Unique feature: The stereo expander on the Vitalizer is as good as on any plugin I’ve found. If your source lacks excitement and definition, the Vitalizer is a quick fix thanks to it’s intuitive interface. There are also useful compression and drive controls. The Vitalizer MK2-T is a tried and true hardware unit that is common in mastering, and the plugin does a similarly great job of adding air and presence to your material. While you may understandably hesitate to use these on a master, in the rare case when you absolutely need your material to have a subtly warped, analog feel, look no further. The ATR-102 has really unique tape effects like wow, flutter and crosstalk. The Studer is simpler, and I find myself tweaking the bias setting to achieve a very open, airy sound. Unique features: The sheer depth of these two plugins makes for a virtually endless amount of sonic capabilities. I find myself using this one on individual tracks or sub-auxes more than the ATR-102, but when material needs to sound more rolled off, saturated, and vintage, the Studer is unmatched. The Studer A800 is a bit more warm and vibrant. It’s definitely a hi-fi sound, but the brightness can be dialed back by changing the tape speed or using the shelf EQ. I find that it helps add a sense of clarity and separation between instruments in a way that no other plugin does. The ATR-102 features 4 different tape types, 4 tape speeds, and dozens of other features that make this an incredibly deep tool for adding color and tone to your material. For a majority of the time we’ve been listening to recorded music, tape has been involved, and these two plugins help achieve that famous sound.
They’re great for both mixing and mastering, and can be used on individual tracks or entire mixes. These are emulations of the classic tape machines, and while they are two separate and very different plugins, I find them both to be essential - and wanted to make room for the many other great processors - so they occupy the top spot.
regardless of the name, these plugins can be great for adding tone, vibe, impact, and character to your masters.
You might hear them referred to as exciters, enhancers, saturators, maximizers etc. It’s important not to forget about other processors that can add harmonic content to your material. So far in this series, I’ve covered some of my favorite and most used compressor, limiter and equalizer plugins - three types of processing vital to any mastering engineer.
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