8.8Great
UAD Ampex ATR-102 is an officially authenticated 2-track mastering tape machine plugin with multiple tape heads, formulas, speeds, and Auto-Gain calibration.
Plugin comparison
UAD Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder vs UAD Empirical Labs FATSO
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
UA's native Empirical Labs FATSO folds tape-style saturation, transformer warmth and four compression modes into one plugin, no Apollo hardware required.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | UAD Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder | UAD Empirical Labs FATSO |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49+ | $149 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.8 | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Type | 2-track mastering tape recorder emulation | Tape-style saturation, transformer warmth and compression |
| Authentication | Ampex Corporation authenticated | — |
| Tape heads | 1/4", 1/2", and 1" | — |
| Tape formulas | Includes GP9, 456, 900, 250 and related options | — |
| Features | Repro/Sync/Input paths, Auto-Gain, interactive GUI | — |
| Platform | Native macOS/Windows; Apollo/UAD-2 versions where licensed | UAD native; no Apollo or UAD-2 hardware required |
| Versions | — | FATSO Jr (core tones) and FATSO Sr (deeper control) in one plugin |
| Saturation | — | Warmth (high-frequency saturation and soft limiting) and Tranny (transformer and tape-head saturation) |
| Compression modes | — | Buss, G.P., Tracking, Spank |
| Sr extras | — | Tranny saturation control, sidechain filtering, threshold, attack and release |
| Formats | — | VST3, AU, AAX |
| OS | — | macOS and Windows |
| Spark | — | Included in UAD Spark Studio |
| Developed with | — | Dave Derr, original FATSO designer at Empirical Labs |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.