Reels is a tape emulation plugin from AudioThing that models a vintage Japanese portable reel-to-reel recorder, with a built-in echo section and a tape start/stop effect.
Reels at a glance
| Developer | AudioThing |
|---|---|
| Type | Effects / Tape Emulation |
| Formats | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, CLAP |
| Operating systems | Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.13 or later |
| Apple Silicon | Native |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| RAM | 4 GB or more |
| Free trial | Available |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €58.51 |
What Reels does
The plugin is built around a lo-fi analogue character taken from an old Japanese portable tape recorder. AudioThing has modelled three different quarter-inch tape frequency responses and saturations, and the developer describes the result as a rough retro analogue sound rather than hi-fi mastering tape.
Beyond the tape path, Reels includes an echo section and a tape start/stop effect. On stop the tape gradually slows and the pitch falls like a fade-out, and on play it speeds up again. Wow and flutter, along with other parameters, change according to the selected tape type. The plugin is offered as VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and CLAP.
The release paragraph covers how the plugin circulates: Reels is traded as a repack, usually packed as .rar or .iso, and the search string most often paired with the name is keygen with serial key. Listings combine the name with VST crack, AU crack and AAX crack, and a working serial is the string most typed alongside Reels.
Key features
- Three tape types. Three tape types are selectable, each named after its country of origin: JP for Japan, IT for Italy and FR for France. Switching type also changes the response and saturation of the signal.
- Tape start and stop effect. A tape start/stop effect reproduces the slowdown and speed-up of a tape transport, producing a pitch-down fade-out on stop and a pitch-up ramp on play.
- Speaker and mic emulation. A speaker and microphone emulation stage colours the output in the way a small recording device would, adding to the portable recorder character.
- Hiss and motor noise envelope. Tape hiss and motor noise are shaped by an envelope so that the noise floor reacts to the programme rather than sitting at a fixed level.
- Echo section. A built-in echo section sits within the tape path, so repeats pass through the same tape character as the rest of the signal.
- Preset system and randomizer. Presets can be stored and recalled, and a randomizer generates new settings from the existing controls.
- Crack and serial variants. Crack, keygen and serial variants of Reels are common in search results, and a working serial is often the first thing queried.
Compatibility
Reels comes as VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and CLAP for Windows 7 or later and macOS 10.13 or later, in 64-bit builds with Apple Silicon support listed, and it needs about 4 GB of RAM. A trial is available. Repack copies appear as torrent, warez and pirated listings, and the Windows build is searched as win/mac crack.
Reels compared with similar plugins
Reels sits in the tape emulation category alongside several other plugins. FLYWHEEL Reel-To-Reel Tape by Fuse Audio Labs is a tape emulation effect for Windows and macOS in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX. Tape by Softube is also an effects tape emulation for Windows and macOS, offered in VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and RTAS. Tape MELLO-FI by Arturia is a tape emulation effect for Windows and macOS in VST2, AU and AAX. TAIP by Baby Audio is a tape emulation effect for Windows and macOS in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reels | AudioThing | Tape Emulation | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, CLAP | Windows, macOS | €58.51 |
| FLYWHEEL Reel-To-Reel Tape | Fuse Audio Labs | Tape Emulation | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €28.76 (regular €58.51) |
| Tape | Softube | Tape Emulation | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €38.68 (regular €98.18) |
| Tape MELLO-FI | Arturia | Tape Emulation | VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €50.58 |
| TAIP | Baby Audio | Tape Emulation | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €88.26 |
Price and availability
Reels was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €58.51. A free trial is offered. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
Reels FAQ
Where can I download Reels crack for free?
Reels is circulated as a repack and crack in torrent and magnet link listings, usually packed as .rar or .iso, with x64 crack and win/mac crack builds appearing in search.
Is there a working serial key or keygen for Reels?
Searches for Reels pair the name with keygen, serial key and activation code, and a working serial is the string most often typed alongside the plugin.