This article will look at the best tape stop plugins you can get in 2023. First, we will look at some of the best-paid options and then some free alternatives.
These plugins can give a realistic and analog sound to any track. They emulate the imperfections found in vintage tape recorders and can make any melody feel like it’s been ripped straight from vinyl. These plugins are becoming increasingly sought after in recent years due to the popularity of genres like Lo-fi.
Not only do you get the realistic sound, but you can also add the tape stop effect. This effect is where the audio gradually slows down, decreasing pitch and creating a fade-out effect. Similar to this, some plugins also have a tape start effect which is the opposite and causes a fade in sound.
One of the best tape emulation plugins money can buy is the Reels plugin from AudioThing.
Reels is based on a vintage Japanese portable tape recorder, and its interface greatly shows this. This tape emulation plugin comes with tape stop/start effects and a built-in echo section, and it’s commonly used for its Lo-fi type sound.
It is known for its rough old-school analog sound, perfect for bringing a vintage feel to any mix.
Key Features:
- Tape Modeling
Within Reels, you have access to three different tape emulation options. JP (Japan), IT (Italy), and FR (France) are named after their countries of origin. Each tape option will process and affect the sound in many different ways. The JP tape creates a used type sound with better overall frequency response, perfect for Hip-Hop tracks. The IT tape creates a new old stock sound with limited frequency response, perfect for Lo-Fi Pop tracks. The FR tape creates an overused and badly stored tape sound with bad frequency response, a common sound on Lo-fi tracks. The quality gets better from right to left, with FR being the worst frequency response and JP being the best.
- Built in Echo effect
The built-in echo effect is one of the main settings that makes Reels stand out from its counterparts. It’s a delay effect and has four main easy-to-use and understand controls. The fact that it’s built-in means you don’t have to mess around with any extra plugins, speeding up your workflow.
- Tape Speed
The tape speed effect emulates the sound of the vintage tape recorder. It allows even more options when controlling the tape emulation and adds more characteristics to your track. Combining the tape speed option with the tape modeling option gives you even more control over your sounds.
- The Harshness effect
The harshness effect is essentially a distortion effect, creating a loss of clarity within the tape effect. When used in high amounts on your tracks, it can give a real rumble to the mid- low-end frequencies and gives that realistic sound to your track.
- The WOW/Flutter effect
The WOW/Flutter effect is essentially a pitch-altering effect. It creates a realistic sound by fluctuating the pitch emulating the recording/playback issues found on vintage tape recorders.
- Lots if presets to choose from
Reels include 50 different presets to choose from. If you want some quick inspiration, you can quickly access these presets to change all the tape effects. There is also a separate preset section for the built-in echo feature, so there’s no risk of changing your tape effects when adding different echo effects. Users can also save their own presets.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.14, 10.15, or 11 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or higher (64-bit only).It runs in standalone mode and VST, AAX, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Overall, Reels is a great plugin. Its unique sound and design make it stand out from its counterparts, and the three different tape types within Reels essentially give you three different tape sounds in one plugin, and when you combine that with the tape speed option, it adds even more variation, increasing the versatility of the plugin. In addition, the built-in echo effect is a nice extra and gives your more control over your sound all within the same plugin.
2. Wavesfactory Cassette Transport (Free)
More Info & Download
A Great free alternative to some of the more expensive options on this list is Cassette Transport by Wavesfactory.
This plugin has a sleek and simple design, and its interface is very straightforward. In addition, this tape starts/stop plugin comes with fast forward and rewinds features to help replicate the sound of an old cassette tape recorder.
Key Features:
- The Tape Effects
You have super simple yet effective tape stop/start effects within Cassette Transport. Automating within your DAW is the main way to utilize these effects. When you combine the plugin and automation, you can create some realistic-sounding effects.
- The Play/Stop Time Effect
Using this effect, you can create long, sustained build-ups or short faster build-ups in your tracks that perfectly emulate the sound of an old tape cassette starting up a tape. You can also affect how long the tape stops effect takes in your tracks; this offers a lot of variation when adding this effect to your track.
- The Simple Interface
An overlooked feature is how simple this plugin’s interface is. It does exactly what it’s meant to do without trying to seem more complicated. Everything you need and expect is there when you open up the plugin.
