Sounds like a Tascam. Full Stereo signal path.
Ngl, this patch makes everything sound good. Take a simple dry guitar riff, or a basic mono synth, and bring it to life in stereo, warbly, noisy goodness. Adjustable from realistic hifi tape machines to half-dead tascams with play heads that have never been cleaned.
First we have the drive/saturation section with ‘warmth’ and ‘saturator’ modules, adjustable to taste.
Then we have the warble (pitch mod) section with 2 sets of vibratos (2 for the left channel, 2 for the right). The first set (L+R) is controlled by 1 random lfo with a slew limiter to smooth out the warbles. The second set is controlled by another single triangle lfo at a low mod amount. I found that having two in series gave a more varied and realistic sound. And the reason the L and R channels aren’t being modulated independent of each other in this section is 1) to prevent phase issues and 2) it’s more ‘true’ to pitch warbles in actual tape machines which are caused by either variable motor speeds or the tape not running smoothly through the capstan. In either case the L&R channels are affected equally.
We then completely abandon treating the L and R channels the same by using a series of tremolos and low pass filters that all have independent lfos. This is the crinkle/dropout section mimicking old/crinkled tape or dirty play heads. Adjusting lfo depth can increase or decrease the ‘wear’ on the tape.
The noise section is a separate signal path and can be shut off completely by disconnecting the VCA outputs. The noise osc in the L and R have slightly different settings to create the stereo feel, but they’re run through vcas that are controlled by just one triangle lfo to produce a fluttering effect. To adjust the overall noise volume I just go into each VCA and increase or decrease the gain. Filtering can be adjusted within the osc modules.
I’m a sucker for tape and this is the closest I was able to reproduce a realistic tape sound. Every time I play something through it I’m amazed at how much it comes alive. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
-Andrew (Go Outside / little forest)
