scratching the tape

[Kasey]

i heard once from some where that to get a real unusual fuzzy distortion, you can lightly scratch analog tape (before or after recording, i don't know). maybe i dreamed this, i don't know. has anyone ever heard of doing this, and what results does it produce?

 

[cjacek]

Don't know about that but you can get some Ampex 641, set your deck for it, push the meters into the red and you'll get that James Brown distortion going fairly easily and that "vintage" vibe.

~Daniel

 

[Beck]

i heard once from some where that to get a real unusual fuzzy distortion, you can lightly scratch analog tape (before or after recording, i don't know). maybe i dreamed this, i don't know. has anyone ever heard of doing this, and what results does it produce?

That's a new one on me. I assume you would scratch it with sand paper? You could expect increased head wear.

The best way to achieve distortion is to drive tape with hotter levels. For a more fuzzy distortion you could under bias the tape.

And like cjacek suggested use lower grade tape, which is easier to drive into distortion.

-Tim

 

[analogelectric]

I'd guess it's more of a "term" than a practical explanation. It sounds like a bias setting more-so than taking sandpaper to a reel (of which doesn't make sense to me - or anyone - in the way of propose).

Yeah, I'd guess it might've been old studio lingo for a technique done during or after tracking manipulation via tape machine. It could also be a term before DJ "scratching" meaning (in the analog reel world) a flange/wow-flutter ala Jimi Hendrix, they hand held/manipulated the speed of the reel-to-reel as he performed parts. Regarding his distortion sound that had more to do with the precise guitar amp speaker slices (actually tore the speakers apart for desired effect).

I would find no benefit on sandpapering tape other than making my 2" tape sound like a Victrola, maybe... probably in the worst way.

If I have a reel to DESTROY for good I MIGHT try it but from practical experience I don't think it will render any good in the end.

-- Adam Lazlo

 

[jpmorris]

I'd guess it's more of a "term" than a practical explanation. It sounds like a bias setting more-so than taking sandpaper to a reel (of which doesn't make sense to me - or anyone - in the way of propose).

I would find no benefit on sandpapering tape other than making my 2" tape sound like a Victrola, maybe... probably in the worst way.
-- Adam Lazlo

I have heard that the Dalek voices in Dr. Who were originally made by scratching the oxide off the tape in repeated stripes.

 

[analogelectric]

I have heard that the Dalek voices in Dr. Who were originally made by scratching the oxide off the tape in repeated stripes.

That's a sweet nugget of info

Definitely a cool sound... but it did seem a bit brighter than I'd expect... and a little flanged? Might've been a sub combo mix of wet/dry just for clarity. It also sounds like if I took my reel-to-reel, put it in "cue" mode, manually "flanged" the reel...therefor rubbing the heads (scratching). I've done other ways of running hot playback levels by re-calibrating certain tracks during repro (without the destructive examples proposed).

-- Adam Lazlo