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.Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- 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
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.
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, Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney)
“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
E. George
January 30, 2024
Classy
I spent a long time waiting for the Native versions of this plug in. I’m glad it has finally arrived. It’s such a joy to use. Gets you to the tape sound you’ve...
Read MoreO. Hoady
January 25, 2024
Tried & True Classic Nailed on the Head!
If you know what an actual multi track reel to reel sounds like, you’ll be familiar with the sound that this plug in imparts. It’s amazing to be honest and will save a ton of time and...
Read MoreO. Hoady
January 25, 2024
Tried & True Classic Nailed on the Head!
If you know what an actual multi track reel to reel sounds like, you’ll be familiar with the sound that this plug in imparts. It’s amazing to be honest and will save a ton of time and...
Read MoreN. Crouch
January 24, 2024
A must have plug in
Killer warm vibes. Makes demos sound like lost records from the 70’s. Sounds amazing any way you use it
Read MoreM. Saxon
January 24, 2024
Tape goodness
I have tried other tape emulators but this one has some real character and makes a sonic difference. Even just adding it to my tracks on the default setting gives them some analog...
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
M. WRIGHT
Studer A800 ‘MULTITRACK’
As a harmonic colouration device this is nice. The controls do things. It isn’t noisy. It can do subtle and extreme shifts. BUT, it’s supposed to be a 24 channel tape recorder. It’ll work in mono or stereo, but that’s it. Where are the other 22 channels? Without the nonlinearities of a fully modelled machine spread across 24 sources, and the depth which that creates, it’s just a two channel preamp with tape-style eq. UAD missed an opportunity to make something truly awesome here.
B. Wright
Awesomeness
Easy to use and sounds great
E. George
Classy
I spent a long time waiting for the Native versions of this plug in. I’m glad it has finally arrived. It’s such a joy to use. Gets you to the tape sound you’ve been looking for without the hassle of machine maintenance and high costs of tape. Sure, you don’t get to brag about your 1/2 inch, 1 inch or 2 inch (for the big machines) girth but if no one ever sees you producing then genuinely what’s the worry. I put one on each buss on a gentle setting and stack the sound into the mixbus. It gives me what I need sound wise. The interface could do with a refresh for higher screen resolutions maybe….my only criticism.
O. Hoady
Tried & True Classic Nailed on the Head!
If you know what an actual multi track reel to reel sounds like, you’ll be familiar with the sound that this plug in imparts. It’s amazing to be honest and will save a ton of time and physical tape cost in the future. Not that I’d get rid of the actual machines, but I can see a lot more ease of use and sonic benefits from this wonderful emulation of a tried and true classic.
O. Hoady
Tried & True Classic Nailed on the Head!
If you know what an actual multi track reel to reel sounds like, you’ll be familiar with the sound that this plug in imparts. It’s amazing to be honest and will save a ton of time and physical tape cost in the future. Not that I’d get rid of the actual machines, but I can see a lot more ease of use and sonic benefits from this wonderful emulation of a tried and true classic.
N. Crouch
A must have plug in
Killer warm vibes.
Makes demos sound like lost records from the 70’s.
Sounds amazing any way you use itM. Saxon
Tape goodness
I have tried other tape emulators but this one has some real character and makes a sonic difference. Even just adding it to my tracks on the default setting gives them some analog goodness. I do like tweaking the settings on slower tape speeds for bass and drum tracks. Loving it!!
A. Hillman
spark is a waste of time
the ilok on spark never works, it is incredibly frustrating as it works on some plug ins and and not on others and changes regularly. Universal Audio customer support is nonexistent, takes weeks to get back and never really give an answer, yet they can send 3 emails a day selling their products! it's pretty shameful
E. Esper
Studer Tape 800
Great Vintage Tape Sound Lots of Great Presets and easy to use
R. Porrello
Don't leave this one out of your locker
There just isn't another like this out there. The sound, the controls, the design. You will want to have this one handy.
D. Acevedo
Sabor a Cinta
Realmente no hay que hacer mucho. solo colocarlo y sentir como suaviza las transientes. Uno de mis favoritos.
b. Ramos
Best Tape sim i know
I'm a regular user of the A800 hardware and the plug un is very practical, realistic and well designed. The interface is complete and malleable. Excellent plug-in.
G. Thomas
The Studer A800 is a gem
This plugin sounds wonderful! I'm using it to enhance two-channel mixes.
M. Ferreira
One of the best UAD Plugins so far!
Brings the warmth of analog tape!
V. Stepanski
Studer a 800 is great
Amazing, magic and great sounding.
J. Music
Mind and ear- blowing
Admittedly, after buying the Waves J37 plugin, I no longer wanted tape emulation on my songs because the sound was flat, empty and loveless. When I bought the Studer A800 few days ago because of a promo, it was exactly the sound I had been looking for for so long. Warm saturation, rich in detail, deepening and a slight shimmer that brings depth to the songs. I am so thrilled. The only downgrade is the heavy CPU load and that the native version doesn't have the Gang CTRLS feature. Please update this version - if that is possible for you. Thanks to you incredible UAD Team.
M. Keating
Worth the purchase
Love this plugin, tried a few different tape plug-ins but this one tops the lot, great job UAD
M. Woolnough
A Must Have When It Comes To Tape Emulation.
I tried the J37 and couldn't get the desired interaction of the audio transients hitting the tape machine and sounding authentic as I remembered it. Also with different tape formulas and tweaking that can be done it really sets this apart from other Tape Emulation plugins. From subtle and realistic too really slamming it and realistic !
Nice one UA - you nailed it again.J. Anderson
Warmth and presence
Brings the warmth of analog with a presence that is lost in other tape emulations.
B. Simon
High quality plugin
Mixing is never be the same. Thank you UA!
