Blank Tapes

Spitfire Audio has announced the availability of Tape Synths — the studio’s latest virtual instrument collaboration, featuring the tape-warped world of the Brooklyn-based composer and electronic musician BlankFor.ms, AKA Tyler Gilmore. The VSTi is a deep-sampled software instrument that is anchored around a vast 10.5GB library which consists of inspiring, dreamlike sounds, and unpredictable, multi-layered textures. Tape Synths features tape and granular processing with over 150 layers across 28 main presets that drip with vintage analogue warmth and nostalgia.

From lo-fi digital grit, stabs, plucks, and bells, through to soft pads, and woozy nostalgia, the plugin pushes the tone-shaping magic of magnetic tape to its limits — channelling BlankFor.ms’ enviable collection of classic and unique tape machines, pedals, and other unusual gear. 

The artist utilises degraded tape machines such as an early Sony Walkman, a Library of Congress C1 cassette player, and a range of TASCAM Portastudio 4-track cassette recorders — as well as a modular synth. These run through a range of guitar pedals and other tone-shaping devices, which are further treated through tape splicing, pitch-shifting, and other generative techniques.

Gilmore says, “To my ear, tape introduces a deep, organic version of chaos. It brings a level of randomisation in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Pitch (tape speed), filtering, and level are all subject to constant variability. It occurs to the brain as a hazing effect when used lightly, and disorienting when intensified. We have become so accustomed to digital audio and its pristine perfection that tape’s magic has a new sort of value. It brings something more tactile, and more alive, to the tones.” Spitfire’s plugin allows users to work with up to seven layers of tape and granular processing on each preset. 

As far as presets go, there are 12x Key, 10x Pad, and 6x Arp presets, and with parameters such as Expression, Dynamics, ADSR, and Reverb users are able to further control the sample interactions. “Imagine that dusty, unmarked cassette you find in a thrift store — lush tones hide behind a veil of tape degradation, distortion, and magnetic saturation. There’s something magical about how each tape machine filters, destabilises, and saturates whatever is recorded onto it. I don’t know of another software instrument quite like this. Once the Spitfire Team built out the first draft, we knew we had something incredible,” concludes Gilmore.

Engineered to encourage sound design, Tape Synths showcases 138 presets — including 110 BlankFor.ms originals —which through unpredictable textures and unique voicings can offer users the flexibility to make the sounds their own. 

Compatibility:
Mac (macOS 10.10+)
Windows (7,8, and 10)
AAX, AU, VST2, VST3 formats.

RRP:
GBP 49.00 (inc. VAT)
US$49.00
EU49.00 (inc. VAT)