Introducing the Harrison Tape Saturator Plug-In: Classic tape sound from the Golden Era of Recording

Tape Saturator imparts the unique sonic character of popular 1970s ¼” 2‑track tape machines into a single, powerful software emulation.

February 17, 2026

Nashville, TN, February 17, 2026 – Harrison Audio, the legendary company behind decades of groundbreaking studio innovations, announces its latest plug-in, the Harrison Tape Saturator. During the '70s and '80s, tape machines were at the heart of studios around the world, shaping how records were made. The Harrison Tape Saturator is a classic analog tape saturation plug-in designed to emulate the sound of 2-track reel-to-reel tape machines.

As an authentic recreation of the sought-after sound of classic 2‑track analogue reel‑to‑reel tape machines, the Harrison Tape Saturator is faithfully modelled on classic machines of the golden era of recording, imparting the unmistakable character of analog tape - from subtle warmth and cohesion, to rich saturation, and everything in between. Its warm, analogue tone is at the heart of Harrison’s unique sonic character, working in harmony with the transformer balanced mic pres, and super-smooth sound of the 32Classic console - which was typically found in studios of that era.

Tape Saturator enhances any audio signal with layers of even‑ and odd‑order harmonics, thickening the low end, smoothing out the top, and gently taming the transients. It also introduces subtle, natural tape‑style compression that can make a mix more cohesive. Whether the goal is to add analog-style color and punch to a drum kit, soften the top end of guitars, or tighten up an entire mix, Tape Saturator delivers authentic character where it is needed most.

The Golden Era of Recording - Live Stream feat. Joe Carrel & Jacob Lyons
Harrison Audio presents a live stream exploring the impact of the golden era of recording - defined by musical signal paths, decisive workflows, and tools that shaped some of the best-sounding records ever made.

Co-hosted by Joe Carrel (Grammy-nominated recording engineer, producer, and mixer) and Jacob Lyons (Harrison Audio Specialist and recording engineer), the session looks at what made classic Harrison designs — from the original 3232 to today’s 32Classic, 32C and Tape Saturator plug-ins — so influential, and how those principles translate to modern, in-the-box production. Join live on Mid-day (12:00 PM) in Nashville, Tennessee (Central Time) / 6:00 PM GMT/the UK., and discover how golden-era tools and thinking can elevate today’s recordings: Link to sign up page

Tape Saturator Key Features:

Input & Output Gain & Meters: Dedicated input and output gain controls, along with clear metering, let you easily see how hard you’re driving the Tape Saturator and monitor your final output level.
Fidelity Selector: Choose from five tape grades, with “Best” offering the highest headroom and widest bandwidth with minimal distortion. Lower the selector to introduce more character and step into authentic lo‑fi analog territory.
Speed Selector: Switch between multiple tape speeds, from 60 ips for the highest‑quality, studio‑grade performance, all the way down to 1 7/8 ips, like classic consumer cassette machines.
Drive: Increase the Drive knob to intensify the tape saturation, adding warmth, grit, and analog-style color to your source.
Flutter: Introduce subtle to extreme variations in tape speed, creating slight pitch fluctuations that authentically replicate the natural mechanical inconsistencies of real tape machines.
Dropouts: Emulate the artifacts of worn or damaged magnetic tape that momentarily lose contact with the tape heads. This control adjusts both the frequency and intensity of those dropout events.
Hiss: A classic byproduct of recording to tape, created by the magnetic particles and the mechanical nature of the machine. Add as much or as little hiss as you like to dial in the perfect amount of vintage charm on your tracks.
Presets: Save time by choosing from curated preset sounds, each designed to emulate classic tape types and instantly add character to your tracks.

Compatible with AAX, VST, VST3, and AU formats, the Harrison Tape Saturator is available at the affordable price of $49, and just $29 during a limited time introductory offer.

For more details or to purchase, please visit the Harrison eStore at https://store.harrisonaudio.com/index.php

About Harrison
Harrison has been designing and manufacturing audio mixing consoles in Nashville, Tennessee (Music City, USA) since 1975. The company's products serve the markets of music recording/mixing, international film and television sound production, audio post-production, and broadcast audio. Over the past 50 years, Harrison's production tools have helped world-renowned artists create some of the most recognized and celebrated music in history.