Delay is one of the fundamental effects in audio processing, especially in music production. It adds space, depth, and movement to the audio signal, simulating an echo or repeating a sound after a certain period of time. There are many types of delays: digital, analog, and also imitations of old mechanisms such as tape and disk delays.
Tape delays hold a special place among them. They are known for their unique, warm, and organic sound. Instead of a digital buffer or analog circuits, they use magnetic tape to record and play back the signal. The inherent characteristics of the tape – uneven speed, saturation at high signal levels, high-frequency hiss, and natural decay (degradation) of repeats – give the sound a unique vintage charm and character.
Tape delays were key elements in shaping the sound of many genres, from dub and reggae to psychedelic rock, ambient, and electronic music. They added “liveliness” to instruments, created hypnotic loops, and experimental soundscapes. The feedback effect in tape delays can often lead to self-oscillation and the generation of interesting textures, which is a desired artifact for many producers.
Introducing Interruptor Tape delay: A Tape Delay with Soul
Among the multitude of modern software imitations of tape delays, the Tape delay plugin from the developer Interruptor occupies a special place. This plugin is not a completely new development; it is taken from the famous VST instrument DUB SIREN, which specializes in sounds and effects characteristic of the dub genre. Separating the delay section into a separate plugin makes this valuable effect available for use with any sound source in your digital audio workstation (DAW).
Interruptor Tape delay is designed with an emphasis on reproducing the key features of vintage tape effects. Its interface is simple and intuitive, imitating the panel of classic equipment with control knobs, which allows you to quickly immerse yourself in the process of creating sound. The plugin offers flexible settings that allow you to get a clean delay and experiment with the characteristic “artifacts” of the tape.
Key features of the plugin:
- Careful imitation of tape delay from DUB SIREN.
- High-quality sound that conveys the warmth and saturation of the tape.
- High-pass and low-pass filters in the feedback chain.
- Adjustable simulation of tape hiss.
- Full MIDI control of all parameters.
More about the features:
The presence of filters in the feedback chain is an extremely important function for shaping the character of the delay. The high-pass filter allows you to make the repeats more dull and less intense at high frequencies, which is typical for tape delays due to the natural decay of the high-frequency spectrum when the signal passes through the tape and heads repeatedly. The low-pass filter allows you to remove excess “booming” or low-frequency hum, making the delay cleaner or, conversely, adding a characteristic “muddiness” to it. By combining these filters, you can achieve a wide range of repeat textures, from bright and clear to dark and mysterious.
The simulation of tape hiss is, it would seem, a minor detail, but it is this that adds significant authenticity to the sound. In real tape machines, tape hiss is a natural background noise. The Interruptor Tape delay plugin allows you to adjust the level of this noise, which is especially useful when using long or infinite delays with a significant amount of feedback. This helps to simulate the behavior of real tape, where the hiss becomes more noticeable as the signal passes through the heads repeatedly, saturating the tape.
Full MIDI control makes this plugin a great tool not only for static processing, but also for dynamic work during performance or automation. The ability to link any parameter – delay time, feedback, mix level, filter or hiss settings – to a MIDI controller opens up wide possibilities for creating effects in real time. You can “play” on the delay like an instrument, creating increasing feedbacks, rhythmic pulsations, or changing the character of the repeats right during mixing or recording. The MIDI CC controller numbers are conveniently indicated right on the interface next to the corresponding knobs.
Although the plugin is based on the delay section of the dub instrument, its application is not limited to dub only. Interruptor Tape delay is perfect for processing vocals, guitars, synthesizers, drums, and any other instruments that need to add warmth, vintage character, and interesting spatial effects. From light sweetening and creating a sense of depth to extreme self-oscillating loops and experimental sound design – this plugin is a versatile tool for creativity.
Who is this plugin for?
Interruptor Tape delay will be interesting for:
- Musicians and producers who want to get an authentic tape delay sound.
- Fans of dub music and reggae who want to reproduce classic effects.
- Sound designers and sound experimenters.
- Anyone looking for a high-quality and functional delay plugin with a unique character.
The plugin is available in VST format for the Windows operating system (Win32), making it compatible with most popular DAWs on this platform.
Try Interruptor Tape delay to add depth, character, and a unique vintage charm to your musical creations. Its ease of use combined with flexible sound shaping capabilities makes it a valuable addition to the arsenal of any sound engineer or musician.
