Iron Oxide 4 is a tape emulation plugin that delivers a distinct, old-school tape sound by focusing on saturating the low and high frequencies. Unlike traditional tape emulators that aim for a wide-range realistic tape effect, this plugin emphasizes a raw, aggressive character perfect for isolated tracks where you want to add grit and impact. Its unique approach allows you to push the sound to bark and hit hard, making it ideal for enhancing individual elements in your mix.

This plugin features a flutter control that helps soften the tone and reduce digital harshness, adding more analog warmth. The innovative Inv/Dry/Wet control lets you shape the saturation in a focused frequency band while blending it with the dry signal. You can also invert the tape saturation tone to subtract it, creating a mid-frequency cut that preserves punch and clarity by reducing muddiness. This approach makes Iron Oxide 4 a powerful tool for shaping tone and increasing sound density in targeted frequency ranges.

Iron Oxide 4 simulates tape speeds from 1.75 to 150 ips, with the ability to assign different speeds to low and high frequencies, functioning similarly to a bandpass filter but with the character of tape saturation. It is designed primarily for use on individual tracks rather than on final mixes or stereo buses, where a more subtle tape sound is preferred. This plugin offers a unique color and vividness that stands apart from standard tape emulations, providing creative options for adding character and presence to your productions.