What are the different tape styles?

OP-1 Fieldtape stylesOP-1F tape typesstudio vintage porta disk

The OP-1 Field introduces 4 distinct tape styles, each with unique sonic character:

Studio 4-track (15 ips):

  • Highest fidelity option
  • Clean, professional sound
  • Minimal coloration
  • Best for final mixes
  • 15 inches per second tape speed

Vintage 4-track (7.5 ips):

  • Classic analog warmth
  • Subtle saturation
  • Slightly rolled-off highs
  • Authentic retro character
  • Nostalgic tape machine vibe

Porta 4-track (3.75 ips):

  • Cassette recorder emulation
  • Lo-fi character
  • Warble and flutter
  • Compressed sound
  • Great for bedroom producer aesthetics

Disk Mini:

  • Digital character
  • Psychoacoustic compression
  • Unique artifacts
  • Modern lo-fi
  • Different from analog tape simulation

Choosing a tape style: 1. In tape mode, press shift + tape 2. Select "new" 3. Browse the tape styles 4. Start fresh on chosen style

When to use each:

  • Studio: Important projects, clean recordings
  • Vintage: Warm, analog vibes
  • Porta: Lo-fi, indie, experimental
  • Disk: Digital nostalgia, unique textures

Note: Tape style is set per tape/project. You can have different projects using different styles. Once recorded, the character is embedded — you can't change the style of existing recordings.

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