Yo, listen up! I gotta tell you about this dope new plugin called GSi VariSpeed that’s totally free for everyone. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This bad boy is a spot-on simulation of the WEM Copicat IC-400 Belt Drive VariSpeed model. It was the first tape echo machine from WEM with a DC capstan motor that could change speeds and mess with the delay time. GSi VariSpeed nails the hardware vibe perfectly, with all the good and bad bits, but in a digital, MIDI-controllable package.
Think of this as the sequel to GSi’s tribute to the genius Charlie Watkins. They kicked this off in 2008 with the freeware “WatKat,” a sim of the “Custom Copicat.” Now they’re back with another banger.
Not Adware, Just Info!
Alright, quick heads up: GSi VariSpeed ain’t adware. For the desktop versions, you might see a news feed pop up now and then with useful info about GSi products like new releases, offers, updates, and stuff. You can open this page on purpose by clicking the “i” on the GSi logo, but it only works if you’re online. The same info is available on their website too. No third-party ads, promise! Having an internet connection is recommended but not required; the plugin will still run fine offline. When the promo page shows up, some technical details about your system get collected—check their Q&A for more on that.
Linux Version Disclaimer
Now, about the Linux version: it’s kinda experimental. It’s been tested by a few folks, but we can’t guarantee it’ll work on every Linux setup. You might need to install some dependencies. Even though this plugin is freeware, it’s not open source. The Linux version comes as raw binaries for the Standalone, VST2, and VST3 formats. You’ll have to manually move the plugin files to the right spots for your host programs to detect and load them. The Standalone executable might show up as a “shared library,” so double-clicking it might not work. If that’s the case, you gotta launch it from the console.
Stay chill and enjoy the echo vibes!
