J37 tape saturation plugin unveiled

Waves Audio and Abbey Road Studios have presented the J37 tape saturation plugin. With a variety of user-adjustable controls including Tape Speed, Bias, Noise, Saturation, Wow, and Flutter, the Waves: Abbey Road J37 faithfully recreates the inimitable sonic signature of the original machine. In addition to the J37 itself, three exclusive oxide tape formulas have been modelled. Specially developed by EMI during the 60s and 70s, each formula has its own unique frequency response and harmonic distortion behaviour.

“The winning combination of Abbey Road Studios’ Studer J37 Four-Track machine and EMI Tape has been used to create some of the most important recordings of all time,” said Mirek Stiles, head of audio products, Abbey Road Studios. “As well as modelling the J37, with the amazing warmth of 52 valves, Waves has teamed it with the last remaining blank 60s and 70s tape stock from the EMI archives. EMI Tape has stood the test of time; it never needs baking and sounds wonderful. Abbey Road Studios’ technical staff from the J37’s heyday were consulted on the line-up procedures that they used over 50 years ago, with the end results sounding simply stunning. Waves has given us yet another unique example of Abbey Road Studios’ heritage, available for the first time as a software plugin.”

The J37 is Native and SoundGrid-compatible. It is not included in any Waves bundle; it is only available separately.

www.waves.com