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I recently have become
interested in going back to the basics of looping and the musique concrete
technique. Mainly because I am intrigued by this limited means to create
electronic music. There is a certain charm to using limiting means to
create music. This desire to use analogue tape as a way to create electronic
music comes from the fact that anybody with a PC or MAC can now create
electronic music just by pushing a mouse button.
The following is a descript of
a device I am creating that uses analogue tape and old 8-track tape cartridges
(yes those 70's tapes) and 8-track tape recorders (and yes they made 8-track
tape cartridge recorders, surprisingly enough). I know the question WHY? Why
not!
Okay here is the proposed
idea...
First I did a search on the web and found
several 8-track tape recorders for sale and most under $20.00.
Here is the
plan...
There is actually 2 parts
to the process.
Open the 8-track tape
recorder up to get access to the record, play and erase head.
Next place new post with wheels around the heads. So the the tape can be
made longer and spliced together.
Next open an 8-Track tape
cartridge.
Take out the
tape.
Cut a strip of tape about 2
feet long.
Splice the ends together. (This
will be our looping tape.)
Put the tape on the new wheels and over the play record
head.
Now start
the recorder and record. Every time the metal part of the tape reaches the
sensor the track automatically changes to a new
track.
Okay that was the foundation of this new looping device, however now the
fun begins as there are several additions that can be added. Such
as:
1] Add additional play heads
2} Add switches that turn on and off the left and right record
channels.
3} Add cassette record heads
4} There is a metal strip that changes the tape track (program as it was
called in the seventies) This can be used as a randomization trigger. Imagine
placing a metal strip at 3 other points on the tape and engage record.
Now what will happen is the tape will
record, but at certain points switch to a new track and record there. So now you
have random material on different tracks. Also you could place metal strips at
different points along the tape path so the tape would switch as it
plays.
5] Add a switch to the sensor so that you can switch tracks
manually...again to add random recording. Or used during play back to switch
tracks randomly
6] Add another play record head and reverse it. This may or may not
work.
7] Use better quality audio tape.
You see the potential... This takes the musique concrete approach to a
different place. Leo |