My tape loops are comin' unstuck!

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YooDooRight

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Any tape loop / sound collage enthusiasts in here? I'm trying to make simple tape loops for use in a live performance but can't get the darn loops to stay stuck :-/

I bought some 'new' 3M 1/4" Splicing Tape and proceeded to edit out a length of tape that contained an 8 bar kick drum loop. I applied a short (approx. 1 inch long) piece of splicing tape to the back/glossy side of the 1/4" tape across the edit ... very neat join, no over hanging sticky tape. easy.

The edit sounded great, only thing being... it lasts about two goes round before the loop join comes unstuck!

The splicing tape doesn't feel sticky at all when it comes of the roll (like say, sellotape) but i figured this was normal(?) but before i take it back to the shop and make a plum of myself maybe there's something i'm missing. Is there a backing tape i need to peel off? Maybe you have to wet the tape?? Maybe i have to stick it in the over on gas mark 5 for 3 hours before the tape becomes sticky???! I don't know, maybe the splicing tape is just old stock?!

Thanks.
 
I don't know, maybe the splicing tape is just old stock?!
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That's what I was thinking.

Try a different supplier. There's a member here called Splicit who is an authorized RMG tape dealer and they sell lots of splicing gear which hopefully consists of fresher inventory then your current one.

http://www.splicit.com/splicing_tape.html

Cheers! :)
 
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I see we are all thinking alike on this.:D

I'm kind of new to the whole splicing routine. To be honest, cutting my tape scared the shit out of me......LOL I've recently leadered up all of my reels after I purchased some new leader tape and a splicing block with tape. Pretty easy. Silly me.:o:p

The splicing tape should be fairly sticky. It's not going to be like duct tape, but it definitely shouldn't be coming undone, provided you are removing the air bubbles and such from the joint when you run the tape across the joint. Also, are you making a diagonal joint? I know, a basic question but sometimes it never hurts to ask.:p
 
jjones1700 said:
Also, are you making a diagonal joint? I know, a basic question but sometimes it never hurts to ask.:p
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To be honest this was a straight slice as i presumed when editing a drum hit it would need to be, rather than a 45degree 'cross fade' slice? But hey, im just guessing here... its the first time i tried so im just thinking in pro-tools terms.
 
An angled splice is definitely recommended for a loop. Also check the model number of the 3M splice tape. They made several kinds… one was made to be removable. What is the model number of the splicing tape?

As already mentioned it could also be old and lost its stick.

As Jeff said, the ¼” splicing tape from xiat/splicit is good stuff if you want to try another kind. It’s what I use these days.

http://www.splicit.com/splicing_tape.html

:)
 
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