Top retroising tools

Here are some cool and unusual plugins that can add vibe to a pristine-sounding mix

XLN AUDIO RC-20 RETRO COLOR PC/Mac, €80

Retro Color is a true one-stop shop for dialling in sonic imperfection, with six modules – Noise, Wobble, Distort, Digital, Space and Magnetic – that let you add the full spectrum of analogue or digital imperfections to your mix. We love the Flux, control, too – it’s great for adding randomness over time. xlnaudio.com

KLEVGRAND DAW CASSETTE PC/Mac, $39.99

If you’re intrigued by the recent cassette revival but don’t fancy getting deep with dusty tape decks and chewed-up C90s, DAW Cassette is for you. You can choose from three styles of tape before mixing in the effect to taste, and you also get two Dolby noise reduction modes. klevgrand.se

PSYCHIC MODULATION ECHOMELT PC/Mac, $49

Based on the effects section of PM’s excellent Phonec synthesiser, EchoMelt is ace for adding anything from VHS videostyle warbling pitch effects through to subtle, lo-fi chorus. The five-band EQ is also great for tidying up tone, and can be placed before or after the effects. psychicmodulation.com