

Patina is a vinyl audio plugin that recreates the full analog experience — from the crackle and warmth of a well-loved record to the subtle imperfections of the stylus, the groove, and the machine that plays it all back.
Selects the character of the vinyl surface noise — drawn from real recordings of vinyl degradation, each a different combination of groove wear, pressing quality, and vinyl compound. From the faint shimmer of a pristine first pressing to the gritty roar of a forgotten thrift store find.
The wear of time on vinyl — years of fingers, dust, and playback. Accumulated play adds subtle high-frequency softening, increased surface noise, and gentle compression. At lower settings, you get that warm analog sweetness of a well-kept collection. Crank it and you're pulling a forgotten record out of a milk crate at a flea market.
A warped record — the slow pitch wobble from a disc that didn't stay flat. As the warp passes under the stylus once per revolution, pitch and amplitude gently rise and fall. The effect deepens as Groove Position moves inward. Combine with Vinyl Drift for layered, complex pitch movement — two different wobbles beating against each other.
The distortion that builds in the tighter inner grooves of a record. As groove velocity drops and tracking error increases, the stylus struggles — intermodulation distortion rises and high frequencies soften. At subtle settings, it adds a gentle lo-fi warmth to the top end. Pairs naturally with Groove Position moved inward.
A stylus ground down from hundreds of hours of play. A worn diamond tip makes imprecise, asymmetric contact with the groove walls — dulling highs, adding grit, and increasing noise. At low settings, a pleasant softening. At high settings, aggressive, characterful distortion that chews into transients.
The "pinch effect" — a geometric artifact where the stylus contact point shifts against the groove wall during complex passages, creating characteristic frequency-doubling distortion. Most audible on bass-heavy material where groove excursions are widest. Adds a throaty, crunchy texture to low-mids that's unmistakably vinyl.
The mechanical resonance peak of the cartridge — the point where the stylus and cantilever assembly ring. Every cartridge has one: a characteristic high-frequency lift that adds brightness, presence, and "sparkle" to the playback. A little brings life to dull recordings. Too much and sibilance gets harsh on already-bright material.
The tonal coloration of vinyl's analog signal chain — pre-emphasis, saturation in the groove, and imperfect de-emphasis on playback. Low settings add warmth and soften digital edges. Push it and saturation thickens — harmonics build, highs darken, bass gets that full, cushioned vinyl quality. Try RIAA Mismatch to shift warm vs bright.
Adjacent groove bleed — during pressing, loud passages imprint faint traces into neighboring grooves. Print recreates this as a diffused, filtered shadow offset by one platter revolution. Bleed dissolves repeats through filtering and diffusion — transients smear, spectrum narrows, echo fades to atmospheric wash. Both sit just below conscious awareness.
Supported Plugin Formats: VST3, AU
Supported Platforms: macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+
Supported Hosts: Pro Tools, Live, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic, Studio One, Reaper, Bitwig
Supported Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, Maximum: 192 kHz
Patina is a vinyl audio plugin that recreates the full analog experience — from the crackle and warmth of a well-loved record to the subtle imperfections of the stylus, the groove, and the machine that plays it all back.
Patina recreates the distinct characteristics of vinyl playback, from the physical mechanics of the stylus to the warmth of analog circuitry.