C.L.A.S.P. by Endless Analog

Designed and perfected by Endless Analog

Closed Loop Analog Signal Processing: A revolutionary system that merges the real sound of analog tape recording to the effortless flow of DAW recording and editing.

This system uses custom hardware, software, and control integration with, within, and between existing tape recording devices and digital audio workstations to capture REAL analog tape sound to computer hard drive. It does this while simultaneously providing accurate monitoring, routing, and machine/DAW control.

Simply put, the best parts of Analog are combined with the bests parts of Digital audio recording.

On 8/14/08 I drove up to Nashville's Ocean Way Studio to see a demonstration.


A good way to become familiar with CLASP is to examine real world situations.

An existing DAW system is set up to record a session. [This DAW system should include audio interface and ADDA converters.] C.L.A.S.P. VST plug-ins are opened on each track to be recorded to, along with an additional bridge plugin placed on any mono channel. The DAW then controls the Tape Machine through its own GUI and transport. When a track is armed on the DAW, that corresponding track is armed on the TM.

[The C.L.A.S.P. system works by using MIDI machine control, tailoring it to each specific type of controllable tape machine. Tape machine/DAW sync is maintained through the hardware unit, and is controllable by either the hardware front panel or the software GUI. Technical to layman translation: the CLASP Hardware receives MIDI machine code from the DAW, and coverts that system exclusive control to a form that the individual's TM can understand.]

The tape machine is set to IPS speed and switched to reproduce mode. In normal situations, that would mean the AE would monitor the playback. But with CLASP, the AE monitors the tape machine inputs, while the tape outs are simultaneously being recorded to hard drive. How does this work? This input monitoring is accomplished through transparent routing in the CLASP hardware unit. The AE is essentially monitoring what is going to tape while recording, which is how tape recording has always been done.

The inherent latency from record to play head is compensated for and resolved to the sample accurate level by the hardware. CLASP does not add playback latency. Playback latency can only be as low as your DAW's inherent latency.

[Playback is heard from the DAW, which is playing back the recorded analog tape recording-rerecorded to hard drive.]

The TM only acts when a track is record-armed on the DAW. The tape machine does not shuttle back and forth to get to specific times on tape, because that time-specific information was captured (post TM) to the computer. The TM is used as a simple analog processor.

This allows one to speed through editing, comping, overdubbing, and anything else usually done with DAW, all while retaining the analog tape flavor.


The greatest benefit of CLASP besides time-saving is that with it one can use less tape. One reel of tape could last an entire project if you so desired. Since the TM becomes part of the closed loop going to the A/D converters, and subsequently the hard drive, a single reel can record well over the amount tape normally required. For example: 60 minutes of rerecorded analog sound on hard drive on just 15 minutes tape, then replacing or reusing that same reel for the next 60 minutes...

People who have been recording to tape, then dumping to DAW, or vice versa can now forget about the time and tape wasted in the dump, because tape transfer occurs simultaneously while recording.

Forget about linear recording, keep the tape sound.

I think this product deserves some attention!

This product is in its final beta testing stage, and first orders are due out Sep 15th, this year. Inquiries can be made here http://www.endlessanalog.com/buy.html

[I was thoroughly impressed with this system and the presentation made by Chris Estes, the founder of Endless Analog. I am in no way affiliated with Endless Analog, or Chris. All photo © 2008, Endless Analog]