audiority PlexiTape Vintage Tape Echo Plugin User Manual

PlexiTape Vintage Tape Echo Plugin
User Manual

PlexiTape

(AAX, AU, CLAP, VST2, VST3)
produced by Luca Capozzi (Audiority Srls), June 2019
Current Manual version: v1.3
PlexiTape is a faithful analog simulation of the Maestro® Echoplex® EP-3™ vintage tape echo that made THE SOUND of the 70s for its tone and reliability.
We put special care on modelling this unit on every aspect: motor, tape, FET preamplifier, heads and even the infamous “Sound On Sound” feature that allows you to use bypass the echo and use the tape as a looping recorder. Furthermore, we expanded it with new features including a full stereo double delay line, tempo sync and more.
Please, read carefully both product specifications and system requirements before purchasing any Audiority product.

• All product names used in this document and our site (www.audiority.com and associated Audiority websites) are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Audiority. These trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose tones/sounds/characteristics were studied during Audiority’s sound model development. Maestro is a registered trademarks of Gibson Guitar Corp. Echoplex is a registered trademark of Dunlop Manufacturinc, Inc.
  Credits
  Code & DSP: Luca Capozzi (Audiority Srls), June 2019
  GUI Design: Luca Capozzi
  Published by Audiority Srls
  Copyright © 2019-2023 – Audiority Srls – All rights reserved.

Specifications

– Analog Modeled Vintage Solid State Tape Echo
– Auxiliary Echo with Echo Pan for full stereo effects
– 3 Echo Modes: Echo, Off (Preamp + Tape colour only) and Sound On Sound
– 2 FET Preamp models: Early and Late
– 2 Playback Modes: Regular (with Varispeed) and Sync
– Varispeed from 3 to 15 IPS
– Echo Tone equalizer
– Delay Ducking
– Machine Age
– Internal hum noise (fully adjustable, for increased realism and self oscillation)
– Resizable interface

System Requirements

PC

• Windows 7 64bit or later
• Intel i5 or equivalent
• 4 GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AU, CLAP 64-bit host
• PT11 or higher, AAX 64-bit host

MAC (Intel)

• OSX 10.9 or later
• Intel i5 or equivalent
• 4GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AU, CLAP 64-bit host
• PT11 or higher, AAX 64-bit host

MAC (Silicon)

• macOS 11.0 or later
• M1 or higher
• 4 GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AU, CLAP 64-bit host
• PT11 or higher, AAX 64-bit host

FILE LOCATIONS

Mac
All presets, license, IR files and settings are located in:
/Users/Shared/Audiority/
AAX, CLAP and VST plugins will be placed in their own Audiority sub-folder located in:
AAX: /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/Audiority
CLAP: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP/Audiority
VST: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/Audiority
VST3: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/Audiority
PC
All presets, license, IR files and settings are located to:
C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Audiority
AAX, CLAP and VST plugins will be placed in their own Audiority sub-folder, usually located in:
AAX: C:\Program Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins\Audiority
CLAP: {Your CLAP Path}\Audiority
VST: {Your VST Path}\Audiority
VST3: {Your VST3 Path}\Audiority

PLUGIN ACTIVATION

Once you install and open the plugin for the first time, it will be in Demo Mode until a license file is loaded.
In Demo Mode the plugin will output 3 seconds of silence every minute.
You can activate the plugin either OFFLINE or ONLINE.
OFFLINE ACTIVATION
If you purchased the plugin from our site, you should have received an email to download the installers and the license file. Save the license file you got with your purchase email (or via our User Area) anywhere on your computer.
Then, to activate the plugin, click on the Audiority logo and select “Register”. The Registration window will pop up allowing you to load the license file you got while purchasing the plugin by clicking the “Load License” button. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the license file on the registration window.
NOTE: If you purchased the plugin from one of our dealers, please check the “USER AREA AND REDEEM CODES” section below.
ONLINE ACTIVATION
If you are registered to our User Area, then you can activate the plugin online.Insert your Username (or email address), your password and click the “Login” button. The license file will be automatically delivered in your computer and the plugin will be activated.

