Flanging

[jpmorris]

Has anyone done this? If so, any suggestions? It's not working
I'm using a B77 and a '32 - probably it would be a better idea to have used two machines of the same type, but there you go. I'm running them both at 15ips - perhaps 7.5 would have been better, I'll try that later.

Advice on the following would be helpful:
1. How to sync the machines initially
2. Whether you should vary the speed manually or via the varispeed control
3. If manual, would it be better to use large spools? (I'm using 5" reels from a job lot of 50 ex-BBC SM468s)

 

[BRDTS]

Three tape recorders...or at least two and then your third recording device to capture the resulting flange effect.

Tape recorders 1-2...Same exact signal recorded on both tapes. With lifters defeated, hand align first reel so start signal is just at the play head. Do same with second reel on 2nd machine.

With both machines routed through mixer, and your 3rd recorder routed to grab the output from your mixer, start the 3rd recorder recording (the one that's going to capture the flanged sound. Hit both "play" buttons on the two recorders that have the same signal.

As you hear the signal, hold a finger against one of the reel flanges on one of the recorders. Eventually in a few seconds, you should hit the right degree of "messing" with the reel where the signals come out of your mixer with the phasing sound. If not, stop all three tape recorders, rewind, and try hitting "play"..or aligning the start of tape recorders 1-2 a little tighter. Try again.

Eventually, you'll get the correct timing of when to "gouge" that reel and you'll have a section of flanged sound on the 3rd tape recorder...which in typical old days fashion...would then be rerouted to a track of the original multitrack tape wherever the effect was needed alongside the other tracks.

 

[jpmorris]

Getting there:

I'm having big problems controlling it, though. It's difficult to work out which one is ahead of the other, especially when trying to do the initial sync. Both machines have different lockup times

 

[krhall]

what song is that ???

sounds great

As for flanging are we talking about phasing output from 1 tape recorder to the other with a third recording output ??

Keith

 

[jpmorris]

what song is that ???
sounds great
As for flanging are we talking about phasing output from 1 tape recorder to the other with a third recording output ??
Keith

Yes. I dumped the song onto tape from the digital domain so they would be reasonably identical and ran the Tascam slightly faster than the Revox - the idea being to slow it down to below the zero point and let it catch up again of its own accord.
I've heard of a similar technique where you use the three-head delay on an incoming source and vary them that way. It would have the advantage of not needing to lock the two recordings together, but it might not sound as good.

The song is one of mine, it's called 'vampires in reverse', and it's supposed to go on my third album. It was supposed to go on the first two as well, so we'll have to see

 

[krhall]

well on hearing that MP3 that sounds briliant :d

You have an amazing gift

Most of my tapes here contain solo Accordion music (i absolutely LOVE accordion music)

And some soundtracks from Super Nintendo Games (Mario Zelda etc - Songs arranged by me using Modplug tracker)

Currently i am writting some music on my computer with modplug tracker which i record onto tape (Instrumental music using single instrument samples i have recorded from real instruments with the help of an Uher Report Monitor 4200 <--- died recently )

As for the Teac machine i had. i have had to scrap it as it's internal components have failed so i am breaking that machine for parts if anyone is interested --> Teac A-3300S <--

Keith

 

[Jillchaw]

mp3

That song sounds like one of the tracks off of The Dukes of Stratosphear's (XTCs) first record. I dont know if they used tape flanging or some kind of pedal, but the flanging on that album is some of the best sounding of all time. They did alot of weird stuff like putting backwards reverb on the drum fills then flanging it.

 

[krhall]

hmm i have never tried flanging.

with the music i work with i cant say that i would really need to.

But interesting idea though

Keith

 

[jpmorris]

That song sounds like one of the tracks off of The Dukes of Stratosphear's (XTCs) first record. I dont know if they used tape flanging or some kind of pedal, but the flanging on that album is some of the best sounding of all time. They did alot of weird stuff like putting backwards reverb on the drum fills then flanging it.

Thanks. I'll see if I can find it.

well on hearing that MP3 that sounds briliant :d
You have an amazing gift

Thanks.

Currently i am writting some music on my computer with modplug tracker which i record onto tape (Instrumental music using single instrument samples i have recorded from real instruments with the help of an Uher Report Monitor 4200 <--- died recently )
Keith

Do you think you could get it working with 4000 parts? Those are more common than the 4200.
I'm also curious about your composition technique - are you doing everything in the computer and then bouncing to 2-track, or are you going multitrack with some kind of synchroniser as I've been doing?


Anyway, back to the flanging. This morning I decided to try the 'live' technique, of using the record/repro head gap to create a delay on both machines and varispeeding one of them to change it. I had almost instant success.

There seems to be something nasty happening at the zero-crossing although since it only seems to occur when this recording is played back in stereo, that may give some clues as to what is causing it. Besides, I'm probably going to use this effect more on mono sources rather than stereo ones.