Introduction: Make a Cassette Loop for About 6 Seconds.
About: You cab also visit my band site.
http://www.myspace.com/theseviolentstreets
I saw this in a Punk-fan-zine, Just passing on the idea.
Step 1: Un Screw..
Unscrew the five screws and open the cassette carefully so you don't
loose any parts.
Step 2: Unwind
Unwind the reels, measure and cut the desired section of the tape.
mine measures about 8 11/16ths in inches.
Step 3: Tape
with masking tape, tape the two ends flush with eachother. Make sure that you tape the back side only.
Step 4: Place It
Place it back on one of the reels (see red pattern). Screw the cassette back together.
Place it into a tape deck and enjoy. You can also record over what is currently there.
I think you get about 6 seconds of running time.
So go anoy your family or use it to learn that one guitar lick in that one song that you like so much.
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31 Comments
14 years ago
Instead of using multiple cassette players, I use loop cassettes (sometimes my own, sometimes answering machine tape) in four-track machines. I wrote a whole article about this technique, it's really interesting, and pretty damn cheap, these days.
I also have an ongoing project I call Repetitive Miniatures which is nothing but recordings of cassette loops I've built up with the four-track.
It's definitely a bitch to make your own tapes, but you can sometimes still find splicing blocks at Radio Shack which help a lot.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Aw man... can I design you a new website? The concept is cool, but the presentation is such an eyesore >.<
11 years ago on Introduction
Hey, I have the zine that this came from! It was originally done in "How to Zine" published out of Richmond, then republished in Making Stuff and Doing Things (the zine collection book with Christy Roads' art on the front). If you got it from one of these and haven't read the other, check it out! They're both excellent!
12 years ago on Introduction
You know everyone thinks the weird one in the beatles was John, but it was Paul who started with all the crazy tape loops...
12 years ago on Introduction
Great I wanted so long ago to make this loop but didnt think it work now I got my loop anyway i didnt tape it I used uhu
12 years ago on Introduction
you dont need this for vw radios they automaticly reverse the tape
13 years ago on Introduction
I'm thinking about building a "mellotron" similar to this:
http://mysterycircuits.com/melloman/melloman.html
using this technique.
13 years ago on Introduction
this is great for driving people crazy! a never ending loop of myself making a really obnoxious noise! I Like It!
13 years ago on Introduction
Whoa thanks for sharing this looping technique, this is right up my alley. I don't believe documentation is totally necessary to get this idea across.+
14 years ago
That would be cool for an old school guitar loop/delay/echo. Now all I need is an old tape recorder to hack.
Reply 14 years ago
I'd say a multi loop pedal (with the possibility to do 4 echo with adjustable delay controlled by the pedal release). This would involve a good micro controller programming though... ;)
Reply 14 years ago
A mock device done in Inkscape... :-P
Reply 14 years ago
The direction and duration could be adjusted too, controlling the motor speed (within the possibilities of the tape sound quality, etc).
Reply 14 years ago
For more repeats all you have to do is feed the signal back from the read head to the record head with a pot which allows you to adjust the number of repeats.
14 years ago
tried it and it didnt work. tape kept slipping.
Reply 14 years ago
check the tension on the tape.
14 years ago
Perhaps something could be worked out with a small roller on a lever arm, spring loaded to provide tensioning? That way, no matter the length of the tape (limited by the length of the spring, and the laws of geometry) the tape wouldn't go slack.
14 years ago
Don't forget to check out this instructables, too. I think we've worked out (in theory) most of the problems, I just haven't actually pulled it off (yet). You could amybe make some kind of multi looper with analog cassette tapes playing drones/crazy drum loops/walls of nosie, and the digital looper playing a chord progression/loop/more process beat.
https://www.instructables.com/id/EFKSQRX8Z0EP287017?ALLSTEPS
14 years ago
Pretty sure the tape goes at 1 7/8 inches per second. You could make different sized loops by sending it over the other hub. Getting the tension right will keep the tape machine happier.
14 years ago
Just made one with superglue and extremely cheap blank casette. looks good enough... Now I need a tape recording device to see if it works.