Universal Audio UAD Empirical Labs FATSO Tape Simulator

Slam drums into thick saturation, warm a vocal, and glue your whole mix together. The Empirical Labs FATSO Tape Simulator puts tape, compression, and high-frequency smoothing under one set of knobs. From subtle color to total destruction, you’re mixing with the definitive FATSO, developed with its designer, Dave Derr.

Get the Full Analog Tape Simulator and Optimizer

Empirical Labs founder Dave Derr built the FATSO to capture the musical characteristics of multiple compressors, Class A electronics, and magnetic tape, all in one box. That’s why it’s a favorite of legendary engineers with credits ranging from Willie Nelson to AC/DC. Now that box is yours in the form of our FATSO plug-in, endorsed by Derr himself.

Replace Your Entire Chain

You shouldn’t need three processors to make a mix warm, controlled, and smooth. The FATSO pairs multiple styles of compression with tape warmth and saturation – taming dynamics while it softens harsh highs and thickens your tracks.

Access Four Compression Modes

Get four classic compressor curves in one box: Buss, a gentle 2:1 with a soft knee for mix glue; G.P., an invisible workhorse that holds a steady level; Tracking, an 1176-style compressor for vocals and instruments; and Spank, a radical limiter that recreates the squeeze of ’70s SSL talkback compressors.

Go from Tamed to Trashed

Push the Input knob and decide how far to take it. A little drive softly clips peaks and adds musical harmonics. Keep pushing past the Pinned LED and you’re into thick, crushed distortion. Blend in the transformer and Warmth circuits for tape tone, from a hint of color on a vocal to a drum bus that’s completely destroyed.

Enjoy Legendary FATSO Sound for Any System

The FATSO is one of the most widely used analog saturators in recording history. Now get the same subtle harmonic coloration and extreme squeeze of the original hardware unit, with or without an Apollo.

Features

• Warmth for Everything. Slam drums, make bass pop on small speakers, or warm up a vocal instantly
• The Only Authentic FATSO. Get the same tape and saturation processing heard on recordings by AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and more
• Beyond the Hardware. Enjoy features like sidechain filtering, variable transformer saturation, and deeper compression parameters
• Two Plug-Ins. Access iconic tones with FATSO Jr or get deeper compression control with the FATSO Sr
• Four Compression Modes. Glue your buses and mixes together with Buss, G.P., Tracking, and Spank settings