Very interesting learning experience.

I am working with the Slate VTM and watched the videos from Steve and Fabrice, especially Fabrice.  The part I was interested in was the Sine Wave demonstration comparing to other tape emulations.
I thought I would do my own experiments here. 
I generated a 20 second 24 bit 44.1 440 HZ Sine Wave and loaded it into SONAR X1.
I then called into play the Meter Bridge from Ozone 5 which has some incredible spectral visualizations.

It was so interesting to see all of the the things that the plug ins were doing to generate complimentary frequencies based on the fundamental also seeing the other things related to the tape saturation at higher input levels.
You can actually see and hear the noise floors go up and down when switching between the various IPS settings.

I did not know exactly what I was looking at but I can see where the Glue would come in as the plugins are definitely doing some very interesting things with the spectrum and this was on just a simple waveform.

Try it your self and see what I mean.


**Update**
Just put together a rough (did I say rough) video to let you see and hear what I was working with.
Hope you enjoy and gain some information and inspire you to try some experiments your self to see what results you get.

Tape Machine Plugin Experiments Video

How about some screen shots?

I'd be curious to know what The Glue does to the spectrum, especially given that the test signal is a sine wave.

Bit,
One better.  I put together a short video so hope that helps.
It is in the original post just updated.
Thanks, it is very interesting to see what happens.

Thanks for demo-ing the tape emulator for tracks and mains.

I have a couple of 'unused' UAD virtuals (Studer 800 and that new thingy).  I'm still using the presets quite a bit (and listening).

"harmonic funds + coloration" ... something I must consider more for vocal 'enhancements' vs. the Fairchild, Voxformer saturator, etc.

Now I feel like playing a bit with the Studer

Thanks for taking the time to post this! Very informative. I purchased ReelBus and use it all the time on my drum buss. I love what it does to my sound: glues the whole kit together. VTM looks interesting but not in my price range. I'm a Sonimus Satson and ReelBus type of spender!

It looks like I am going to be able to get a copy of the Waves Kramer Master Tape plug in to test.  I am interested in seeing and hearing how it compares to the others.
Of course i will update the post with new information just giving a heads up.

Waves set me up with a one month license for the Kramer Master Tape.  I just put it up along side of the other plugins (Slate Virtual Tape Machines, ToneBoosters Reel Bus and the Cakewalk Tape FX).

In all reality I am not seeing too much difference in what the Kramer is doing compared to the others.  I say it is a very close call and that ToneBoosters Reel Bus is really capturing the essence of what the others are doing.

The Cakewalk plugin illustrates in the most basic way what the principle is behind getting tape saturation effects.  The other plugins just take that concept and refine it.  I do notice some things the Slate is doing to the Left side of the SINE wave as opposed to others.  It seems it has something to do with the noise modeling somehow.

I also noticed a more dramatic Wow and flutter effect with the Kramer.

So if you are interested in jumping into the Tape Simulation game I would first try the Cakewalk FX and then move up to the Reel Bus and if you can find a deal then the Slate and the Kramer might work for you.

All in all it is a very subjective and subtle effect.  Thankfully for most products you can download and use a trial version first and do your own comparisons.

Nice video THANKS!

Thanks again 

Just got around to watching your video, simeon. Good stuff.

I couldn't make out the numbers in the X axis of the spectragraph; those look like odd harmonics with the VTM, is that correct? 

The Toneboosters test confirmed my main complaint about it: you have to push it hard if you want an audible effect, and the lack of an output fader makes it difficult to A/B it in and out of circuit. However, the developer is famously open to suggestions, so hopefully he'll add one in a future build.

Here's my own experiment - nothing so fancy as iZotope super-meters, just plain ol' SPAN:


Begs the question: what does a paid-for tape sim do that the bundled freebie doesn't, really?

Answer: ReelBus adds wow 'n flutter.  (Ignore the even-order harmonics, they're too low to be audible.)