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From the Swedish distortion masters and makers of the acclaimed Tape, Tape Echoes, Harmonics, and Saturation Knob plug-ins comes Dirty Tape. The tape effect you need when you want to get down and dirty and keep the sound quality savage. Dirty Tape gives you warm, analog vibes from the moment you load it on a track. Capable of fiercely gritty distortion and saturation, Dirty Tape can also add subtle texture and movement to a sound. Like a photo filter for your tracks, Dirty Tape will take you from static and dull to lively and colorful in a snap.

The Art of Rock & Roll Science

When it comes to creating equipment that improves workflow and offers the highest quality sound, our reputation is rock solid—and long. Our partnerships with premium brands like Marshall, Tube- Tech, Chandler Limited®, and Empirical Labs go back nearly twenty years.

Dirty Tape is built on this legacy of creativity, passion, and attention to detail. Because to create tools that innovate, you have to have heart, soul, and Rock & Roll Science.

Two knobs do the job

With two knobs to regulate all the effects it produces, Dirty Tape makes it simple to add lo-fi, vintage vibes to your mix. The Dirt and Drive controls—based on the Dirt and Drive sections of Softube Tape Echoes—are precision-tuned to dial in the ideal amount of the intended effect. From retro distortion, saturation, and degradation to tape speed variations like pitch modulation, crosstalk, and stereo imbalance to flutter, dropouts, and wow. Dirty Tape delivers it all—with ease.

Calibrate a custom vibe

Set the Stereo Mode to Normal or use it De-coupled (dual mono) to have a greater effect on the balance of your stereo image. Adjust the Low Cut Filter to reduce low-end rumble and increase the lo-fi vibes. Dirty Tape’s parameters let you transform the character of a sound to your taste, from nuanced to in-your-face and every rendition in between.

Make your beat pop

Programmed drum loop sounding too clean? Piano loop too hi-fi for your hip-hop vibe? All the components of your beat will sit right in your mix with the perfect amount of warm saturation from Dirty Tape. It lets you add movement, musicality, and a hip lo-fi mood to your beat-making process.

This product supports
Extended Features

We love VU meters, Bakelite knobs, and analog quirks. But we want modern precision and workflow. The answer? Softube Extended Features. Easy-access panels with the innovations you need close at hand. 

Learn more

In short

• Realistic tape FX perfect for samples, instruments, and beat making
• From the makers of Tape, Tape Echoes, Harmonics, and Saturation Knob
• Instantly apply warm, vintage lo-fi mojo to your tracks
• Easy-to-use with just two knobs to control all the effects
• Derived from Softube Tape Echoes’ Dirt and Drive sections
• Go super-distorted and saturated or add subtle texture
• Featuring effects that range from random pitch modulation to flutter, wow, and dropouts
• Work in Normal Stereo or use De-coupled mode (dual mono) to further affect the balance of your stereo image
• Use the Low Cut Filter to reduce low-end rumble and increases lo-fi vibes
• Get even more control over the dynamics with Softube Extended Features