Have a printed launch code? 
Following the success of the original FreqTube FT1, Sound On Sound reports on Freqport’s latest release — the FreqTube FT1-EMU, a software-based tube saturation plugin derived from the company’s hardware system.
Where the FreqTube FT1 combined real valve processing with DAW control, FreqTube FT1-EMU brings that functionality into a software environment, while retaining the option to connect to the original hardware.
From Hardware to Software
As outlined by Sound On Sound, the FreqTube FT1-EMU is built using component-level modelling based on a SPICE reference model of the original hardware.
This approach captures:
- Tube saturation
- Harmonic content
- Natural dynamic behaviour
Freqport state that this method goes beyond conventional digital emulation approaches by modeling the circuit itself.
Tone Shaping and Control
Sound On Sound highlights the level of control available within FreqTube FT1-EMU.
The plugin includes:
- Control over drive and harmonics
- Multi-mode filtering for tone shaping
These controls allow detailed adjustment of the signal within the DAW environment.
Software Flexibility, Hardware Continuity
FreqTube FT1-EMU runs as a standard plugin and can be used across multiple tracks — a key advantage compared to hardware-only setups.
When paired with the FreqTube FT1 hardware, the plugin detects the device and switches from emulation to real analog processing automatically, transferring all settings directly.
This maintains the same parameters, the same session structure and also the same workflow.
Compatibility
FreqTube FT1-EMU is available for macOS and Windows systems and VST3, AU and AAX plug-in.
Why This Matters
As Sound On Sound highlights, FreqTube FT1-EMU brings the functionality of the original hardware into a software environment, while maintaining a direct connection between the plugin and the physical unit.
Read the full article: HERE