Interesting thread.
Here's some fun products to draw inspiration from:
https://diyrecordingequipment.com/
Never tried the system, but heard good things especially about these modules for the system:
https://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/products/tm79-colour
Always wanted to try the AwTac, I mean look at what they crammed into two 500-slots:
I think the same goes for LouderThanLiftoff, with their various processors and modules for the DIYRE system. I love the ChopShop (EQ) and would love a real one (or chroma?) the masterbus processor with the API/Neve blend thing is interesting
https://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/products/15ips-tape-saturation-colour-mkii
Tape emulators never sound like tape (what do I know, never worked with one, except tape-echoes and cassettes), but usually aim for a specific saturation profile. I have the Soundskulptors, and they're nice coloring tools, but like all simulators I've tried, the actual compression happening (from what I'm convinced) when the audio hits the tape itself, and not the surrounding circuitry that everyone seems to be focusing on. But that compression together with actual wow&flutter, hiss, crosstalk and bias... and HISS!! Yes I know you oldtimers think it's stupid to introduce hiss. But I want musical tools, not specifically fidelity or design truthfullness etc... I just want it to sound good. And Tape Hiss is the most pleasant sounding noise I've ever heard, and use it regularly as an audio source itself.
some more DIYRE modules
https://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/products/jft-class-a-transistor-colour-mkii
https://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/products/mojo-maestro-passive-clipping-colour ( I bet some of you've tried it? I have the diodes lying around here somewehere...
Other stuff:
Anamod ATS-1 (unobtanium tape-emulator)
I love the HF limiter in my Empirical Labs EQ, and the Kush Tweaker VCA sounds really dirty when pushed.
I know Ian always has strived for fidelity in his designs, but also describes various configurations of tubes in his designs like the TLA, with their corresponding distortion figures.
I'm sure there are pleasant sounding tube coloring designs within tweaks on his designs, but what do I know...
I think the the important thing is a high resolution blending circuit between the dry and processed signals.
Nuff rambling; anyone still on this? Any progress?