- The Sync Option
This setting causes the plugin to sync with the bpm of your track. This may seem a standard feature, but not all plugins support this. In addition, this option allows you to create perfectly timed tape stop/start effects by using note values such as 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, and so on, meaning everything will happen on the beat.
- Physical button sounds
This feature is for you if you’re trying to create that authentic tape cassette sound. Using the switch’s volume setting, you can adjust how loud the button sounds are within your track, meaning you can make it sound like someone has pressed play/or pause on the cassette as the track spins up or down with the tape start /top options.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.14, 10.15, or 11 and Windows 10 or higher.
Summary:
Cassette Transport is a very useful plugin, especially considering it’s free. Its simple design means no time is wasted trying to figure out which settings do what and gives you access to exactly what you need. This is a must-have plugin for all producers who don’t have a tape start/stop plugin in their library.
3. Image Line GrossBeat (Paid)
More Info & Download
GrossBeat by Image Line is one of the most used plugins in modern music production, as it comes in most versions of FL Studio.
This plugin is a time manipulation tool with many uses, such as gating, glitching, repeating, scratching, half time, stutters, and many others. It is not just a Tape stop/start plugin; you can do those effects within this plugin, and that’s why we had to include it in this list.
It’s an extremely popular tool within the genre of Uk Drill. Most melodies are made with the GrossBeat halftime.
Key Features:
- A large and useful preset library
One of the standout features of GrossBeat is its library. It contains useful presets that any producer can use when working within any genre. There are many versatile effects, from the Sidechain effect to the Backspin effect. There’s a lot this library has to offer.
- Independent Volume controls
An overlooked setting with this plugin is its ability to have independent volume control. This means you can manually adjust how loud the effect is within your track. This is a feature that many other plugins don’t have. Most other plugins require a few more steps, decreasing workflow efficiency. This may not seem important, but it allows you to create some unique effects and sounds within your track.
- MIDI Compatibility
Midi compatibility is a must, whether you want to record these effects with a more humanized touch or control them during a live performance. This plugin has simple yet effective midi compatibility, meaning once you’ve set it up, you can quickly get to control all the parameters in the plugin in real-time. This is great for creativity and live performance, something that isn’t stander on some of the plugins on this list.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for Windows XP, Vista, Win7, Win8, Win 10 or higher.It comes within some versions on FL Studio.
Summary:
In summary, GrossBeat is one of, if not the most, versatile plugins in this list. It is so much more than just a tape stop/start plugin, and the fact that it is a similar price to some of the other paid options makes it stand out, don’t forget if you use FL Studio, you may already have this plugin in your library. It does lack the tape emulation features that the other plugins on the list have, so keep that in mind, but as a tape stop/start plugin, GrossBeat stands out above the rest for its versatility and the sheer amount of effects you can create.
4. iZotope Vinyl (Free)
More Info & Download
Vinyl by iZotope is one of the most popular plugins on this list.
This plugin is a vinyl emulation plugin, and it comes with a wide array of effects to help you get that vintage analog sound in your tracks. It’s perfect for Lo-fi tracks with its new updated tailored setting, and of course, it has a tape stop built in.
iZotope is widely regarded as one of the best plugin producers out there, so it’s understandable how this plugin ended up on this list.
Key Features:
- Specific Year settings
One of the standout features on vinyl is the year settings. This affects how the plugin affects the audio within your track, and each year comes with its specific imperfections to replicate the vinyl that came out during its period. This means you can create realistic sounds for your tracks or make newer-sounding tracks sound more vintage.
- Dust, Scratch and Warp
These settings are perfect for crafting your desired sound, and they replicate the sounds from vinyl records in a way other plugins on the list don’t. In addition, the fact that you can control each setting individually adds a lot of room for creativity. For example, the dust setting adds pops and snaps to your sounds, and the Scratch setting adds random, subtle cuts in the audio to replicate the scratches found on vinyl and the Warp setting adds pitch variation to your audio, essentially detuning the sound.
- The wear setting
This setting perfectly emulates the sounds of wear and tear you would find on old records. On old recordings, the frequency response fades over time, and distortion is added via the flattening of the groves on the vinyl, and this setting perfectly reflects that. Also, adding a lot of wear to your sound further helps emulate the vintage feel.
- The Mechanical and Electrical effects
These two effects are excellent at giving a realistic sound to your track. The mechanical effect replicates the sounds from movement on the turntable, and the electrical effect replicates the sounds made from preamps and other circuitry.
