Digital recordings sound clean and precise. Sometimes too clean. Too precise. Lifeless.
OUR CHRISTMAS 2025 GIFT TO YOU
HoRNet TapeLite is 100% FREE.
No trial period, no hidden costs, no strings attached. Just our way of saying thank you to the audio community for another amazing year.
What's missing in digital?
We all love the convenience of digital recording. Unlimited tracks, instant recall, zero noise floor. But often, mixes can feel sterile or “separated.”
That’s because digital capture is linear. It doesn’t react. It doesn’t push back. It just… records.
That’s Where TapeLite Comes In
HoRNet TapeLite brings back the non-linear behavior of magnetic tape. It adds the harmonic distortion, the subtle compression, and the frequency bumps that act as the “glue” for your tracks.
- Authentic Emulation: Based on the legendary Otari MX80.
- Two Speeds: Selectable 15 IPS and 30 IPS modes.
- High Quality: Fixed 4x oversampling for pristine audio.
THE CHARACTER
We didn’t just model “generic tape.” We modeled a specific classic professional tape machine.
Why this one? It was the workhorse of the late analog era. It’s known for being cleaner than 60s tube machines but having more “vibe” than early digital recorders. It hits the perfect sweet spot: punchy low end, smooth highs, and a saturation curve that feels musical, not broken.
15 IPS VS 30 IPS
Tape speed changes the physics of how sound is magnetized onto the reel. TapeLite gives you both classic options.
15 IPS
Warmer, “fatter”, rolled-off highs, stronger low-end “head bump”. More saturation at lower levels.
Best for:
Drums, Bass, Electric Guitars, Lo-Fi textures, or anytime you need weight and warmth.
30 IPS
Brighter, tighter, more transparent. Extended high-frequency response with less noise and flatter low end.
Best for:
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Master Bus, Pop/Modern Rock mixes where clarity is key.
Controls
INPUT / OUTPUT
Gain staging is critical for tape plugins. Drive the Input harder to get more saturation and compression. Use the Output to level match so you can make fair A/B comparisons.
Speed
A simple toggle to switch the physical modeling engine between 15 IPS (inches per second) and 30 IPS. This changes the entire frequency response and distortion profile.
Bias
Controls the magnetization current. Increasing Bias can smooth out high frequencies and change the distortion texture, often making the sound feel “creamier” but slightly darker.
MIX
Parallel processing built-in. Blend the saturated signal with your clean dry signal to thicken tracks without losing transient definition.
TAPELITE VS TAPE MK2
TapeLite is the little brother of our flagship Tape MK2. It uses the exact same DSP engine for the authentic analog tape recorder model. So, why upgrade?
TapeLite
- One classic vintage deck emulated
- Two speeds (15 and 30 IPS)
- Fixed 4x Oversampling
- Manual Gain
Tape MK2
- Five classic decks emulated
- Two speeds (15 and 30 IPS) for each desk
- Adjustable oversampling up to 8x
- Auto gain adjustment
VERDICT: TapeLite is perfect if you want the classic professional tape machine sound quickly. Tape MK2 is your upgrade path if you want the complete collection of history’s best tape machines.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| FORMATS |
VST3, AU, AAX |
| OS SUPPORT |
macOS 10.13+ (Apple Silicon native) / Windows 10+ |
| PROCESSING |
64-bit internal precision, 4x oversampling |
| COPY PROTECTION |
None (just be nice and don’t share it) |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS IT REALLY FREE?
Yes. It is our Christmas 2025 gift. It will remain free forever.
CAN I USE IT FOR MASTERING?
Absolutely. The 30 IPS setting is fantastic for adding a subtle “expensive” sheen to your master bus.
IS IT HEAVY ON CPU?
Despite the 4x oversampling, it is highly optimized. You can run it across every channel of your mix.
DO I NEED AN ILOK?
No. We hate dongles as much as you do. Just download and install.
DOES IT ADD NOISE?
By default, we model the saturation, not the hiss. We believe in “modern vintage”—the vibe without the headache.
HOW DO I GET THE TAPE MK2 UPGRADE?
If you like TapeLite, check out the Tape MK2 page on our store. It’s affordable, even without a sale.
GET TAPELITE FREE
100% FREE • ZERO COST • LIFETIME UPDATES
Add the warmth of analog tape to your DAW today.