Re: Looping on Revoxes (a treatise)

[loopbozo@comcast.net]

Mr. Fox is correct in his estimation of the signal path for this process to work properly and a simple review of the system illustrated on Discreet Music by Brian Eno should suffice to settle the argument. Whether the signal is routed thru a board or another tempering return device the loop aspect only exists in the circular control of the signal's controlled feedback via the established circuit.

Never used 2 Revoxes but rather an Otari 50-50 and a Tandberg Cross Field Half -Track, with the proverbial microphone stand capstan as it were with a Roland Re-201 Space Echo as the return signal point from the completed stereo level  from the Tandberg (deck 2). The decay of the tape looped sound image is far more delicate than digital could ever allow for, smooth not jagged, plus you could always manipulate the tape with your fingers to find new effects while making your decks work harder than originally intended. If you put an original tape Echoplex in the signal chain you can tweak it even more. Tales from Analogland.

 

                                                                    bryan helm

 

Music and Mosaics
bryanhelm.wordpress.com

 

> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: Bill Fox <billyfox@soundscapes.us> 
>
> > Per Boysen wrote: 
> > > You will have to tape together a long tape loop and also 
> > > cover/deactivate the erasing head on one of the machines. 
> > That's different from my understanding of how to use a two deck setup. 
> > I always thought that the left hand machine recorded the tape and the 
> > machine on the right did the playback. The playback signal is sent to 
> > the PA (or monitor, or whatever) and also fed back to the first 
> > machine's input (via a mixer, if necessary). 
> > 
> > Cheers, 
> > 
> > Bill 
> >