an analog console, then capture the final mix on an analog 2-track tape machine. This hybrid workflow gives them the best of both worlds — analog sound with digital convenience. So how can you duplicate this in the box? Here’s how.

Audio Tracks

Start by placing a multitrack tape emulation plug-in on the first insert of each track. This simulates capturing audio from an analog tape machine into your DAW.
Place a console channel emulation plug-in on the last insert of every track. This simulates routing your tracks from your DAW through an analog console.*
Place your other plug-ins between the tape emulation and console emulation.
*If you want to simulate console preamp coloration, place the channel emulation plug-in on the first insert on the track and a console bus emulation plug-in on the last insert.

Group/Aux Buses
Place a console bus emulation plug-in on the first insert of the Return input. This simulates routing an Aux Return from an analog console back to your DAW.
Place your other plug-ins after the console bus emulation.
Master Bus
Place a console bus emulation plug-in on the first insert. This simulates routing a stereo return from an analog console back to your DAW.
Place a 2-track master tape emulation plug-in on the last insert. This simulates mixing down to a stereo analog tape deck.
Place your master bus plug-ins between the console bus emulation and master tape emulation.*
*Except master bus limiters and analyzers — place those after the master tape emulation to avoid digital clipping.

Some Useful Tips
While saturation effects can be subtle, you’re going to be strapping it across every track of your mix — cumulative effects are obvious. Be conservative and choose wisely.
Pushing a console or tape model into obvious distortion is a great way to hear its unique characteristics. You can always back off the saturation once you choose the one that you like the best.
While we’re on the topic of saturation — using an emulation to get a little warmth and color is cool, but if you push every track into audible distortion, you’ll end up with a muddy mess.
Automate your emulation’s input level to compensate for loud musical passages. This ensures that beautiful saturation doesn’t turn into full-on distortion when the music gets loud.
Before going all out with tape emulations, listen and experiment with how tape speed, formula, bias, wow and flutter, etc., affect your final sound.

Popular Tape Emulation Plug-ins

Slate VTM Virtual Tape Machines
Slate’s VTM Virtual Tape Machines includes both multitrack and 2-track emulations that are sure to infuse your projects with warm, punchy analog tape mojo. This plug-in supplies control over tape speed, wow and flutter, bias settings, and more.

Waves Abbey Road Studios J37

Placing the Waves J37 Tape Saturation on your 2-bus provides your recordings with the delectable analog warmth that graced many classic recordings. This plug-in includes controls for tape speed, bias, and tape delay, as well as a choice of three EMI oxide tape formulas.

Softube Tape

Enjoy emulations of three different tape machines with Softube Tape. It’s a breeze to use; but if you really want to dig in, then tape speed, machine stability, crosstalk, and more are fully adjustable. This plug-in works well on both channels and master buses and includes celebrity-made presets to get you started.

Universal Audio Magnetic Tape Bundle

If you’re part of the UAD ecosystem, their Magnetic Tape Bundle includes spot-on models of the Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder and Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder — everything you need to achieve a true-to-life analog-sounding recording.

Popular Console Emulation Plug-ins

Slate Digital VCC Virtual Console Collection
Slate’s VCC Virtual Console Collection gives you meticulous re-creations of six of the world’s top analog consoles, with both channel and bus emulations. This plug-in is a popular choice for adding imaging, depth, and life to your tracks.

Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer

If you want to give your projects that mixed-on-a-console sound, Waves’ NLS Non-Linear Summer is a great choice. It captures the sound of three legendary consoles, adding warmth, depth, and dimension to your DAW. Both channel and bus emulations are included.

In Conclusion

Reality check: saturation plug-ins won’t make your laptop sound like Abbey Road Studios. But they can inject life into your digital mixes and will allow you to duplicate a tried-and-true workflow that’s used by a large number of pro studios. That said, the method described above is only one way to use these plug-ins. Don’t be afraid to experiment! When it comes to audio, there’s more than one way to do everything. At the end of the day, if it sounds good, then you did it right! No matter how you use them, you’ll love what saturation plug-ins do for your mixes.

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