Dusk Audio is giving away its tape delay plugin Tape Echo 2 for free. In this article we cover the giveaway details and an overview of what Tape Echo 2 has to offer.
1. What Is Dusk Audio Tape Echo 2?
Tape Echo 2 is a three-head tape delay plugin that models a tape loop mechanism with one record head and three playback heads, covering the full signal path from the record head through to the output amplifier, and it also includes a spring reverb.
Because the three heads share a single motor, moving the Repeat Rate control moves all three of them together, and the tape glides smoothly to its new speed exactly as the transport does on the real hardware.
There are 12 echo modes that select the combination of heads and spring tank. Mode 11 enables heads 1, 2 and 3 together with the reverb, while mode 12 gives you the reverb on its own.
Tape Age lets you choose between three cartridge conditions — New, Used and Old. Wow, scrape flutter, tape hiss and playback level drift all degrade at the same time, each following its own curve.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Dusk Audio |
| Product | Tape Echo 2 |
| Type | 3-head tape delay with spring reverb |
| Price | Free |
| Formats | VST, VST3, AU |
| Platforms | Windows / macOS |
| Presets | 13 factory presets |
Main Features
- 12 echo modes covering every combination of heads and reverb
- Three playback heads driven by a single motor with fixed mechanical ratios
- Spring reverb tank with three unequal springs and dispersing tails
- Tape saturation that models the record and playback chain
- Tape Age with three selectable cartridge conditions: New, Used and Old
- Wow & flutter that degrades as the tape ages (just like the hardware)
- Automatic splice dropouts as the tape splice passes the head
- Regeneration ranging from a single repeat all the way to self-oscillation
- Tempo sync with 11 note detents (limited to the transport’s physical range, as on the real unit)
- Record path VU meter with peak lamp
- Dry/Wet mix plus independent panning for the echo and the spring
- Record Input switch that mutes the input to tape while keeping the spring alive
- 13 factory presets
- Resizable interface
- Full automation support
- Repeat Rate: the motor’s full travel (approximately 70–178 ms on head 1)
- Intensity: 0–100% (self-oscillates near the maximum)
- Output Volume: -20 dB to +20 dB
Samples used in the video | Splice Sounds
- TRKTRN_HGLKBN_158_Electric_Guitar_Loop_Shackles_Stack_Dry_Db
- LEX_SD2_158_drum_loop_tano
2. How to Download and Install Tape Echo 2
You can download the plugin directly from the Download section of the official site. Once downloaded, move the plugin file into a folder your DAW can read.
Windows
- VST folder: C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins
- VST3 folder: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
macOS
- VST folder: Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST/
- VST3 folder: Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3/
- AU folder: Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components/
Summary
That was the free giveaway information for Dusk Audio Tape Echo 2. If you want a tape echo that reacts like the real machine right down to how worn the tape is, this one is well worth grabbing while it is free.