Akai Professional AIR Tape Double Track: Vintage Double-Tracking, Modern MPC Workflow

Akai Professional’s AIR Tape Double Track plugin is designed to bring the classic sound of analog double-tracking into the digital heart of the MPC ecosystem. The video opens with Malo introducing the plugin as a modern and faithful recreation of the retro-style doubling effect, now available directly on MPC standalone units. This isn’t just a nostalgia trip: the plugin is positioned as a flexible production tool, capable of enhancing a wide range of sources—from lush vocal stacks to bold guitar and synth textures.

The plugin’s interface is immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with Akai’s workflow: clear, tactile controls and a visual feedback system that fits right into the MPC’s touchscreen paradigm. The focus here is on integrating vintage character with modern flexibility, making it accessible for both seasoned producers and newcomers looking to add movement and depth to their tracks. Akai’s approach, as always, is to blend authenticity with workflow efficiency, and Tape Double Track is no exception.

At the core of Tape Double Track’s sonic identity is the ‘Very Speed’ knob. This control manipulates the perceived distance between the original and doubled signals, offering up to 20 milliseconds of delay. By adjusting Very Speed, users can dial in the intensity of the double-tracking effect, introducing subtle or pronounced modulation, pitch anomalies, and speed variations. The plugin provides a real-time visual representation of these changes, allowing users to see the delay relationship between channels as they tweak parameters. This hands-on approach to modulation is a nod to both classic tape workflows and modern digital control.

Channel mixing is where Tape Double Track moves beyond simple doubling into the realm of creative stereo design. Users can independently adjust the levels of the source and double track, pan each channel for wider stereo images, and even add drive to both the source and the doubled signal. The video demonstrates muting the double effect to focus on the dry source, then gradually reintroducing the double for a more expansive soundstage. This flexibility allows for anything from subtle thickening to dramatic, swirling textures.

Low-end management is handled via the Bass Mono feature, which lets users sum frequencies below a chosen threshold (such as 180 Hz) into mono. This is especially valuable when doubling drums or bass-heavy material, ensuring that phase issues don’t sap the punch from the mix. The plugin also allows soloing of the low frequencies, making it easy to fine-tune exactly which part of the spectrum is being affected. Akai’s attention to these workflow details is evident, giving producers the tools to maintain clarity and impact even as they layer on vintage-style effects.

While Tape Double Track shines on vocals—creating the illusion of stacked takes without the need for multiple recordings—the video makes it clear that its applications are much broader. Malo demonstrates using the plugin on drums via a return track, isolating the doubling effect for parallel processing. The same approach can be applied to synths, guitars, or any source that benefits from added movement and analog warmth. The workflow encourages experimentation, whether you’re thickening a lead, widening a pad, or adding vintage character to samples. For MPC users, this plugin is a versatile addition to the creative toolkit, bridging the gap between classic tape techniques and modern digital production.