UAD Studer® A800 Tape Recorder

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.

• 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

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.

UAD Spark, UA Connect and Native UAD Plug-Ins System Requirements

• macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, or Sonoma 14
• Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit editions)
• Intel, AMD or Apple silicon processor
• Internet connection to download software and authorize native UAD plug-ins
• Free iLok account with iLok Cloud or iLok USB (2nd generation or higher)
• Free UA Connect application for managing native UAD plug-ins
• A supported DAW compatible with VST, AU and AAX plug-in file formats. Supported DAWs are listed in this article.