Pinzu Launches SORYNO TAPE Free, a Free Tape Saturation VST3

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Pinzu has released SORYNO TAPE Free, a free tape saturation plug-in for Windows. This is the fifth product in the SORYNO series, following an EQ, compressor, limiter, and de-esser. The new plug-in adds warmth and color to your mix, and it comes with a unique visual approach.

Visual Feedback at Its Core

SORYNO TAPE Free is built around showing exactly what the saturation does. A transfer curve bends as you raise the DRIVE knob, with a glowing dot indicating the current sound position. The curve on screen and the audio come from the same calculation, so what you see is true. Additionally, a tape tone curve and a BEFORE/AFTER level view with the difference filled in and measured in dB help you understand the effect.

The graph responds to the control you just moved, framed in that control’s panel color with its name and value for about two seconds. This also happens for automation, presets, and A/B comparisons. An aliasing readout shows the measured figure for the chosen oversampling setting.

Controls and Performance

The controls include DRIVE (0–100%), TYPE (Tape, Tube, or Transformer), and MIX for parallel saturation. IN and OUT trim range from -24 to +24 dB, and AUTO GAIN compensates for loudness added by saturation, making comparisons fair. QUALITY (oversampling) offers 1x or 2x, with 2x as default. Latency is zero at 1x and 3 samples at 48 kHz at 2x. One instance at 2x uses about 1.4% of a single CPU core, making it very efficient.

Bypass is latency compensated, so switching the plug-in off does not shift timing against other tracks. This is a thoughtful touch for mixing workflows.

Features and Free vs. Pro

SORYNO TAPE Free includes 14 presets, user presets, A/B comparison with undoable copy, undo/redo, tooltips, and a resizable window. The Pro version, currently in preparation, adds tape speed, bias, wow and flutter, band limits, Mid/Side, 4x and 8x oversampling, and 44 presets. User presets made in the free version carry over to Pro automatically.

The free version intentionally includes 2x oversampling. Controls belonging to the paid Pro version remain visible on screen in grey, so you know what Pro would add. This transparency is helpful.

Availability

SORYNO TAPE Free is available as a VST3 plugin for Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit). It is distributed through BOOTH, which requires a free pixiv account to download. The ZIP includes an English readme.

Features

  • Transfer curve visualization with glowing dot
  • DRIVE, TYPE (Tape, Tube, Transformer), MIX controls
  • IN/OUT trim and AUTO GAIN
  • Oversampling at 1x or 2x, zero latency at 1x
  • 14 presets, A/B comparison, undo/redo
  • Latency-compensated bypass
  • Low CPU usage (1.4% per instance at 2x)

Price
Free (SORYNO TAPE Free)
Pro version: in preparation, price not announced

Pros

  • Visual feedback with transfer curve and tape tone curve
  • Low CPU usage (1.4% per instance at 2x) and zero latency at 1x
  • Free with 14 presets and A/B comparison

Cons

  • Windows only (VST3)
  • Requires free pixiv account to download from BOOTH

More info: Pinzu | SORYNO TAPE Free