USER AREA AND REDEEM CODES

If you purchased from one of our dealers, then you should have received an email with a redeem code. This code is required to deposit a license in your User Area account and let you download the license file or activate the plugin online.
If you don’t have an User Area account yet, please follow these steps:

1. Go to https://www.audiority.com/register and fill out the signup form.2) Once registered, log in to your account by clicking the User Area section of our site. Click the REDEEM section of your account and paste the code you received via email from our dealer.3) After submitting the code, a license will be deposited in your account and will be shown in “MY PLUGINS” section of your User Area. 4) Now you can click “License File” and save the license anywhere on your computer and ready to be loaded through the plugin registration window. You can also skip this part and activate your plugin online (see previous section of this manual).

USER PATHS SETTING

By selecting “Settings” from the logo menu, you can change the path for Presets, License and IR folders.
You can also disable our Newsfeed from here.
Note: Please do not move the Settings folder from its default location.

PLUGIN PARAMETERS

TOOLBAR
The Toolbar allows you to manage the plugin presets, register the plugin and set some global parameters.
Click the AUDIORITY logo, in the top left corner of the Toolbar, to visit our website and social profiles, register the plugin, change the interface size and customize the paths for license and preset files. The HQ button will enable oversampling, useful to reduce aliasing when the signal saturates. Use the Randomize and Reset buttons to experiment with random presets or restoring it to its saved version. The NOTIFICATIONS (bell) icon will show you when a new update is available and other relevant news and offers.
PARAMETERS
MAIN PARAMETERS

ECHO DELAY HANDLE| Sets the delay time. Please note: the numbers 0 to 35 are just a visual reference used in the original machine to recall a setting. If AUX ECHO DELAY is engaged, this will set the delay time for the signal coming from the input’s LEFT channel.
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ECHO MODE| ECHO: default echo mode; SOUND ON SOUND: looping tape recorder; OFF: Echo bypass to use only the preamp and tape colour.
ECHO SUSTAIN| Sets the feedback amount. It starts self-oscillating around 5 and its dependent from the RECORD LEVEL
RECORD LEVEL| Sets the level of the signal recorded on the tape. The original machine’s manual states to set the level using a 1kHz Sine at -20dB and increasing the level stopping just before it gets distorted.
ECHO VOLUME| Sets the balance between the pre-amplified signal and the echo.
PREAMP TYPE| Switch between two versions of the preamp circuit. EARLY mode features a pre-emphasis filter around 2.2kHz, resulting in a brighter sound than the LATE mode.
SPEED| Switch between regular tape speed, calculated starting from the motor rotational speed, and SYNC mode. In REGULAR mode, you can change the tape speed (and the resulting delay length) via the VARISPEED trimmer.
ECHO TONE| Replicates the EP-4 echo equalizer with BASS and TREBLE controls.

AUX ECHO

AUX ECHO DELAY| When engaged, this will set the delay time for the signal coming from the input’s RIGHT channel.
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MAIN/AUX ECHO PAN| Sets the pan position for the MAIN and AUX echo lines.

GLOBAL PARAMETERS

DUCKING| Lowers the volume of the delayed signal according to the input amplitude and delay time.
---|---
AGE| Controls the brightness and precision of the tape machine. At 100% it becomes cleaner and more stable.
ERASE| Erases the content of the tape.
IN| Adjust the input (dry) signal gain by +/- 24dB.
OUT| Adjust the output (wet) signal gain by +/- 24dB.
MIX| Sets the balance between the original unprocessed signal and the plugin effect.

RESIZING CONTROLS (AUDIORITY LOGO MENU)

TIPS
Set the ECHO MODE to OFF to use PlexiTape as a boosting preamplifier before your amp simulator.
Use the AUX ECHO to widen a mono track or to add space to a stereo track.

**MATCHING PLEXITAPE WITH THE REAL HARDWARE

**

If you own the real hardware version of this tape echo, tape speed needs to be changed to match your current motor speed. Depending on its age and where in the world you are located, the motor speed can differ from the default one set in the plugin and so the delay times. The default VARISPEED value is set to 6.2 IPS (based on a motor speed about 1400 rpm) and it’s matched with the hardware version we have in house. If you are based on US, the motor should run around 1550 rpm, this a VARISPEED value of 7.8 IPS is suggested to match the hardware version.

