TAPE-201 gives you everything you love

Simple to use, fun to tweak, and with the most authentic tape delay emulation ever found in a software effect, Delay TAPE-201 will give you that spacious, reverberating delay you crave.

This amazing plugin pays tribute to the tape delays that changed the way music sounded forever. From the early EchoSonic pioneered by Ray Butts, Mike Battle’s Echoplex, to Ikutaro Kakehashi’s masterful Echo Chamber series, tape delays gave guitarists and organ players a new, exciting tool to use on stage and in the studio. Hearing this fluttering golden tone, it wasn’t long before studios, recording engineers, and producers wanted to make it part of their signature sounds.

In 1974, the music world was taken by storm, or rather, by space. An updated version of Kakehashi’s design, this time using standard 1/4" tape in a continuous, loose loop, and no reels, became the go-to favorite for musicians and producers. Finally, floaty, magic echo in a self-contained, reliable unit. It didn’t just sound great, it was versatile too. It had multiple delay patterns to create different rhythmic feels, EQ control to hone the delay’s tone, an integrated spring reverb, and - most famously of all - adjustable tape speed, letting it create otherworldly, haunting pitch changes in the delay.

Through the magic of our advanced TAE® modelling technology, we are able to perfectly emulate this groundbreaking delay as a plug-in. All of this magic, all of these quirks, and all of this legendary tone are recreated in Arturia Delay TAPE-201.

The holy grail of tape delays, the iconic silver, black, and green-fronted echo unit was loved by countless musicians from all genres and styles. Alternative and indie legends like Radiohead, Sonic Youth, and Bon Iver loved its pitch-warping power. It fleshed out the guitar tone of everyone from The Shadows to Randy Rhoads. Electronic pioneers Vangelis, Boards Of Canada, Leftfield, and Jean-Michel Jarre adored its spatial width and thick, saturated tone. Dub legend Lee “Scratch” Perry and synth hero Brian Eno made its ghostly, analog decay part of their signature sounds. A list of famous spacey tape delay users would be impossibly long, but it would be a “who’s who” of influential music legends.

{{ item.title }}

{{ item.text }}

What makes Delay Tape-201 so unique?

{{ player.title }}

New Features

This isn’t simply a sound-a-like software effect, this is the most accurate, highly detailed recreation of the famous 70s tape delay ever created.

We studied its circuitry, analyzed the tape, and even modelled the quirks to bring you an authentic tape delay that you’ll turn to time and time again. And again. And again. And again.

Exciting modulation

Make your sound come alive! This example uses the new modulation controls, altering the reverb amount with an LFO.

Stereo playground

Delay Tape-201 lets you warp and contort the stereo field using powerful modulation. This demo uses the LFO to control the stereo effect.

Random groove

The software reimagining lets you experiment with deep modulation, letting you create weird, re-ordered delays with ease.

Demo

70s sound, modern features

The warbly analog magic of an outboard tape delay could be considered the polar opposite to the precise, almost clinical environment of recording software.

Thanks to the efforts of Arturia’s engineers, you can now mix these two worlds, and enjoy some seriously modern features as well.

Artists corner

Included in
FX collection

Effects you'll actually use

This effect is part of FX Collection, a suite of essential audio effect plugins empowering musicians, producers, and artists to get creative with their production. From iconic recording gear modeled with breathtaking accuracy, to cutting-edge contemporary effects, the collection includes the most sought-after studio tools, rare guitar pedals, modern mix enhancers, and beyond. Elevate your production and add color to your mix like never before.

Learn More

True Analog Emulation

TAE® "True Analog Emulation" is Arturia's exclusive technology that accurately reproduces the defining sonic qualities of analog synthesizers. It recreates the characteristics of analog oscillators in amazing detail, transparency and clarity, as well as the exact properties of the analog filters that give each classic instrument its unique sound. Soft clipping adds even more punch and presence.

Physical Modeling

Not all keyboard legends use circuits and analog components. To reproduce the incredible acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments found within V Collection, Arturia used state-of-the-art physical modeling technology. By analyzing how each instrument creates its own unique sound, our engineers use advanced mathematical algorithms that recreate every aspect of the original.

Gallery

* All manufacturer and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Arturia. The trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose features and sound were studied during the development. All names of equipment, inventors, and manufacturers have been included for illustrative and educational purposes only, and do not suggest any affiliation or endorsement by any equipment inventor or manufacturer.

*NKS ready