RC-20 Retro Color v2 at a Glance

RC-20 Retro Color v2 by XLN Audio is a lo-fi and vintage effect plugin. It adds the sound of old recording gear to any track: tape hiss and vinyl crackle, pitch wobble, distortion, bitcrushing, reverb and tape wear. Version 2 came out in November 2026, and its $99 introductory price runs until 12 January 2027. After that it goes up to $129.

You put it on a track or the mix bus, pick a preset or start from scratch, and turn up the modules you want. One Magnitude slider scales all the processing at once, so you can pull the whole effect back for a subtle tint or automate it for a bigger change.

The main addition in version 2 is Echo, a feedback delay with RC-20’s effects inside the loop. Each repeat passes through Wobble, Distort, Digital, Space and Loss again, so it gets more worn as it fades. Grains turns the delay trails into pitched or reversed granular textures. The new Codec mode in the Loss module adds MP3-style compression, formant shifts and packet dropouts.

Version 2 installs as a separate plugin next to version 1, so projects that use the original still open as before. All the v1 factory and artist presets are included, and you can import your own v1 presets.

If you want the lo-fi sound without spending $99, our guide to RC-20 Retro Color alternatives covers four free plugins and six cheaper ones.

Already own RC-20 version 1? The upgrade to v2 is $19 (normally $39) until 12 January 2027.

New in version 2

• Echo module with RC-20’s effects inside the feedback loop. Push the feedback into self-oscillation for long swells.
• Grains for pitched or reversed granular textures on the delay trails.
• Codec mode: MP3-style compression, formant shifting, packet dropouts with audio repeats or FFT Freeze, and Blur to smear the artifacts.
• New Tape, Classic Pre and Porta (4-track cassette) distortion types, plus Overload to push them harder.
• 32 new reverb types, from rooms, halls, plates, cabinets and springs to Thunder and Spectral.
• Varispeed for tape-style half, quarter or eighth-speed playback that stays in time with the track.

Sound shaping

• Noise: vinyl crackle, tape hiss and new textures such as dial-up chatter and crowds, blended before or after the effects.
• Wobble: pitch and speed drift that can lock to tempo, with sine-to-square shapes and Warp.
• Digital: sample-rate and bit reduction, plus Sputter for a choked, gated sound.
• Space: reverb with ducking, Stretch and stereo placement.
• Focus and Cut filters set the frequency range each module works on.
• Master section with EQ, four Tone modes, compression, a soft clipper and stereo width up to 200%.

Workflow

• Drag the modules into any order.
• Tempo sync for modulation, Magnetic tape flutter and Echo times.
• Loudness match, so the processed sound plays at the same level as the dry signal when you compare.
• Full undo history, snapshot comparisons, oversampling and module locking.
• Preset browser with 250+ new presets, tags, filters, collections and a random-preset dice button.

System Compatibility

• Plugin Formats: VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
• Mac Requirements: macOS 10.13 or later, with native Apple Silicon support; 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
• Windows Requirements: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit); 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
• Internet: needed during installation
• DAWs: XLN Audio tests it in Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools (not Pro Tools First), Cakewalk, FL Studio, Reason, Reaper and Cubase

RC-20 Retro Color v2 Deal FAQs

How long is the RC-20 Retro Color v2 deal on?

The $99 introductory price runs on Plugin Boutique until 12 January 2027. After that the price is $129.

Do I need an RC-20 coupon code?

No. The discount is already applied on Plugin Boutique, so the $99 price shows without a code.

What is the RC-20 v2 price if I own version 1?

Owners of RC-20 version 1 can upgrade for $19 until 12 January 2027 (normally $39). Version 2 installs alongside version 1, so you keep both.

Is there a free trial of RC-20 Retro Color v2?

Yes. XLN Audio offers the full version free for 10 days from its own website.

Does RC-20 Retro Color v2 work in Pro Tools?

Yes. It comes in AAX format and XLN Audio tests it in Pro Tools 11 or later. Pro Tools First isn’t supported.