Waves Unveils Eddie Kramer MPX Master Tape Plug-In For Mac & PC
Waves Audio has unveiled the MPX Master Tape plug-in. Developed in association with producer/engineer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Kiss) as part of an ongoing series of collaborations, the MPX Master Tape plug-in for Mac and PC is modeled on a rare machine consisting of an Ampex 350 transport and 351 electronics. With adjustable tape speed, bias, flux, wow and flutter, along with noise parameters, the MPX provides comprehensive control over the contours of any sound. Additionally, Waves has added a flexible slap and feedback delay, ideal for rock, dance, dub and countless other styles. For recording, mixing, mastering and more, MPX brings the richness and warmth of real tape saturation to any DAW setup.
When Waves started their hardware modeling project with Eddie Kramer, it was always their intention to create a model of the original recording chain from Olympic Studios in London that Kramer used on his great recordings of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. The Ampex 350 and 351 valve tape machines were mainstays of the recording industry and were used for literally thousands of hit albums and singles over more than two decades of recording. Waves tracked down a perfectly maintained machine (owned by veteran mixer/engineer Eric Schilling), and began the long, complex modeling process. Assisting Waves were Bob Olhsson (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross) and co-developer John Haeny (Jim Morrison and the Doors, John Coltrane, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne). Waves used 3M Scotch 206/207 tape for the modeling, as it was considered an almost ideal match for this machine.
Features:
» Modeled on the Ampex 350/351 1/4″ reel-to-reel
» Adjustable tape speed, bias, flux, wow and flutter
» Slap and feedback delay
» Up to 24-bit 96kHz resolution
» Mono and Stereo components
» Supports TDM, RTAS, Audio Suite, VST, AU
» PC- and Mac compatible
Controls:
» SPEED selects the simulated tape speed
» MONITOR selects the monitoring mode
» BIAS controls the level of the ultrasonic bias signal
» VU METER displays input or output level
» VU CALIBRATION controls the VU meter headroom calibration
» DELAY TIME controls the time of the tape delay effect, with settings for 7.5 ips (266 milliseconds) and15ips(133ms)
» DELAY TYPE toggles between delay modes
» FEEDBACK controls the amount of the delayed output signal
» LOWPASS controls the LP cutoff frequency on the delay path
» RECORD LEVEL controls the input level
» LINK I/O links Record and Playback Levels controls
» PLAYBACK LEVEL controls the total signal output level
» FLUX controls the level of simulated magnetic radiation emitted from the record head
» WOW & FLUTTER controls the speed and gain modulations and fluctuations
» NOISE controls the level of added modeled noise but not noise modulations and signal additive noise
The Waves MPX Master Tape plugin is availablenow for $200 Native / $300 TDM, with special introductory prices of $99 Native/$149 TDM being offered for a limited time.
