How to turn a cassette recorder into a tape echo

Tape echoes are beautiful, but also very expensive. In this video I show how you can turn any thrift store 3-head tape recorder or reel-to-reel into a tape echo with no DIY skills.
Machines used: Marantz PMD222, Uher Report Monitor 4000
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[@null140]

Always the people who don't ask for a subscription who get mine by nature of the quality. Thanks for pursuing authenticity and quality!

[@STRAIGHTBOXMUSIC]

this comment made me go back and subscribe. and i NEVER subscribe

[@Hainbach]

Thank you both very much! Its heartening to read something like this right after cleaning up troll comments.

[@richardwallace2182]

Agreed. I am sick of people shoving there shit down my throat. Not to mention "WAATS UP GAIZZ!".

[@mbrombert]

Agreed.

[@qwestt1304]

Ryan Thomas could never slow it down like that with digital without it sounding unpleasantly metallic and grainy

[@scttcmpbll]

Nice! Old dub trick: add a band-pass filter (hi cut + low cut) into the feedback loop to tame wild frequencies

[@Hainbach]

True! And phasers, and a spring reverb. I love dub.

[@andriealinsangao613]

How do I do it?

[@davidagainstthewall]

in ableton, simply get an Equalizer, or get a Hardware eq, or use the EQ on your mixing console… 1000 possibilities (:

[@hunterchapman9845]

@@Hainbach I see you with spring reverbs on your desk often, but can't ever find one for sale or a brand name. Where are they available?

[@MattiMattiMatti]

Hainbach - I don't know if you read messages on old videos, but thank you! I wanted to give you a tip that you might have discovered already: Inserted into the feedback chain, using a delay pedal with feedback at zero, and a 100% wet, you can set *any* delay time you want and still get the classic tape echo sound. You're not bound to the "built-in" delay time of the distance between record and playhead.

[@woulg]

Your videos remind me of why I fell in love with electronic music. I've been having a hard time finding these warm and floating moments that your music brings to life. Thank you.

[@mcharbo8726]

Yeahhhh. Watching the pitch shifting portion, I am sitting here listening in awe and then laughing out loud when I see his face saying "This is.... Beautiful" hahaha cuz it's like ... those moments that all of us EA folks are working towards.

[@psybird2641]

I cannot believe how good that snippet of the 38 second sound bite is... you inspire me to continue my passion for analog electronic wizardry

[@NjlampGaming]

this guy's voice and narration brings me peace. great video

[@elliottpereda5724]

This is definitely a Good Ear Therapy 👍🏻

[@blidrob]

The passion with which you approach your craft is inspiring. Thank you.

[@wolfganggaube]

BEAUTIFUL! Thank you, Mr Hainbach! May this be a time of discovery and creativity. Best wishes.

[@anacoreta9381]

Great video, it opens an entire world of possibilities in cuddling sounds instead of harsh and bitter. Thanks a lot!

[@paulbangash4317]

The lovely , otherworldly sound of tape ( or a binson !). Great ✨

[@goodpal7444]

I've been meaning to leave a comment: I have an old Marantz and I did what you described! I knew from the instructions in my old reel to reel that it could be a tape echo, but it's a lot easier to use the Marantz. Thank you so much for the tutorial. I also have a pile of different tapes to use, the crappiest ones are the best.

[@guitfidle]

That is beautiful! I have an old vacuum tube powered wire recorder I want to turn into a lo-fi echo. This is a great way to start. Thanks!!

[@pbartmess]

This is fascinating - thank you for detailing the process.

[@EldarBaruch]

Intriguing method! And such beautiful sounds and lively layers.

[@andrewknox9360]

This is quite enchanting in it's simplicity. I'd love to give it a try!

[@chilp9759]

Shoot, I own one of those Marantz PMD-222 with its original case and lanyard strap! Kinda cool seeing what you did with it. All these years I thought it was just a common ol' tape recorder that had a neat slow-speed function.

[@powers_media]

this was so neat to watch, gave me a thrill. Thanks for helping me wrap my brain around the basics

[@kebman]

Oh the Marantz! Much love! Never used it for tape echo tho. I preferred the cleaner sound from 1/4" for that. Great for fiction. The Nagra in the background there would probably work very well for it. I remember "discovering" tape echo by accident back in the 90's. Such fond memories!

