Tape heads

ARVE · 2022-07-24T08:44:27.982Z

I have many different tape recorders (Portastudio 424, Dictaphones, Walkmans). The most important feature for me is the pitch control knob. The Sony TCM-200 has that, plus two tape speed options. It’s also very portable.

ghostbuddy · 2022-07-24T09:01:29.689Z

Shame how expensive those are. You would think some synth or pedal company would start making new ones

LyingDalai · 2022-07-24T10:07:18.568Z

You can find some tape reader+recorder for very cheap these days. I got one that reads too fast for 15€. I use it as an FX pedal, playing on the input volume to add saturation. All you have to do is put a cassette and engage record. Limited to 35 minutes or so ^^
But it’s all I need for the occasional tape saturation.
Might try to add a few knobs or cv inputs to mess with speed at some point…

Clancy · 2022-07-24T10:58:38.103Z

LyingDalai:

put a cassette and engage record

You can usually engage record without a tape if you reach in and use finger to hold back the sprung sensor that’s there to prevent record if the tab been broken off a tape (top left)

ghostbuddy · 2022-07-24T11:42:41.684Z

There was that one boutique tape player that was essentially just a hand cranked walkman, anyone remember by who?

craig · 2022-07-24T11:51:46.576Z

HC-TT by Landscape?

LANDSCAPE

HC-TT — LANDSCAPE

Looks cool and very kooky.

ghostbuddy · 2022-07-24T11:57:35.075Z

Yeah that. If it had a motor and could record I would buy one instantly.

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2022-07-24T13:06:04.243Z

I think the biggest issues with Portastudios are the size and the fact that they are vintage i.e. maintenance.

I bought a 424 mk2 a few weeks ago cause I found a good deal. My intention is to sell it (sometimes I flip gear to make a little money), but I would gladly keep it if space was not an issue (I move a lot and so I have to keep my gear at a minimum).

If you’re after analog warmth, the Portastudio it’s still a pretty cheap option (compared to BOUM and AH). For tape saturation, you can use plugins or a Strymon Deco - you can find a V1 Deco for around 200 €.

Red Panda Tensor is also a nice pedal for tape emulation (modulating speed and pitch). It also has a lot of other cool features.

So, if space is not an issue and maintenance doesn’t scare you, I’d say go for the Portastudio.

Matmcr · 2022-07-24T13:28:00.778Z

Cool, 424 mk2 - how you finding it?

Thanks for the link/info, I have a Boum, so I’m covered in that aspect, just wondered if these older tape recorders added anything else to the party. I saw the ‘How to make a Legowelt track’ vid where he records onto the Tascam 414 at high speed to impart some of that magic, and he seems to know his shit.

I’ve heard good things about the Red Panda also.

HisMostDarxxxellent · 2022-07-24T13:33:29.756Z

Love this video!

I used a tape machine heavily - a Marantz PMD740 to be precise. It’s really great but it takes up a lot of room and the Morphagene and Magneto cover my tape lust by the bucket load. I can’t even begin to tell how incredible these two modules are. Maybe a small 3U with some choice modules would be the way to go for you?

craig · 2022-07-24T14:12:13.015Z

Jogging House (@boboter) does some very lovely 1/4” tape vibes. I could watch those reels go round all day. An example picked at random:

ghostbuddy · 2022-07-24T14:14:34.531Z

Honestly AH can’t do what a tape 4 track can. Totally different tonality.

boboter · 2022-07-24T14:30:56.747Z

You and me both Just looking at the tape inspires me and when the reels start turning, I know it’s recording time. Love that whole workflow.

Matmcr · 2022-07-24T15:31:52.594Z

Yeah, I really like the Jogging House stuff. Definitely on that level… like butter melting into a crumpet shit

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2022-07-24T16:47:48.594Z

I didn’t say that the AH can do what a 4-track tape recorder does. Of course it can’t.

I was just commenting on the video I posted, which compared three different pieces of gear used to add “analog warmth”. That’s it.

lowph · 2022-07-24T17:07:51.114Z

Back in the day I had a Fostex 4-track tape recorder and I wished I had kept it. I keep seeing recorders made by Yamaha, Fostex, Tascam, Vestax at really high prices these days, and they’re usually old and might eventually need maintenance, so I tried something else:

I found this Moth Hunter Mod guy who modifies cheap cassette players for recording and playback with variable speed and CV controls: Cassette Deck with Speed Mod - CV, Dual CV and/or Line Input Options Available. — Moth Hunter Mods – they’re not “dirt cheap”, but I think the price is merited because the guy is making them by hand and to order.

It’s also definitely not high fidelity, but if you’re looking for lo-fi it works well! I’ve run some drum loops and other signals through one and got some interesting sounds. Short 4/7 second tape loops can be fun and the CV control makes it pretty interesting.

natehorn · 2022-07-24T17:16:27.158Z

I saw the title but didn’t see anyone mention that you almost defintiely want a recorder with 3 heads.

A standard tape deck, hifi or otherwise, will be slow and difficult to work with and probably not what you want, as they can’t play back the recording in real time - 3 heads are needed for that.

I had a 3-head tape deck that I used as an effect send. I had a handful of tapes, including loops, that I used depending on the specific flavour I wanted, was as easy as using a reverb pedal.

Someone suggested a plugin, I gotta be honest I’ve never heard a tape plugin that’s got close to what actual tape sounds like - I do use DAWCasette for some stuff though.

Matmcr · 2022-07-24T17:57:34.870Z

@natehorn That’s a good point, thanks. I did some messing about this afternoon ruining some loops from the Akai 3000XL into the Nakamichi cr-1e tape deck, just to see the result (as Hostbody mentioned the process saturating the master with a standard tape deck), then recording back into Ableton, and it actually sounded really solid. Totally get for anything real-time or effect based then the 3 heads would be the way to go.

lowph · 2022-07-24T18:44:23.867Z

So with 3 heads, would that be one for playback, recording, and erasing? Or are there tape recorders with “multipurpose” heads? I don’t really know that much about cassette stuff, other than the basics.

What kind of recorder would allow overdubbing? Would that be something with recording+playback head and then an option to disable the erasing head? That mod link I sent above doesn’t overdub, and I wish it did, especially when using tape loops.

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2022-07-24T19:20:15.752Z

The Neve 542 rack module is an expensive way to get tape emulation. Around 850 € and it’s mono. I don’t know much about tape, but it sounds good to me.