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EFFECTS MENU 561
much saturation/overdrive. Mixing in the original slightly, lets you regulate the band quite
far while still retaining the so-called attributes.
Tips for applying tape simulation
The harmonics generated during saturation can quickly lead to a state of “acoustic fatigue”
for the listener, particularly for high-frequency rich material and/or a frequency shift at the
benefit of the highs. A direct 1:1 comparison with the tape section switched off reveals
slight differences. Subtle settings are generally sufficient for complex signals in order to get
a slight “analog touch”.
Use the tape simulation as a “peak stop” if you use one of the two compressors to
compress the signals: Transients that the compressor lets through (e.g. when using longer
attack times) can be gently blocked by “taping” the signal afterwards.
Am-track also contains a soft clip circuit at the output to block overmodulation. The audio
experience is certainly not the same as tape saturation. In practice, the soft clip function
stays switched on to provide an emergency brake, especially if the plug-in is in the last
station of the master slot. The soft clipper limits the signal with a soft characteristic curve at
-0.1 dBFS. It's possible to switch off the function if you can predict good level responses or
if the following stages in the mixer/master chain will not have a problem with higher levels.