Signal Flow
AetherSpool accepts stereo audio, feeds it through a regenerative tape-delay loop, then sends the result through the optional spring-reverb section. The main Mix control blends dry input with the tape-delay signal. Spring Mix separately blends the modeled spring tank with that result.
Tape Delay Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Tape Length | Sets delay time inside the selected Delay Range. |
| Delay Range | Short: 10 ms–2 s. Long: 2–120 s. |
| Regen | Returns delayed audio to the tape loop. High values create long decays and near-self-oscillation. |
| Mix | Blends dry input with the delayed tape signal. |
| Tape Tone | Low-pass filtering inside the feedback loop; lower values darken each repeat. |
| Saturation | Adds soft tape-style compression, warmth, and harmonic drive. |
| Wow Depth | Sets the amount of slow delay-time and pitch movement, from 0–20 ms. |
| Wow Rate | Sets modulation speed from 0.03–2 Hz. |
| Tape Speed | Sets 3.75–15 ips. Faster tape shortens and brightens the delay while reducing perceived wow. |
| Hold Loop | Stops new input from entering while the captured loop continues. |
Keep monitoring levels when using high Regen settings. The internal loop is limited below unity feedback, but resonant material can still become loud.
Reel LFO
The Reel LFO knob controls automated horizontal reel travel. Push the center lamp to switch the LFO on or off.
- LFO Assign — Left: moves the left reel.
- LFO Assign — Both: moves both large reels.
- LFO Assign — Right: moves the right reel.
- Invert: makes assigned reels move in opposite directions when both are active.
Reel-LFO motion follows tape speed, so faster tape produces faster visible and audible movement.
Spring Reverb Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Tank Power | Switches the modeled spring reverb on or off. |
| Tank Range | Selects a tight short spring or a spacious long spring response. |
| Excite | Buchla-inspired vertical control that raises reverb input while opening its input filter. |
| Tank Size | Changes spring length, resonance spacing, animation speed, and decay character. |
| Damping | Absorbs high frequencies for a darker tail and dimmer spring shimmer. |
| Pre-Delay | Adds 0–250 ms between the tape signal and spring excitation. |
| Spring Mix | Blends the spring tank with the tape-delay output. |
| Level | Trims spring output from -24 dB to +6 dB. |
The spring window responds to incoming reverb energy. Larger tanks animate more slowly, while increased damping reduces shimmer brightness.
Interactive Tape Mechanism
The tape mechanism is both a display and a performance surface.
Large Reels
- Drag the left reel horizontally to reshape delay time, wow depth, and wow rate.
- Drag the right reel horizontally to reshape delay time, regeneration, tone, and saturation.
- Reel positions are stored with plug-in state and named patches.
Center Idler
Press and hold the small center idler to brake the tape. The loop slows into a pitch dive and winds back up when released.
Tape Pluck
Drag any visible tape span vertically to pull and release it. The tape visibly wobbles and the audio receives a short pitch disturbance.
Patches
AetherSpool creates six factory patches on first use:
- 01 - Silver Slap
- 02 - Ghost Capstan
- 03 - Wire Cathedral
- 04 - Dub Dynamo
- 05 - Polar Drift
- 06 - Infinite Orchard
Use the < and > buttons to move through available patches. Press SAVE, enter a patch name, and confirm to save the current parameters and reel positions.
Patch files use the .frip extension and are stored in:
Older patches found under ~/Library/Application Support/Frippertronics/Presets are copied into the AetherSpool patch folder when missing.
Your DAW also stores normal plug-in state inside its session, independently of named patch files.
Installation and Host Scanning
The signed installer places the standalone application in /Applications and the VST3 in the system VST3 folder.
If a host does not list AetherSpool:
1. Quit and reopen the host.
2. Run the host's plug-in rescan or reset procedure.
3. Confirm that /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/AetherSpool.vst3 exists.
4. Confirm that the host supports VST3 effects on macOS.
Removal
Remove the application and plug-in manually if needed:
User patches are not removed automatically. Delete ~/Library/Application Support/AetherSpool separately only if you no longer need them.