The Basics of a Tape Machine

The Basics of a Tape Machine

The tape machine is a very versatile device that can be used for many different purposes.tape machine It can be used to record pristine hi-fi audio, but it can also give you that crunchy and saturated sound that is very popular amongst modern lo-fi inspired artists. The unique sound of the tape machine comes from the subtle mechanical effects that occur during the recording process. These effects can be heard in the form of wobble and flutter, hiss and asperity (low-frequency distortion) or a change in the speed of the recorded signal.

The basic function of a tape machine is quite simple. The incoming electrical signal meets an input amplifier and then is passed through a filter to clean it up. From here the signal is fed to the erase head. This is a magnetised head with a gap in it. As the magnetic particles bridge the gap they create a varying magnetic field that is read by a replay head as an audio signal.

While most professional machines have separate record and replay heads, there are some that combine the functions into a single head. This reduces costs but can have some unwanted effects. For example, the replay delay caused by the spacing between the record and replay heads may cause the mix to be out of sync with the master recording.

In order to get a clean and consistent recording the tape must be held in a precise position over the heads. This was originally achieved by felt pressure pads, but has since been replaced with a precise mechanism that keeps the tape in contact with the record and playback heads at all times. The tape is driven across the heads by a capstan motor which is controlled by the pinch wheel (right). A second tensioning arm, which is also powered by the spool motor, holds the tape to prevent it from falling off of the capstan.

During the recording process the tape is fed with a high-frequency signal called bias, which is a high-amplitude variation of the input audio signal. This signal is induced into the magnetic particles of the tape through an electromagnet in the record head. This varies the magnetic field of the tape to ensure that a uniform voltage is recorded.

When the audio signal is played back, the varying magnetic field from the replay head creates a varying electronic signal in the coil of the replay head. This is then converted to an audio signal and played through the speakers.

One of the coolest old-school effects that can be performed with a tape machine is flanging. This is achieved by duplicating the original signal and adding a moderately modulated delay between them. The depth slider controls the amount of delay and the frequency band control adjusts the focus on which the flanging occurs. You can even slow down or speed up the flange effect for that classic tape speed change effect.

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