Tape recorders as musical instruments
a report
Godfried-Willem Raes
post-doctoral researcher
Orpheus Institure & Logos Foundation
2015The analog taperecorder
A detailled description of the analog tape recorder would cover more than a single volume book. Moreover, such books are available in archives worldwide.
Historical introduction
Professional equipment
Uses in live electronic music
Common types:
Revox G36: Vacuum tube type
Revox A77: Transistorised version
Revox PR99: Latest professional model produced.
Nagra: portable equipment, top quality but rarely used in live electronics because of the limited motor force.
Otari: Large studio equipment. There are 1/4" as well as 1/2" and 1" types, 2 up to 16 tracks.
Tascam
Carad: A Flemisch brand, using vaccuum tubes. The most common model was full-track mono.
Phillips: Phillips produced professional audio equipment and taperecorders for studios up to the late sixtees.
Essential features: 3 motors, 3 heads. Speed: 19cm/s, 38cm/s, 76cm/s
Trackformat: Full Track (mono), Two-track (stereo)
Quartertrack models were reserved for the amateur market and found little application in studios or live electronics.
Maintenance notes and remarks.
Notes:
(1)
Credits & Acknowledgments:
Part of the research results presented here where obtained thanks to the support of the Orpheus Institute.
Thanks to the Logos Foundation, funded by the Flemish Government, where my instrument building workshop and electronic research lab are based.
Manufacturers of devices treated here:
- CP0151 FSR's
Bibliographical references:
First public appearance on internet:
Last revision: March 11, 2015
