HoRNet AnalogStage MK2 1.0.3 update

We are proud to announce the release of HoRNet AnalogStage MK2 version 1.0.3, a maintenance update to our advanced analog console emulation plugin. Designed for producers, engineers, and audio enthusiasts who want to bring the unmistakable warmth and character of vintage analog gear into their digital workflow, AnalogStage MK2 is a versatile, powerful, and carefully modeled tool that recreates the sonic signature of classic analog consoles.

AnalogStage MK2 faithfully replicates the non-linear behaviors, frequency response curves, and harmonic content of real analog hardware. These include signature characteristics such as subtle saturation, residual circuit noise (hiss), and nonlinear harmonic distortion that impart color and musicality to a mix. When applied across multiple channels or groups in your session, AnalogStage MK2 acts as a cohesive glue that gives digital productions a more organic, analog feel.

This plugin is not just a cosmetic emulation—it is grounded in circuit-level modeling based on real-world devices. With three distinct analog saturation modes, AnalogStage MK2 provides users with a wide range of tonal palettes, each rooted in a specific historical era of analog technology:

• OpAmp mode simulates the behavior of operational amplifier-based circuits, commonly used in modern high-fidelity analog gear. This mode offers the cleanest, most linear response of the three, with subtle harmonic enhancement and minimal coloration.

• Transistor mode captures the character of analog consoles from the 1970s, known for their fat, punchy tone and warm, colorful saturation. This mode also incorporates transformer emulation, a critical component in shaping the dynamic and harmonic response of transistor-based systems.

• Tube mode replicates the rich, harmonically complex saturation of vintage vacuum tube gear. It features a smooth, warm response with gentle compression characteristics, ideal for vocals, bass, and mix bus processing. Like Transistor mode, Tube mode includes transformer modeling to further enhance the analog realism.

All three modes are carefully modeled to reflect the subtle nonlinearities that make analog gear sound so musical, including the way harmonics develop with increasing input levels, and the gentle soft clipping that occurs during saturation.

AnalogStage MK2 is designed to be used across your entire mix—insert it on individual tracks, buses, or the master channel to create a virtual analog console environment. To streamline the workflow in multi-track projects, the plugin supports group linking, allowing you to control up to eight separate groups or link globally across all plugin instances. This makes it easy to apply consistent settings, saturation types, or gain staging adjustments across your mix.

To assist with accurate gain staging, AnalogStage MK2 includes a precise stereo VU meter, calibrated to -18dBFS, a standard reference point for analog gain levels. This helps users monitor levels in a more traditional analog context and achieve the optimal signal flow throughout their mix chain. Additionally, we’ve included our latest auto-gain technology, which intelligently adjusts output gain to match input levels. This allows you to drive the analog models hard for character without artificially inflating the output volume—perfect for A/B comparisons or subtle mix refinement.

One of the most unique features of AnalogStage MK2 is the “age” control, which simulates the natural wear and drift in performance that occurs in analog gear over time—particularly due to aging capacitors. By adjusting the age slider, users can increase or reduce subtle changes in frequency response and saturation behavior, making their virtual console sound older, darker, or more colored. This adds a layer of real-world unpredictability and vintage charm to your mixes.

To ensure the best possible audio fidelity, AnalogStage MK2 features intelligent oversampling up to 4x, automatically adjusting the internal processing sample rate to as high as 192kHz. This minimizes aliasing and preserves the integrity of harmonic content, especially at higher gain settings or in modes with strong saturation. You get all the sonic color without the harshness that can plague lesser emulations.

With its combination of meticulous analog modeling, real-time responsiveness, and modern production features, AnalogStage MK2 is an essential tool for anyone seeking to infuse digital mixes with analog warmth, character, and realism. It bridges the gap between digital precision and analog emotion, delivering a sound that feels more alive, more tactile, and more expressive.

The newly released version 1.0.3 of AnalogStage MK2 is a maintenance update that improves reliability in saving and recalling session states. Specifically, we have:

• Fixed an issue where the “send to all” setting was not correctly saved with sessions or plugin presets, ensuring full compatibility across DAWs and project recalls.

This update is free for all current owners of the plugin and is available for download via our HoRNet DoIn manager or directly from the user area on the HoRNet Plugins website.

HoRNet AnalogStage MK2 is compatible with macOS (10.9 and later) and Windows (7 and later) systems. It supports all major plugin formats including VST2.4, VST3, Audio Units (AU), and AAX, and is fully 64-bit, ensuring robust performance in all modern DAWs.

Whether you’re working on a rock mix, an orchestral score, a lo-fi track, or modern electronic music, AnalogStage MK2 delivers the warmth, tone, and unpredictability that only true analog-style processing can provide. Try it today and bring your mixes to life with the unmistakable color of analog.