I'm sort of a "do-whatever-sounds-right" person - still I wonder how others are approaching the vintage style sound and tape sim stuff, so ...
 
What's your preferred use of tape emulations? Are you using it mainly as FX on selected tracks where suitable - or in some sort of vintage set-up with a tape emu in every channel @ start of the chain and @ same settings? how hard would the later hit your system?
anyone using it on mix buses / stems?
 
Finally, Sonar tape emulator, Waves J37, Waves Kramer Tape, plus various others ... is it all down to personal preference or are there some with distinct advantages?
 
Rob

Drum bus and Master. Sometimes studio strings. That's it. On drums I sometimes put it first in the change. On the Masterbus I put it last.
 
I could use it on vocals too but haven't really tried that yet.
 
These are my rules and I stick to them in my productions. YMMV however

For me it has levels:
 
a) put the compressors and eq that are needed and see how it sounds.
Many of these are emulated analogs and also bring something more to sound - like tapesims and console emulations do.
 
b) if something lacking, then I might try either KMT or NLS to see what it might bring.
 
c) maybe try NLS buscomponent on a bus or master when most leveling is done
 
d) And when putting limiter on master I might try NLS buscomponent again.
 
I'm still a bit afraid just to throw things in on every track without seeing a specific need. Too much of the goodies just bring mud to full mix.
 
Saw the promo video for J37 and the idea to throw this on every track is never what I would do - typical sales talk in my view. What that does might eliminate what compressors or EQ did.
 
NLS might be another story - have not tried that yet to throw track component everywhere and then buscomponent on master. It does bring some silk on master - but really changes the overall feel of the mix - so not ready for that yet.

There is no harm in using the Tape module on ever track just as you would the console emulator.  This is, after all, how it was designed to be used.  If you are trying to recreate the sound of having recorded all your tracks to tape, then that is exactly what is required.
It seems to be very processor efficient.  I also have Kramer Tape and I am very curious how they stack up.  It's too soon for me to say, but the KT plug certainly has more parameters.  I used the Tape module in a session last night on vocals and it contributed to a silky fat vocal sound that we were going for.  Really helped with the sibilance using 7.5 and OVER settings.
 
Has anyone done a side-by-side with the pricier Tape plugs?
 
 

I treat the tape sim like any other coloring plugin..less is more.  I throw it on drum bus, very lightly on master and if I am seeking over the top effect on kick or snare individual tracks.

BlixYZ
There is no harm in using the Tape module on ever track just as you would the console emulator.  This is, after all, how it was designed to be used.  If you are trying to recreate the sound of having recorded all your tracks to tape, then that is exactly what is required.

I need to give this a try sometime to see how much strain that puts on the system, what that would sound like and whether the auto-grouping will work well enough to adjust common settings across all channels ...

I'm very glad for the included Tape Sim now with Sonar X3. It's super easy to use and it adds a certain character that can be very appealing when dialed in to taste on chosen tracks. It's a great win for us Producer users to have.

I happen to also have the Waves Kramer Mix Tape, which was a bit pricey. However, I'm also very satisfied to have that as it has quite a few parameters and can really add some hard to explain magic to pieces. I certainly wouldn't stop using it because now we have the ProChannel Tape Sim. Each offer something different to contribute to the sound.

I agree it makes sense to either use these on a desired bus or on particular tracks. Unless you're going for a sound that is all out tape-ified, I would use them to taste on selected tracks of a song. I can't see myself using both on a single track, I would pick whichever one I feel appropriate for that spot.