USE OF SOUND ON SOUND

The SOUND ON SOUND is one of the most obscure features of the original machine. When engaged, the echo disappears and you can use the echo tape as a looping recording/playback machine. The sound recorded on the tape will be attenuated by 1dB every time it loops though the recording head allowing you to create overdubs.
We reproduced the same feature, but with a couple of key differences:

• Tape length is set to 20 seconds, instead of 2 minutes of the original machine.
• The ECHO DELAY HANDLE sets the loop point.

To use the SOUND ON SOUND feature:

• Start recording with the ECHO MODE switch set to ECHO.
• Be sure to NOT use a short delay time.
• Switch ECHO MODE to SOUND ON SOUND. The original recording will be played back and recorded at the same time, allowing you to add another recording while listening.
• ECHO SUSTAIN parameter is not operative while in SOUND ON SOUND mode.

CHANGELOG

v1.3 (February 2023)
– NEW: Framework update
– NEW: CLAP plugin format
– NEW: AAX Native Silicon
– FIX: Improved frequency response across sample rates and HQ mode
– FIX: Tape Erase button causing automation issues
– BREAKING CHANGE: OUT knob now controls the global output instead of the wet only signal
v1.2.2 (July 2021)
– FIX: Rare condition where licenses get invalidated
v1.2.1 (May 2021)
– CHANGE: Framework update
v1.2 (April 2021)
– NEW: Updated framework
– NEW: Universal 2 Binary for Apple Silicon Macs
– NEW: Vector Toolbar
– NEW: Corner Resizer (bottom right corner of the UI)
– CHANGE: Footer labels now show parameter values when using mouse wheel
v1.1.2 (October 2020)
– FIX: Improved file size
– FIX: Improved Licenser and Online Activation
– FIX: Silence triggered randomly in some configurations
v1.1.1 (October 2019)
– FIX: VST3 version silencing after few seconds of no input signal
– FIX: Mac OSX Catalina support
v1.1 (September 2019)
– NEW: Ducking
– NEW: Machine Age
– NEW: Tape Erase
– NEW: Notifications System
– FIX: Screaming feedback when HQ is enabled at high sample rates
– FIX: Parameter locking now works for global parameters
– FIX: Plugin window size not stored in DAW session
v1.0.1 (July 2019)
– FIX: Early Preamp volume too low
– FIX: MIX control unwanted dry signal boost
– FIX: Wrongly saved HQ parameter in rare occasions
– FIX: Wrong GUI response for Preamp Model and Playback Mode
v1.0 (June 2019)
– Original release
Audiority Srls – EULA (End-User License Agreement)
The software that accompanies this license is supplied under a license agreement. By installing this software you are agreeing to the Audiority License Agreement. If you do not agree with these terms, do not install the software. All software download purchases are non-refundable. However, if you haven’t downloaded a license file (or used a redeem code), you may obtain a refund within 14 days through the dealer where you purchased the software, or if purchased at any of Audiority online stores, by contacting [email protected].
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By installing the software, you confirm your acceptance of the Audiority Srls End User License Agreement.
This is a revocable, non-exclusive, single-user License.
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    Copyright ©2010-2023 Audiority Srls.
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    Last updated on Jan 25th, 2023

Thank You

We wanna thank you for buying Audiority PlexiTape plugin.
We hope you will enjoy it as much as we did.
If you have any question, concerns, technical issues or even for just say ‘Hello’, get in touch with us at: [email protected] or checkout our site at www.audiority.com
Cheers, Luca
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Copyright © 2019-2023 – Audiority Srls
All rights reserved.

Documents / Resources

| audiority PlexiTape Vintage Tape Echo Plugin [pdf] User Manual
PlexiTape, Vintage Tape Echo Plugin, PlexiTape Vintage Tape Echo Plugin, Tape Echo Plugin, Echo Plugin
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References

• Audiority - Professional Audio Plugins VST, AAX, AU, CLAP
• Audiority - Professional Audio Plugins VST, AAX, AU, CLAP
• FAQ - Audiority
• Register - Audiority
• User Area - Audiority
• Audiority Srls (@audioritysound) • Instagram photos and videos

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