- The Lo-Fi setting
This setting makes adding that Lo-Fi sound to your tracks so easy and fast. With a simple button press, your track is transformed into a Lo-fi sounding track from the 80s with a saturated sound.
- Changing the RPM
Similar to the year settings, the RPM options can help you craft the specific sound you are looking for. This effect can be used creatively, or if you have a specific record with a sound you like, then you can use this feature and the year feature to help you replicate that sound.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.14, 10.15, or 11 and Windows 10 or higher.
Summary:
Overall this plugin is great. I recommend downloading this plugin even if you have some other options on this list. The way it replicates the sounds of vinyl is next level, and the fact that it’s free sweetens the deal. It does lack a tape start option, which most of the others on this list have, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t download it.
5. Vengeance Tape Stop (Paid)
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
One of the best pitch effect plugins is Tape Stop by Vengeance.
This plugin has the tape stop/start effect and also comes with volume, filter envelopes, and a built-in sequencer. If that wasn’t enough, this plugin also includes the tape slip effect, which acts as a tape and vinyl emulator.
This plugin’s interface has an old-school style, with simple and clear controls.
Key Features:
- Huge preset library
A standout feature of this plugin is its huge preset library with over 80 presets, consisting of pitch, wobbles, and other special FX presets. In addition, you’ll never be stuck for ideas when using this plugin, as all the parameters within each preset can be changed, giving you endless possibilities for inspiration.
- Tape slip
Like some of the other plugins in this list, Tape Stop has its version of tape and vinyl emulation. The tape slip feature allows you to get that old-school cassette tape sound or go for a more vinyl sound in your tracks. Using this feature, you can create crazy and creative sounds.
- Built-in Sequencer
Unlike most other plugins on this list, Tape Stop has a built-in sequencer. This sequencer allows you to create some unique pitch effect patterns within your tracks, all within the plugin, meaning you don’t have to open up any other plugins.
- Three Independent Envelopes
Within this plugin, there are three different envelopes these control Pitch, Filter, and Volume. These envelopes give you more control over your sounds within the plugin.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.8 (32-bit and 64-Bit ) and Windows Vista/Win7/Win8 (32-Bit and 64-bit ) and VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU plugin formats. This Product Requires an eLicense USB dongle.
Summary:
In summary, this is a super powerful plugin. Its built-in sequencer allows for creative control over your effects, and the Tape Slip feature creates some great cassette and vinyl sounds for your track. All in all, this is a great plugin. I highly recommend you check this one out.
6. KiloHearts Tape Stop (Free)
Probably the most simple plugin on this list is Tape Stop by KiloHearts
Although this plugin is simple, it doesn’t mean it’s not powerful, and you can create some great spin-down and speed-up sounds at the push of a button.
This plugin has a clean and straight-to-the-point interface.
Key Features:
- Start/Stop time Knobs
Within this plugin, you can control the speeds of the start and stop time with two separate controls. You can use them in sync or separate from one another, allowing for some very creative uses.
- The Play button
This option is how you control when your tape starts and stops within your tracks. When using this feature with automation in your DAW, you can get creative with it.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.14, 10.15, or 11 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or higher (64-bit only).It runs in VST, AAX, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
In summary, this plugin is the easiest to use on this list. It doesn’t do anything extra, but it does exactly what it needs to do for a tape stop/start plugin.
7. Plektron Vinylizer (Free)
More Info & Download
One of the most visually pleasing plugins is Vinylizer from Plektron.
This vinyl emulation plugin comes with some really useful effects for making that realistic and vintage vinyl sound.
The interface of this plugin is straightforward.
Key Features:
- The Dust and Decenter Feature
These features allow you to add those iconic vinyl sounds to your tracks. The dust feature adds pops and snaps like you would hear when listening to a vinyl record. The Decenter feature essentially makes the audio quality worse.
- High Damage
This feature replicates the sound you find on old vinyl with some wear and tear. This feature makes the high frequencies less clear the more you turn the knob.
- RPM Speed
Unlike most others on this list, this plugin has an RPM speed option. Its got a 33-rpm option and a 44-rpm option. This allows you to craft that specific sound you’re looking for on your track.
Compatibility:
Windows 10 or higher (32-bit only).
Summary:
Overall this is a great tape stop plugin, and it comes with the extra vinyl emulation effects, which means there’s more you can do within the plugin. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a tape start option, but id still recommends downloading this one. After all, it’s free.
