Tape Echo. How To Do It?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dodgeaspen
  • Start date Start date
D

dodgeaspen

New member
I've been searching the threads and google on the subject but I just can't find what I'm looking for. I would like to use my 38 for recording and tape echo. Most things on the net talk about head mods that I don't need or using multi decks. From what I gather I can use the send and receive on my mixer to my 38 but have not found any further info. Can this be done with 1 deck? How? Can someone tell me or direct me to a place that can go into step by step detail? If I need to I can also use my Teac X-7R I don't want to buy a space echo or anything like that. I have a fx processor, but I want to do it old school. Thanks for any help.
 
I have no idea if it can be done on the recording deck. What you do is you record the input signal, monitoring off the repro head. You can then feed it back into the input using a mixer, and the level at which it is mixed back will affect the number of echoes. Without the feedback you'll get a simple slapback delay, which can be effective.
15ips tends to give a very sharp delay - you probably want to run at 7.5 and varispeed it (which is really going to suck if you're using one deck for everything).
A dedicated multitap echo machine is usually best if you can find an affordable one.
 
echo

One thing that i have noticed, at least as far as what ive seen and heard, is that there is a different tone and sound quality to tape echo created using multiple recorders rather than a dedicated multi head effect like a Roland Space Echo. Im not a wizard of tape echos or anything, but i have owned a few different ones. It seems to me that creating an echo sound from your particular setup of linked reel to reels will always give a unique tone, moreso than using a mass produced dedicated effect. Not to say one method is better or worse, its just how it seems to be from all the vids and sound samples you hear online.

From what ive heard, using multiple decks to create tape echo gives a sound more similar to a Watkins Copicat, rather than a Roland Space Echo. Watkins tend to thin out tonally as repeats trail off, just like an Echoplex. Roland Space Echos sound more like analog chip delay, with the repeats getting darker as they trail off.
 
dodgeaspen said:
I've been searching the threads and google on the subject but I just can't find what I'm looking for. I would like to use my 38 for recording and tape echo. Most things on the net talk about head mods that I don't need or using multi decks. From what I gather I can use the send and receive on my mixer to my 38 but have not found any further info. Can this be done with 1 deck? How? Can someone tell me or direct me to a place that can go into step by step detail? If I need to I can also use my Teac X-7R I don't want to buy a space echo or anything like that. I have a fx processor, but I want to do it old school. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

Use the TEAC X-7R. Tape echo at 7.5ips is pretty fun, and echo at 3.75ips is REALLY cool, in my opinion.

I don't know what kind of mixer you have, but on my M-30 I would do it this way:

1. Original signal on channel one, assigned to bus 1.
2. Aux output from bus 1 going to X-7R, output from X-7R going to mixer channel 2 input. X-7R output is switched to "Repro". Channel 2 output is assigned to bus 1.
3. Start the X-7R, and have the fader on the "echo channel" all the way down (silenced).
4. Bring up the fader on the echo channel.
5. Echo! (Hello hello hello hello hello!)

I recommend attenuating at 1khz on your eq to keep the feedback from squealing. You should try a bunch of different things. I sometimes use a comp/limiter on the "echo" channel to keep any mistakes from pegging the meters.

I use tape echo extensively. If you've got any questions, let me know!
 
Also, if you want just one echo (for slapback effect or something else), connect the direct output from Channel 1 to the X-7R's input, and have its output go to Channel 2's input. You can assign Channel 2 to bus 1 if you'd like, and then you have the original signal + single echo going to the same channel of your multitrack.
 
Thanks for all the input. I'll try the suggestions you gave Lo fi. I'll let you all know how it went.
 
Good news!! Thanks to jpmorris, The Great Cobb, and lo.fi.love for the help, it worked. I used the Teac X-7R and had a blast. I want to start using it on my next recording.
 
dodgeaspen said:
Good news!! Thanks to jpmorris, The Great Cobb, and lo.fi.love for the help, it worked. I used the Teac X-7R and had a blast. I want to start using it on my next recording.
Click to expand...

Slapback delay at 7 1/2 ips plus spring reverb = instant Elvis on vocals Dodge. Well worth a laugh if you've got a springy.

:p
 
Plus, tape echo at 3.75ips while boosting the mids (800hz-6khz) in a sweeping fashion produces some nice, classic dub reggae effects.
 
I haven't been able to mess with the echo stuff because I have an old Sony tape that is very squeaky and noisy. Before I go further, I'll need to buy a new tape. I'm really looking forward to incorporating this to my bands music.
 
lo.fi.love said:
I recommend attenuating at 1khz on your eq to keep the feedback from squealing. You should try a bunch of different things. I sometimes use a comp/limiter on the "echo" channel to keep any mistakes from pegging the meters.
Click to expand...

Try inserting phaser or flanger effects on the feedback signal, too. It's a great sound.

Cheers,

Otto
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top