In the world of digital audio, where pristine clarity reigns, there’s often a desire to add some warmth, character, and that special “soul” inherent in analog equipment. This is where the TS-1 from Samsara Cycle Audio comes in – a free VST plugin designed to emulate the sound of a master tape and add unique filtering to your tracks. This plugin is a real find for musicians and producers who want to give their sound a vintage touch without complex settings and high costs.
What is TS-1?
TS-1 is not just another plugin; it’s a character-adding tool. It combines tape saturation emulation with an original phase filter, which Samsara Cycle Audio calls “Axis Control”. This combination allows you to not only get pleasant harmonic distortion and slight compression, typical of recording on magnetic tape, but also to shape the timbre using a unique filter.
Tape emulation adds density to the sound, smooths out peaks, makes it more “sticky” and musical. It works great on individual instruments, as well as on the entire mix bus or even the master bus, simulating the final recording on tape, which was popular in studios decades ago.
Key features of the TS-1 plugin
The TS-1 plugin has an intuitive interface with a set of key controls that allow you to precisely adjust the desired effect:
- Input Adjust Level Control: Adjusts the input signal level being processed. A higher input level leads to more saturation and compression, simulating the “load” of the tape. Experiment with this parameter to find the perfect “break” point for your sound.
- Saturation Level Control: Directly controls the intensity of the tape saturation. From a barely noticeable warm tint to a clearly expressed harmonic saturation – this control is the heart of tape emulation in TS-1.
- Bass Compensation Control: Allows you to compensate or emphasize low frequencies. Tape can react differently to bass depending on the recording speed and tape type, and this control allows you to adapt this characteristic to your mix. Useful for controlling the “loudness” of the bass after adding saturation.
- Axis Control (Phase Axis Filter): This is a unique filter that works on the basis of phase relationships. It allows you to interestingly shape mid and high frequencies, adding a kind of “sparkle” or, conversely, making the sound softer and more “vintage”. Its influence is less obvious than that of standard EQs and requires experimentation, but can give very interesting results.
- Output Level Control: Controls the overall level of the output signal after processing. It is important to use this control to level the volume before and after processing with the plugin to objectively assess the impact of TS-1 on your sound.
Additional features for convenience
In addition to the main controls, TS-1 offers features that greatly simplify work:
- 64 Patch Spaces: The ability to save and quickly recall up to 64 presets (settings). This is extremely convenient for saving your favorite sounds for different instruments or mixes and quickly comparing different processing options.
- Midi Learn: The MIDI Learn function allows you to easily assign any plugin parameter to your MIDI keyboard controller or other device. This opens up the possibilities for parameter automation and controlling them in real time during recording or performance.
How to use TS-1 in your projects?
TS-1 is a versatile tool that can be used in various scenarios:
Use it on individual tracks:
- On drums (especially on the kick drum and snare drum) to add punch and saturation.
- On bass to make it denser and more readable in the mix.
- On vocals to add warmth and presence, smooth out the dynamic range.
- On guitars (both clean and overdriven) to give them an analog tint and character.
- On synthesizers and electronic instruments to “warm up” their digital sound.
Apply on buses and master bus:
- On the drum or bass bus to “glue” them together and add overall density.
- On the master bus to simulate the final recording on tape, adding overall warmth, slight compression, and that same vintage “glue” to the mix, which makes the mix more complete and musical.
Why should you try TS-1?
TS-1 from Samsara Cycle Audio is a great way to get access to vintage tape sound and unique filtering for free. It is easy to use, but offers enough control for fine-tuning the sound. The ability to save presets and MIDI Learn make it a convenient tool for any DAW on Windows (32-bit VST). If you are looking for a way to add warmth, character, and originality to your digital recordings, TS-1 is definitely worth your attention.
Download TS-1 today and discover the possibilities of tape saturation and unique filtering in your music projects!