[@blakeheh]

Decided to purchase a PMD 201, and got it for 80 USD! Needed a bulkier cassette recorder anyways, and this one is in decent condition. Thanks for the inspiration, as I've been meaning to get into cassette for many years and am finally taking the plunge. ♥♥♥

[@AaronFerenc]

I really like this technique. I recently acquired a Marantz PMD222 and tried it out. I was using stereo 1/8th inch - 1/4 inch converters with an RCA - 1/8th inch cable, and realized you need to use only the right channel on the RCA cables when you do this or you hear nothing from the Marantz. Took me a while to figure that out, but once I did, the real tape delay sounded amazing. This is always the funny part about trying to explore, little details can sideline your efforts for a while, but the reward is worth it. In any case, thanks Hainbach, you are always inspiring and teaching the best ideas. Fun!

[@Maths1909]

A Sony TCM-5000EV also does the trick. It has speed control, but stock only works in playback mode, like the Marantz. The service manual (available online) does show that it should not be too hard to have speed control on record mode though. Great video, it shows you can use often discarded analog equipment to make modern music, if you put the time into it.

[@pauliamsocool]

That Telefunken is beautiful! Well done!

[@emptyvesselnz]

great success doing this with my old Teac X300 R2R, routing implemented using Bitwig rather than a hardware mixer and using the Line in level on the R2R to ride the feedback, cleaner results than I imagined but some great artifacts when switching from high to low tape speed. Makes me want something with more speeds and crappier quality now! Thanks for this one sir, much appreciated as always :)

[@romineification]

When I first saw this a few months back I was inspired so I found a PMD221 for $35 ( I know what a deal) and get this working using just a bastl dude. Thanks for the inspiration Hainbach, you're pretty cool.

[@steeliewheelies]

Soooo cool, I am really into this. Will have to provide myself with a setup like that in my music career. Thank you for the informational videos!!

[@gergemall]

We used to do that with a reel to reel early 80’s, new subscriber. Very cool 😎

[@DarthDoomSlayer64]

I am so happy this channel exists!

[@fghjghjfhgjfhgj]

Hinterbandkontrolle! That sounds like the name of a Kraftwerk album!

[@paulmitchum8658]

For stereo recorders, you can use the channels in series. The playback head of channel 1 feeds into input of channel 2, and then monitor channel 2's playback head. Get double the time, and also double the hiss. :-)

[@Hainbach]

Nice! I have to try that with my M15. Though the way its patched right now that might be a tad difficult.

[@acreil]

The Marantz PMD430 is the equivalent stereo 3 head model. But I think it's actually better to use two separate mono tape machines, as the wow and flutter, drop outs, etc. will be different for each unit.

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

used that trick for my first professional commission in... 1977. For a sci-fi music festival in Montpellier. I used my first (and then only) synth, a duophonic Korg 800DV and an Akai GX-210D tape recorder deck with a DIY mixing box (just two sliding pots for L and R feedback plus two three ways switches to send the L and R play signal either to the L and R or L and L or R and L or R and R (or no fdbck in 0 position) back to the recording heads... With the many possibilities of alternating and cross switching the original stereo signals from the 800DV (basically a double 700s), I was able to record in one take quite a complex multichannel ambient loop and rhythm track....

[@ArchtopBill]

Thanks for this. I have a Marantz 222 that I purchased more than twenty years ago that I use for q&d practice analysis. Looking forward to using this a tape echo.

[@josehaya6362]

Tried it and loved it!! The only thing to consider is that the hiss from the echo would come from speaker (since its paned)

[@robcemento9605]

In the 80s we had an 8 track echo. It was a pain in the arse.

[@uydgkafkasjdh]

This is actually less noisy and wobbly than my Echocord Mini. Sounds very nice!

[@Audhentik]

Danke! Wunderschöne Musik und sehr hilfreiche Videos! ❤

[@jacksonreazin6042]

If the pmd-222 in this video has a trim pot for the tape speed (i’ve got a sony tcm-5000ev that does, accessed through the battery compartment) the trim pot could be removed and replaced with an external pot and larger knob to control the speed of the tape while it’s recording. I’ve done this using a small flat head screwdriver to adjust the pot while recording. I would then also assume an LFO could be applied to the same contacts but replace the trim pot with a jack for the CV.

