Track24
Key Features
- Variable Texture control blends between even harmonics (warmth) and odd harmonics (grit) for precise tonal shaping
- Four tone presets modeled after Swiss and Japanese tape machines running at 30 ips and 15 ips speeds
- Pre-saturation high-pass and low-pass filters to focus the effect on specific frequency ranges
- 4x oversampling mode to eliminate aliasing artifacts with minimal latency increase
- Dry/wet mix knob for parallel processing and blending saturated signal with the original
- Neutral tone preset provides a completely flat frequency response for pure saturation without coloration
- Lightweight plugin under 2 MB per platform with a simple, CPU-friendly interface
Description
Track24 by Low Wave Studios captures the saturation and tonal character of analog tape without the mechanical artifacts like wow, flutter, and noise. It sits in a unique space between tape emulation and creative saturator, offering harmonic coloring that adds warmth and body to digital recordings.
The Texture control is the standout feature, letting you blend between even harmonics (warmth, support, stability) and odd harmonics (brighter, grittier tones). Four tone presets modeled after two different tape machines at different speeds (30 ips and 15 ips) shape the frequency response before saturation is applied.
Pre-saturation high-pass and low-pass filters let you focus the saturation on a specific frequency range, keeping lows tight or highs clean as needed. A 4x oversample mode prevents aliasing artifacts at the cost of minimal added latency, and the dry/wet knob makes parallel processing straightforward.
User reception has been consistently positive, with producers praising its subtlety and musicality. One reviewer on Plugins4Free described it as a "set-and-forget type of plug-in that sounds fantastic on buses and the master" for adding analog flavor.
Track24 is available in VST3 and AU formats for Windows and macOS (Intel only, not Apple Silicon). The download is lightweight at under 2 MB per platform.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Track24 work with Apple Silicon Macs?
No. The developer states that all Low Wave Studios plugins are available for Windows and macOS but not ARM M-series processors. You would need to run it under Rosetta 2 translation on Apple Silicon Macs, which may add some CPU overhead.
What is the difference between Track24 and a full tape emulation plugin?
Track24 focuses specifically on the saturation and tonal characteristics of analog tape, deliberately omitting mechanical artifacts like wow, flutter, hiss, and noise. Full tape emulations like Waves J37 or u-he Satin model the complete tape machine behavior including those imperfections, which some producers want for authenticity.
What do the four tone presets in Track24 represent?
The presets are modeled after two different tape machines (one Swiss-made and one Japanese) running at different tape speeds. Type I is the Swiss machine at 30 ips, Types II and III are the Japanese machine at 30 ips and 15 ips respectively, and Neutral is a completely flat response with no tonal coloration.
Can Track24 be used on a master bus?
Yes, Track24 works well on master and sub-group buses. Users frequently praise it as a subtle, set-and-forget plugin for adding analog flavor to full mixes. The dry/wet control and pre-saturation filters give you enough precision to apply gentle warmth without overprocessing the master.
