Re: [microsound] Help?

[Bill Jarboe <billjarboe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 1/06/02 2:06 PM, Francis II at jane_bradley87@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> 
> I am interested in making electronic music, mainly in the anologue domain,
> and was wondering what sort of equipment I need. I've heard that some
> artists use reel-to-reel tape recorders as instrements, and was wondering
> how to do this?
> 
> Francis
> 

  Basically you will need something to produce tones . This could be a
microphone, an oscllator or type of feedback circuit( a small mixer with a
variety of resistors placed between the input and the output can function
quite well).

 
  You will also need something to record the sound. An old reel to reel tape
recorder can probably be found at a thrift store. It is probably best to
find one with good VU meters and many controls for speed , volume levels
etc. You will also need a splicing block ( available from tape stock
suppliers) , a roll of splicing tape and single -edged razors. With these
tools you can change the pitch , duration , running order and
possibly(depending upon the configuration of the tape heads) direction of
the tones.


 An additional tape recorder(of course) enables one to record the changes
made to the sound and also assemble , overdub and create infinite loops .


 It is possible to construct ones own filters or use ready-made devices for
this purpose. Manufacturers such as PAIA( are they still in business?) offer
inexpensive kits. 


 Thrift stores are also good places to find used tape stock , since you
don't need the expensive kind for experimenting , and sometimes this can add
something to the sound.