Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
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Contenders
Softube Tape is a saturation plugin. Score 8.5/10, price $99, formats and comparisons.
UAD Studer A800 is a licensed multitrack 2-inch tape machine emulation for track-by-track analog tape color, calibrated paths, and mix glue.
Score verdict
On the Dubspot Score, UAD Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder comes out ahead (8.6). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Softube Tape | UAD Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $49+ |
| Dubspot Score | 8.5 | 8.6 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Product type | effect from Softube | — |
| Developer | Softube | — |
| Typical price | $99 | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | — |
| Primary job | focused effect work in modern sessions | — |
| Catalog status | Current as of 2026 | — |
| Type | — | Multichannel multitrack tape recorder emulation |
| Heritage | — | Modeled after Studer A800 2-inch multitrack class machines |
| Classic uses | — | Drums, guitars, session-wide tape printing, bus glue |
| Platform | — | Native and/or UAD-2 depending on current SKU (confirm on product page) |
| Related | — | Pairs conceptually with Ampex ATR-102 for 2-track mastering tape |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.