[@BetweentheBeans]

This video made me want to cry at points. Some of those sounds were so beautiful.

[@chrisbell9593]

your videos are always a great source of inspiration. thanks for sharing what you do

[@Hainbach]

Thank you Chris! Its both fun and a lot of work to make them, have no plans of stopping anytime time soon.

[@schipbreukeling3]

I just found your channel. Yeah and yesterday I bought a bandrecorder Peer to Peer. great tip thank you.

[@DocPlage]

Thank you for your help...but mostly for your gorgeous work.

[@heliumtrophy]

That loop was gorgeous - just made me think of all these films where a girl tiptoes through the forest and gets more and more lost that time dissolves until you find her just huddled under a tree.

[@irieflo83]

Großartig! Hab das space case und fand es super, zu hören wie das Ausgangsmaterial klimgt! Grüße aus Moabit...

[@mountainboydk]

So much oxenfree vibes im loving it

[@buttguy]

i could listen to this loop all day.

[@alphanuevo]

Was able to get this working with a Boss BX80 mixer, since my four track died. Interesting that routing the output of the tape player and then using the effect / aux on that track didn't quite work the same but it's still fun. Guessing that the four track handles that audio a bit differently. Cheers.

[@InkyDaCaT]

Yeah!!! I like it😁😁😁😁checking tape machines in house now!

[@M1stersupersonic8]

10:24 sounds like a lost Jean Michel-Jarre track. Great music, and great video!

[@JohnMitchellCalif]

Wow, that's really beautiful!

[@ManCalledMif]

mind blown! the feedback is ethereal ❤️🧘🏼‍♀️😃🌈

[@DaraM73]

Still enjoying this!

[@Angelchrom3]

after watching a bunsh of your videos - beside your amazing freakish ways to make music - i know of what reminds me this sound very often : the "deru - 1979" album. when you didnt heard it before, i think you like it very much

[@MrTomhuughe]

Mmmmmm sounds sehr schön I will immediately try to buy one!!!! Thankx for the tip!!!!

[@michaelinglis8516]

Really cool, sounds excellent!

[@DiogoSantos-ln1nz]

You're covering all the right topics! Are you checking my search history?

[@Hainbach]

At some point, certain musical minds evolve in the same direction I have found. :-)

[@discern7544]

Sounds beautiful.

[@dimitri4004]

'beauty is there' enough said. Thanks

[@kd1s]

When I was at WDOM we used to take a boom box and tune it to the radio frequency and set the volume just so in order to get reverberation. That was fun.

[@curlysam131]

Good lord my friend. Every time I watch your videos, Its like a whats what of equipment that I wish I could afford.

[@Hainbach]

I assembled much of thisover the course of 25 years, and often cheaply. It helps that I have no hobbies and everything is a busi Ness expense.

[@curlysam131]

@@Hainbach

[@djlukestein]

Thanks again for another great video.

[@angeloxboss]

Great video thank you, love the op1 wish I could afford one, saying that I just got ableton and push 2 ha.

[@mattwright2964]

We used to mess around with tape decks in the mid 70s to create effects as we couldn't afford WEM copicats etc. It was in the early new wave music days. I had a deck where I had messed around with the heads and not only did it echo but gave ghost sounds from the other channel and reverse notes. It was hard to use live as it wasn't that reliable for a gig so my ideas weren't adopted by the band I auditioned with briefly.

[@adamtunnard8092]

just thought i should share: you make a tape echo like this with virtually any audio interface and any daw. i'm using reaper, a similar old cassette recorder, and a tascam us-1800. any interface with monitor outputs or balanced outputs should work. basically, you have one track on the daw sending out to the interface's output to the tape recorder (i have a separate box to convert this signal from balanced to line level, in my case). hit record on the cassettte machine. send the recorder's output to an input on your interface. then, on the channels that you have the recorder sending to in your daw, send back to the same interface's output to start your feedback loop. the send volume from this channel controls the feedback. and like someone below said, a delay plugin with one tap and 100% wet will let you dial in a precise delay time. you can even automate delay times in your daw: much more adaptable, reactive, and tweakable than even the most advanced tape echo units. hope this makes sense!!!

