Spectral Plugins have released OCS-45, a cassette tape simulation plug-in that offers a variety of lo-fi sounds that range from nostalgic cassette tape emulation to creative distortion effects.
Emulations of four different cassette types are on offer, with Ferric, Chromium, Ferrichrome and Metal modes available, and noise can be introduced into the signal via four selectable noise models with a dedicated level control. Wow and flutter is adjustable via four controls in the GUI, with Rate and Depth controls available for each, and the effect also features a Dropout control which is capable of running independently on both the input and noise signals.
In addition to the tape emulation parameters, OCS-45 is also equipped with a dedicated distortion effect. Tube, Diode, Soft Clip, Saturation and Downsample distortion types are provided, and the section features Drive and Tone parameters as well as an overall Dry/Wet control for the effect.
A Cassette Settings section allows some customisation of each cassette type, with a Quality control reducing the processed signal’s bandwidth, and a Mono control offering a continuous adjustment over stereo width. This section is also equipped with its own Dry/Wet control to blend the resulting effect with the original signal.
Input and output gain controls can be found at the top of the GUI, along with a global Dry/Wet control. The plug-in also includes over 80 factory presets, offering users a range of sounds that can be loaded instantly. OCS-45 is available in the VST2, VST3, AU and AAX formats, and its supported on the Windows and Mac platforms. The VST and AU versions are also supported on Apple’s M1 processors.
Check out the video below for an overview of the plug-in's features.
Pricing & Availability
OCS-45 is available now from the Spectral Plugins website, and is priced at $15.
