Tape Orchestra
Key Features
- 15 presets covering strings, brass, woodwinds, synth, and vox humana — all processed through vintage cassette tape
- Clean and "crinkle" preset variants let you choose between subtle tape warmth and heavily distorted textures
- Recorded through a Tascam Portastudio using pre-distressed and physically crinkled cassette tapes for authentic analog degradation
- Built-in expression and dynamics sliders in the LABS interface for real-time performance control
- Runs in the dedicated Spitfire Audio plugin — no Kontakt or third-party sampler required
- Unique orchestral textures ideal for film scoring, ambient music, indie soundtracks, and lo-fi productions
Description
Tape Orchestra is a LABS instrument by Spitfire Audio that takes orchestral and synth recordings and feeds them through pre-distressed cassettes and tape loops via an old-school Tascam Portastudio. The result is 15 presets spanning strings, brass, woodwinds, synth, and vox humana, all degraded with the grainy warmth and flutter of vintage cassette tape.
Released in January 2020, the library captures something specific that pristine orchestral samples cannot: fragility and nostalgia. The tapes were physically crinkled to create distorted textures, producing sounds that feel worn, intimate, and slightly unpredictable.
Presets include both clean and "crinkle" variants for most instrument groups, letting you dial between subtle tape coloration and heavily degraded textures. Strings Flautando, Strings Sul Tasto, Brass Hollow, Brass Loop, Woods Hollow, Woods Overblown, Synth, and Vox Humana each offer a distinct orchestral color filtered through analog imperfection.
Bedroom Producers Blog has repeatedly cited Tape Orchestra as a personal favorite among the LABS collection, alongside Trumpet Fields and Scary Strings. The library runs inside the Spitfire Audio plugin (VST, VST3, AU, AAX) and requires no additional sampler.
The full download is 705 MB and works on macOS 10.10+ (Intel) and Windows 7/8/10 with 2 GB RAM and 2 GB free disk space.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install Tape Orchestra?
Download and install the Spitfire Audio app from labs.spitfireaudio.com, then search for Tape Orchestra in the library browser. As of 2024, LABS is now part of Splice INSTRUMENT, so you may need to access it through the Splice platform. The download is 705 MB.
What is the difference between Tape Orchestra and Aperture Cassette Symphony?
Tape Orchestra is a free 15-preset library with tape-degraded orchestral sounds. Aperture Cassette Symphony ($249) is Spitfire Audio's full paid expansion of the concept, featuring 100 articulations, 200 cassette tapes, and a dedicated plugin with the Aperture fader for blending intimate solo players to full symphony.
What do the crinkle presets do?
Each instrument group includes a standard and a "crinkle" variant. The crinkle presets use tapes that were physically crinkled before recording, adding extra distortion, warbling, and textural artifacts. These are more degraded and experimental sounding than the standard versions.
Can I use Tape Orchestra without a MIDI keyboard?
Yes. The LABS plugin works with any MIDI input, including your DAW's piano roll or virtual keyboard. You can draw MIDI notes directly in your DAW to trigger the presets without any hardware.
