Recording on the Same Track

[AndrewT]

I have read about a technique were you can record something over and over, on the same track, by covering the erasehead. (i.e. recording a guitar part 4 times on track 1). Have any of you tried it, and if so, how is it done exactly?

 

[JC Lives]

I beleive what you are refering to is called comping, and I beleive you need computer recording software to accomplish this. Other than that, I can't help any further.

Peace
Joe

 

[dr grip]

sound on sound

It's S.O.S. - sound on sound, like an echoplex.... I've got an old Akai 1/4 reel to reel that has an sos switch.

The erase head is turned off. Things get muddy really quickly, but it can be a cool effect.

If you find a way to cover the erase head it should be possible with any tape recorder.

 

[JC Lives]

Another senior moment

Hey Andrew, ignore my first post. I did not read your post correctly.

As far as what you are looking to do, dr grip is close. Actually, I have an old Akia with the same button. The ony thing I need to add here is that you do not record to the same track. With the process that is used on the reel to reel is that after you record one track, you can then bounce that track to the other track and record along with it. This process can continue for another track. This takes the 2 parts on track 2 and bounces it back to track 1 while you are recording along with it.

As dr stated, things can get real muddy real quick. with each pass, the original track(s) degrade in sound quality. Also there is no way to set levels of the other tracks once you have gone to the next track.

Hope this helps.

 

[AndrewT]

Pardon my Ignorance

Thanks for all of your help. Now I have to ask, how doI cover the erasehead, and better yet, which one is the erasehead?

 

[JC Lives]

Hey Andrew,

Hold on there pard'ner. Before this gets to carried away and start trying to cover up the erase heads, lets step back a bit.

First of all, what is it exactly that you are trying to accomplish. This will help in determining the best course of action.

Secondly, what type of tape deck are you using.

I honostly don't believe that covering up the erase heads are gong to do anything for you.

Peace
Joe

 

[AndrewT]

I just want to layer some guitar tracks. I read about this option, and though I'd like to try it. The way the described doing this was to cover the erasehead.
I have a Fostex 4 track.

 

[JC Lives]

Ah Ha, The plot thickens

Well my man, you are in luck.

First of all, DO NOT put anything on the earase heads. That would require some form of tape or something. That is bound to be a desaster.

With the deck you have, you can accomplish this with no problems.

Since you have 4 tracks to work with, you can record 3 tracks, then bounce those three tracks to the forth track. once those tracks are bounced, you have another 3 tracks to work with.

The only down side to this is that first of all, you will need to set your levels carefully when bouncing down to the forth track because once you start recording on tracks 1 - 3 again, the original recorded material will be erased. Secondly, in this situation, you will be dealing with a mono track. Because the info thats bounced down to track 4 is all on one track, you will not be able to pan the sound.

I hope this helps to clear things up for ya.

Peace
Joe