Softube Tape Echoes

The warm ambiance that tape delay lends to a track can make it transcendent. From Elvis to King Tubby to Radiohead, the ripple effects of tape echo can be seen on important records that span decades. Analog tape delays are costly to own and maintain and, while plug-in versions have filled the void, they come with an unwelcome cleanliness. Many tape delay plug-ins can give you a realistic tape effect, but only Tape Echoes gives you the tape delay you hear in your head—minus the headaches.

Tape Echoes is overflowing with all the pulsating color and character you need to take your tape effect from authentically gritty to lavishly analog. With the Drive & Dirt features, you can effortlessly drench your track in as much wobbly, glitchy, distorted delay as you can fathom. And by setting the delay time to Just Dirt, you can achieve a classic old-school grit. It's a plug-in plush with vintage lo-fi vibes and it’s an absolute dream to use. Tape Echoes: you can say that again.

• A vintage tape echo that sounds as dirty as you’ve always wanted it to
• The skilfully modeled sound and behavior of vintage tape delay
• Featuring Drive & Dirt: go clean or extreme with lots of wow, flutter, drop-outs, and more
• Three versions included: native plug-in, Tape Echoes for Amp Room, and Tape Echoes for Modular

Designed by Experts, Built on Legacy
Our history of emulating professional gear is long. After nearly two decades collaborating with such premium audio brands as Weiss Engineering, Tube-Tech, Solid State Logic, Chandler Limited, and Trident, Softube’s record of perfectly recreating hardware classics in software form speaks for itself.

Tape Echoes hearkens back to this legacy and the spirit of Softube giant Tape, and we took the same meticulous approach we always do–everything needs to be exact, with precise A/B testing and fine-tuning to sound exactly like the original hardware that inspired it or better. Nothing less, always more.

Dripping with distortion
Tape Echoes’ exclusive Drive & Dirt features let you quickly and easily go from gentle realism to extravagant saturation. Drive offers preamp and tape distortion, while Dirt’s parameters affect tape speed, wobble, flutter, dropouts, and frequency response. Set it to Just Dirt and turn the reverb off to get the old-school wobble and grit of tape without repetitions—perfect for transforming a hi-def loop into lo-fi vibe.

Artistic undercurrents
In a sea of retro replicas, there’s only one tape delay that’s awash with vivid color and intense character. Drive, Dirt, and Tape Glitch beckon you to open the floodgates of reality-bending experimentation and take a dip in unadulterated creativity. But be forewarned: after Tape Echoes, other tape delays just won’t feel as fun to use.

Tap into tape
The Number of Taps knob captures the resounding depths of classic tape delay hardware. Mimicking the sound, behavior, and timing of analog tape delay heads, the Number of Taps knob glides effortlessly between one, two, or three taps. The feedback dials in and emphasizes the taps for a natural, analog effect.

Sea of versatility
Tape Echoes features hyper-realistic analog delay and spring reverb that perform just like authentic hardware. Use the delay time fader to set the timing of the first tap and the other two go with the flow. Place the reverb in parallel or before the delay line to slide seamlessly from authentic, clean analog to soaked with distortion. Alternatively, turn down Delay Time and Reverb for a straight-up tape effect with just as much grit and dirt as you want.