Reference Guide

1040 ProChannel (Producer and Studio only)
What is tape saturation?
Tape saturation occurs when you try to record too loud and varying signal levels onto magnetic tape
for it to accurately reproduce, whereby the input signal is no longer directly proportional to the
recorded signal. During playback, the tape reproduces less energy than was originally there, which
is the saturation effect. Recording engineers often experience this as a result of trying to record a
signal that is loud enough to overcome ever-present tape hiss.
Unlike digital distortion, analog tape saturation can sound pleasing in the right situations, especially
on drums.
Tape saturation adds subtle non-linear distortion, compression and EQ, which can add grittiness and
bottom end to your tracks. This is often perceived as “punch” and “warmth”.
Controls
The Tape Emulator module contains the following controls:
• Clipping LED. Shows if the input signal to the Tape Emulator module is clipping. If there is any
distortion in the ProChannel signal chain, the clipping LEDs let you identify where the clipping
occurs.
• Tape Emulator enable/disable . Enables/disables the Tape Emulator module.
• Noise. Adjusts the level of simulated tape hiss
• Rec Level. Applies a gain adjustment to the pre-processed audio signal (input level). Higher
values cause increased compression/saturation.
• PB Level. Applies a final gain adjustment to the post-processed audio signal (output level).
• Tape Spd. Adjusts the simulated tape speed, which impacts the compression behavior. There
are two settings:
• 7.5 INS. Represents a slow tape speed, which has a more compressed and warm tone,
lacking of high frequencies.
• 15 INS. Represents a standard tape speed, and causes faster compression attack times.
• Bias. Magnetic tape has a non-linear response at low signal strengths. Tape bias is designed to
improve the fidelity of low-signal analogue magnetic tape sound recordings by pushing the signal
into the linear zone of the tape’s transfer function. This results in less low- and mid-frequency
harmonic distortions. There are two settings:
• Over. Reduces distortion in the low and mid frequency range, particularly on sibilant
sounds, and interacts with the Noise level.
• Normal. Represents a standard level of distortion.
• Link. When Link is enabled, the same compression settings are applied to both channels of a
stereo input. When disabled, each channel is processed independently.