Bonus
Cableguys TimeShaper 2
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
A plugin with a lot to offer is TimeShaper 2 by Cable Guys.
This is a time and pitch manipulation plugin. In this plugin, you can create a lot of crazy effects for tracks, From Stutters to Half-time, Reverse to Scratch, there’s a lot it has to offer, and of course, it has tape stop effects.
This plugin has a sleek interface with a unique stylistic approach.
Key Features:
- Scratch like a DJ
This plugin, unlike others on this list, has a scratch feature. Whether you want to use it to blend two sections or lay down some crazy scratches on an old-school hip-hop beat, this plugin has what you need. This plugin is synced to your project BPM, so there is no need to worry if your scratches will be on time.
- Rearrange feature
This plugin allows you to rearrange drum patterns. Using its time manipulation settings within this plugin, you can chop up the audio files and recreate your drum patterns. This isn’t necessarily the easiest way to chop up drums, but it’s one of the most fun ways, and you can get creative and unique sounds when using it.
- Half-Time
Within the plugin, there is a halftime effect option. This is one of many effects this plugin offers that can help you when sampling other tracks. The ability to quickly add Half-Time without making any permeant changes to the audio file is super useful for trying out the effect.
- Add Vinyl ‘WOW’
This plugin also has some vinyl emulation effects. The WOW Effect creates a realistic sound by fluctuating the pitch and recreating the recording/playback issues found on vintage tape recorders.
- Real-Time Reverse effects
Within ShaperBox 2, you can add real-time reverse effects to your audio. The live performance capability of this effect is huge, and you can create exciting drops in real-time or some creative breakdown effects. This effect is also useful in a production setting, and you can add this effect before new verses, hooks, and drops for some super creative sounds.
- Separate LFO’s for Lows,Mids and Highs
This is a standout feature of this plugin. The ability to add different effects to the different frequency ranges within the same plugin instance is crazy. You can do unique things like add halftime to the lows, reverse the mids and glitch the tops simultaneously.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.14, 10.15, or 11 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or higher (64-bit only).It runs in VST, AAX, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Overall, this plugin is one of the most versatile on this list. The sheer amount of effects you can create within this plugin sets it apart from the others. You really can’t go wrong with this plugin. It’s creative, low in price, and fun to use. I highly recommend checking this one out. There are so many features we could write a whole new article on this plugin, and we still wouldn’t have enough space to discuss all the cool and useful effects you can create. This plugin is great for all your tape stop needs and more.
What is tape stop?
Tape stop is the name given to the effect that causes a piece of audio to slowly stop and decrease pitch. This effect has become popular for its many creative uses. The effect is useful for replicating the sounds of old cassette tape players, hence the name.
On old cassette tape players and recorders, when you stopped the playback, the tape would keep playing, only it would get slower and slower before coming to a halt. This is a tape stop.
There are many creative ways you can use tape stops within your tracks. The simplest way is to have the effect at the end of your track to replicate the old tape recordings. However, a new way to use tape stop has recently become popular: the use of tape stop censoring.
Applying a tape stop to a vocal track can cause the words to become incomprehensible. This effect is mainly used in genres like Trap, Hip-hop, Grime, and Drill when artists either just want a cool effect or want to censor certain words.
There’s no limit to what you can do with tape stop when you’re creative enough. You can add it to Drum Groves, Hi-Hat patterns, Chords, Pads, Melodies, Vocals, and many others.
How do you use tape stop plugin?
You can load them onto the channel strip like any other plugin and either use the plugin’s features while recording to control the effects in real-time for a more humanized feel or for more quantized and in-time effects, use automation within your DAW to control the plugins features.
I recommend you read each plugin’s manual on downloading and controlling your plugins within your DAWs or in Standalone more for some of the plugins on this list.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all these plugins are great. Some are better than others at certain effects, and some have more to offer than others, but if you want to add the tape stop effect to your tracks, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Id Highly recommend you download the free tape stop plugins from this list.
They hardly take up any space, can be fun to play around with, and start creating. As for the paid plugins, it’s all down to personal preference. They all offer a wide array of effects and features; it’s up to you to decide which one has the features your looking for.
I’m a Music Producer and Sound Engineer from the UK. I have been working with music my whole life and I’m currently studying Music Production and Sound Engineering at university.
