Alias by orph: Sampler, Tape, Vinyl, and CD Character Plugin

orph has released Alias, a new effect plugin for macOS and Windows that adds the character of old samplers, tape machines, VHS players, vinyl records, and CD players to any audio signal. The plugin is now available in VST3 and AU formats.

Alias is designed to recreate the imperfections of vintage gear. Instead of a single fixed effect, it processes the signal through separate stages. These stages include four vintage sampler characters, a tape setting, and eleven parameters that add specific types of wear or bit crushing.

Vintage Sampler Characters

The sampler section offers three variants each for four iconic machines: the E-mu SP-1200 at 12 bit and 26.04 kHz, the Akai MPC60 and MPC3000, the Akai S950 at 12 bit, and the Ensoniq Mirage at 8 bit. Each character changes the tone and behavior of the signal.

Tape and Wear Parameters

Following the sampler stage, Alias includes twelve tape settings, ranging from a clean studio reel to sticky shed tape. The tape settings are level-matched, so switching between them alters the tone without changing loudness. Additionally, eleven parameters control specific effects: bit depth from 16 down to 4 bit, CD read errors with interpolation, up to eight copy generations, dropout events, tape speed changes, vinyl platter speed, wow and flutter, treble reduction on the side signal, hiss from ten recordings, and a choice of spring, plate, or 12-bit reverb.

Seeded Wear and Automation

One notable feature is the seeded wear system. The wear is generated from a seed stored with the session, ensuring that a project sounds identical when reopened. Furthermore, all parameters are automatable and host tempo sync is available for the error grid.

Features

Four vintage sampler characters with three variants each
Twelve tape settings from clean reel to sticky shed
Bit depth reduction from 16 to 4 bit
CD read error simulation with interpolation
Up to eight copy generations
Dropout, speed, vinyl, wow, flutter, and width controls
Hiss from ten recordings
Spring, plate, and 12-bit reverb
Seeded wear stored with session
Host tempo sync
42 automatable parameters
32-bit float processing up to 96 kHz

Pricing and Availability

Alias is available now for $39 / €39 including tax. A seven-day demo can be downloaded from the product page. Moreover, a bundle with MONOCHORD, the chord instrument from the same developer, costs €139 instead of €178.

Price
$39 / €39 (incl. VAT)

In summary, Alias offers a comprehensive set of vintage character effects with a modular approach. Therefore, it is a solid choice for producers seeking authentic lo-fi textures.