A company famous for high-end guitar, recording, and Eurorack products, Strymon Engineering has released the Deco Tape Saturator and Doubletracker plugin for DAWs.

A direct emulation of their critically acclaimed Deco hardware pedal, this new Strymon plugin features offers the reputable digital goodness that the brand is known for.

The Deco plugin aims to live up to its hardware counterpart while extending its capabilities, therefore making it an invaluable tool for musicians, producers, and sound engineers looking to infuse their digital recordings with the warmth and character of analog tape saturation.

Strymon Deco Plugin

The Deco Plugin comes with two distinct Saturation voices, each designed to capture the characteristics of both professional open-reel mastering tape machines and the ALC auto-limiting circuit found in high-end ’70s cassette decks.

Notably, the Deco plugin introduces the exclusive feature of dual tape transports in its Doubletracker section. By manipulating the offset between these virtual tape decks, you can utilise classic effects such as phasing, flanging and chorusing, slapback delay and echo. Ultimately, the plugin aims to emulate a studio workflow reminiscent of early recordings made at iconic facilities like Sun Studios and Abbey Road by providing a vintage authenticity.

Sean Halley, Strymon’s Head of Marketing, emphasized the significant step forward in accessibility brought about by the Deco Plugin. He highlighted how the dual tape deck configuration produces unique vintage sounds previously unattainable in DAWs. This plugin version of Deco retains its original guitar-focused roots while incorporating a wealth of gain range, enabling users to traverse the entire gamut from subtle saturation and echo to raucous, distorted chaos – all based on the characteristics of magnetic tape.

Furthermore, the Deco Plugin offers comprehensive tonal controls that parallel the original pedal’s versatility. You can process an array of instruments and signals with the Deco plugin, not just guitars, with two operating modes including Normal and Studio. In fact, the latter provides an additional 10 dB of headroom!

Pricing and availability

The Strymon Deco Tape Saturator and Doubletracker are available from the manufacturer’s website and select retailers worldwide for $79, available in VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats.