Classic TAPE echo (how it works) - Ken 'hiwatt' Marshall

In today's session, Ken 'hiwatt' Marshall is playing the Revox, and sharing exactly why analog tape delay is one of your most powerful (and unique) production tools!
Revox A77 mkIV with custom vari-speed control...can you say FUN?!?

[@airsickgrove]

I love how people are turning more conventional tape machines ( even Walkmans ) into tape echos. So cool!

[@Projacked1]

*presses like at the start of the video....*

[@colinrussell2017]

I watched this video and then watched the video on distortion from 10 months ago. "Grotty" is now my new favourite adjective!

[@zzzyzzzyzzzyxxx]

Wow, the time it took to bring your Revox back to life was well worth it! I spend a lot of time automating EQ/filters to get that echo sonic degradation you demonstrated which is inherent in the Revox. Nothng compares to the real deal. Thanks!

[@RenpunkStudio]

Wooow! This was very neat to learn about... you are a natural teacher of your craft. Well done with what you share good sir... not everyone gets to learn these things you shed light upon. Thank you

[@ivorydungeon909]

It's funny that you mention that Ken is a natural teacher because I teach at a university and, like many people, I've been working online since the start of the pandemic. Teaching and learning online seem to be mutually exhausting activities so I find myself having to dig ever deeper to act with enthusiasm to try to elicit some discussion from my students. This does not really come naturally to me (or so it feels from the inside), and so when I need to act in this way, I honestly try to channel that energy and enthusiasm that Ken seems to have in abundance - it seems to do the trick :) Thanks, Ken

[@jacka55penguin]

That collab jam is the gift that keeps on giving. Love it! As an electronics tech I know it's very rewarding to fix an old machine and breathe new life into something once again. It's like magic. :)

[@Lagos3sgte]

Ken, I was listening to some of your professional mixes and comparing them with mine. One thing stands out is the amount of depth that you and other professionals are able to create with delays and reverbs. Could you make a video with some of your tips for creating depth and space in a mix and how to avoid having things sound so flat?

[@marcuspearson6214]

Excellent video, I love your enthusiasm, I picked up a classic roland space echo about 4 years ago that did not work, and managed to find the parts needed from a company in australia called echo fix (I'm in the UK). And I also had a mate who use to service old video players back in the 80's, and he did an excellent job of setting the tape bias. It works perfectly now

[@agnostek]

Ken, you sound like a 'Analog Einstein' when discussing, what is second nature to you, from your years of experience!...I'm solely in the box, like most home producers today, but I appreciate what you share. ANALOG Production, could eventually be a lost art. We need to support and thank the teachers that share their craft with us!

[@brianhodge2455]

That face at 4:25 ... THIS is why I subscribe!

[@SplotchTheCatThing]

Whenever Skinny Puppy finally records a new album I expect you to use this on it :)

[@instantknut]

I went through all your Revox videos and enjoyed your presentation a lot! Thanks! And somehow you remind me of Campino from Tote Hosen. All the best!

[@wownoflutter9817]

Hans Zimmer would be very impressed if he visited you ! Your vids influenced hundreds of musicians toward buying an A77

[@maicolvillanueva2657]

gracias maestro muy buen video

[@tomasenrique]

Thanks for sharing!

[@amonster8mymother]

Not all reel to reels have varispeed. ❤

[@tonyduncan4416]

Yes yes yes, I’m kinda old school and I’m digging on this!!

[@TheAmazingSnarf]

so, so gnarly. i love how happy a job well done can make people. i love using my 3 head deck. Tell me this the drum loop from Blue Serge- because that's what i thought you had set up for us today! cheers, Ken, and thank you for taking the time to show us exactly why you do the things you do- and then explain what you've done for us! (edit: realization) OMG it's US that did the loop! maybe just as awesome as Blue Serge... =)

[@flare242]

I'm sure that it's just massive enthusiasm and enjoyment of the topic, but Ken's pupils look waaay meth-y in this one. :-) I love these videos!

[@thallrudedjentstorm1756]

7:31 Duuuuude that's raaaaad!

[@amonster8mymother]

I have an old akai 1730 a uher and a panasonic reel to reel.

[@hiwattmarshall]

Thanks for sharing here my friend, I appreciate it big time 🤟🏻 Love that you’ve got a couple of classics! It’s so fun to tinker with these machines, and with the right encouragement, even go for a full restoration. I admit, the rebuild I did on my own Revox was wayyyyy over my head technically, but Peter from Nagravox made it very doable (he even helped me out personally, TWICE during the project!). You mentioned a varispeed in another comment (thank you), I believe you could modify almost anything to produce a variable speed, the custom mod on my own A77 is just a simple multi-turn pot, wired into the control board. It was modified by the original owner (Mushroom Studios) back in the 80’s! I hope your reels are spinning haha, thanks again for leaving a comment 🙏🤟🏻🙅🏻‍♂️ ❤️hw

[@PandaKattPk]

Amazing!!!!

[@SlightlyNasty]

Another fun thing to do is to chain the separate left and right channels on the deck to do ping-pong tape delay - or alternatively not tapping off the first delay line and using the chained delays to double your delay time (good for us plebs with non-varispeed decks!). Overhauling my Akai 4000DB was a total nightmare, but so worth it!

[@AragonDubs]

Superb! Exceptional comunicator and skill enginer. Yes, the A77 is one of the best eco tape ever! In dub music more than roland units! Its true. All my tape ecos are running with hi bias tape like 456 and 900 😉 Thanks for your skills and subscribe!

[@amonster8mymother]

I wonder if you can jimmy a rtr that doesnt have varispeed? ❤

[@glitchunicorn]

oh nice! i know some of the sony reel to reel as a sos echo knob or sonething..

[@qtotheball]

Wow that sounds so good. Curious, are you EQ/filtering the signal that you're feeding back into the tape machine or does it just naturally get that sweet dark sound with each repeat? Great video as usual!

[@davidasher22]

I would think it’s just from the slower speed of the tape. Sound quality decreases the slower the tape moves. But that being said it’s still possible he has a low pass filter on the return but I don’t think so. You can hear the sound quality increase when he speeds it up.

[@benmorrow1701]

Dub mixing 101. I like to change the eq on the delay channel (pre-send back to delay) to change how the loop degrades.

[@BarbieChaite]

how to add a varispeed on a tape recorder ?

[@flare242]

Have anyone tried to Shazam the track? It took me to something with similar drum track, but not quite it, not synths and not the breakdown. Might be a remix?

[@jackalbersonable]

Ken, I'm not sure where I should ask this question, and it has nothing really to do with the Revox ... can you give some insight on the best ways to deal with masking, particularly when it comes to mixing vocals? I'm working with a legend of a vocalist on a track and struggling with the EQ balance. Thanks in advance! Keep up the magic!!

[@00IIIIIIIII00]

Hey Ken, Quick question...Do you use any ceiling acoustic treatment, or is it not necessary?

[@tonyduncan4416]

This may be a noob question but, is it possible to get that width and feeding it back into itself using soundtoys echoboy or arturias tape echo?

[@gourabshow3993]

😎👍

[@ApexDubb]

Fundamentals of Dub

[@channelite]

Is it inconvenient to have that small mixer so low? Looks like you were really reaching down for it. Maybe move it to desk level if your gonna use it alot. Also does the mixer eq effect the delay?