Developer Variety of Sound has just released FerricTDS mkIII, a free tape saturation effect for Windows.
FerricTDS has had a long and storied journey, going back over fifteen years when it won the KVR Developer Challenge way back in 2009.
We’re used to applauding Variety of Sound plugins (even me, as a bystander with my Mac), but VoS fans seem to hold FerricTDS in exceptionally high regard, even among countless stellar releases (Editor’s note: It’s the best tape plugin ever).
For anyone who’s encountering FerricTDS for the first time, here’s a quick recap. Also, if you’re new to Variety of Sound, check out previous releases, like FeenstaubHDR and TesslaSE mkIII.
FerricTDS is a tape dynamics simulator. The plugin draws on the defining elements of vintage analog tape machines and delivers them through a simple, easy-to-use interface.
The plugin offers gentle dynamics shaping for a well-balanced mix, it adds excitement through harmonic saturation, and limiting.
Initially, it wasn’t the sort of tape emulation that gives you wow and flutter (though that’s to come later); it focuses on the effects of tape that bring warmth and excitement without pushing too hard, and, more importantly, on cohesion throughout.
Whether you’re using it on individual channels or your master bus, FerricTDS is an excellent way to glue everything together musically.
FerricTDS mkII arrived in 2021, and, much to everyone’s delight, it included a 64-bit update. Tomislav called it his “favorite free VST plugin ever,” and revealed it as his “secret spice.” Unfortunately, his eagerness to divulge his secret spice is why Tomislav will never run KFC.
Now, FerricTDS mkIII is here, and Tomislav’s favorite free plugin just got favoriter, I mean, better.
As I mentioned earlier, this update includes a new wow & flutter feature.
The wow & flutter feature leads the brand-new toolbar, which also houses a Color control, a preset manager, A/B options, and a Headroom control.
Additionally, signal coloration adds pre-emphasis-driven HF compression for a more authentic tape simulation.
Limiting is always active when the level exceeds a set threshold, and the transfer curve is more linear at lower levels, creating a soft-clipper character.
FerricTDS mkIII is available in VST and VST3 formats for Windows.
Download: FerricTDS mkIII (FREE)
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Last Updated on December 4, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