[@ryanpwm]

I don’t even mess with all that lol. I set up a tape delay plugin that I like and put the track I want delay on in loop mode. Then I record that track to tape for awhile and go get a drink. When I get back then I have all the material I need for whatever tape delays I want on the track. Even cooler, sometimes I change the track later but still keep the same delay. Weird effect to have an echo without an exact source.

[@personmcperson4440]

Already wanted one of these, but now I HAVE to have one.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Wunderschöne Idee, danke sehr!

[@343.43]

Yoooo i need to get home to my marrantz right now! You're the man!

[@dimitrischiotis3397]

Very helpful, thank you very much!

[@domeniquexander_]

So lovely! Oh man love it 🔥🔥🔥 thanks 🙏🏼

[@TAB1999]

Insane! I bought a cassette deck just be of ur video!

[@yungbohemian3996]

amateur here, thank you for this - you're doing god's work

[@alphanuevo]

Thanks for the tips and ideas! I've really appreciated the classic Roland echo units but they're a bit pricey. I'll be adding a similar Marantz to my home studio soon. Cheers.

[@alphanuevo]

Just FYI, I was thinking about this and you don't really (I don't think) need the Fostex / four track for this. A different mixer or even record two tracks to a DAW could be roughly the same. Sadly my Fostex died so I'm thinking of other options. Cheers.

[@TonyLing]

I'm glad I now know how to pronounce 'UHER' correctly. I have a reporter 4000 too. Gruss von England.

[@reptilespantoso]

Cool guide!

[@nmda_music8269]

Awesome trick ! Gonna try this right away, thank you ! Great video, as usual ;)

[@Hainbach]

Enjoy, it's so much fun!

[@jiaweilu5190]

hey, great video. thanks for sharing your experience. dope

[@midierror]

superb video, it sounds great

[@danielarco8566]

Yea,it's a really analog feel.Great

[@brunovalente2077]

I imagine all that people back then imagining that one day we will have such a perfect digital sound and effects to work with, and for now we have to stick with this analog erratic, quality loss tape thing. If you would be seeing this video in 1984 you would say "This guy is crazy??" Well, when I transitioned from tape to cd I could hear genuinely how crispy and good sounding music could be and accessible for everyone in this world. Now we love and appreciate the nostalgia of analog old crap sound we always wanted to get rid off. HIRONIC WORLD THIS is!!

[@sski]

Outstanding! Thanks for the video : )

[@charliehorse2241]

I love your videos and what you are doing! Subscribed!!

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! Loads more to come, just need more hours in the day.

[@khalnetherfields7263]

I've done this by accident too, with a normal akai tape deck. I felt like a crazy genius scientist. Never did bother to recreate it, sadly

[@jameshamaker9321]

Beautiful music.

[@sebastiane3994]

Such goodness! thank you.

[@Fabi19761]

Hola, excelente demostración. Quiero preguntarte si para hacer que funcione como eco de cinta hay que tener activado el modo, Tape o Surce? Muchas gracias y saludos desde Uruguay!!! feliz año nuevo.

[@baddriddimworkshop]

i added vayspeed to uher report monitors for echos, its very easy because those units motors are dc controled

[@Sheltada]

May try and do something like this on the effects loop with my guitar.

[@luisbarrera7248]

I'm starting to realize you're a beautifully creative bastard. Your shit is dope.

[@morfbeats678]

Well done my friend!

[@topofthemornintoya]

thank you, great video

[@MHQ89]

That sounds insane! thank . you!

[@mtg101010]

Activating the vari-speed while recording is very easy on the 222. One needs only cut one pcb trace and add one jumper wire. But diy deck mods is another thing all together.

[@Rarebirdeffects]

Any hints on how to find the trace to cut and where to jump on marantz 221? Or 222? I’m a noob. If you could dumb it down even further I’d be forever grateful :)

[@mikekashaev]

Sounds awesome.

[@simonkormendy849]

This kind of reminds me of an album called Discrete Music by Brian Eno, but he used an EMS Synthi AKS and a reel to reel tape recorder plus a 31 band eq to create it.

[@Hainbach]

Forever a fav!

[@jesselough]

so, so beautiful

[@johnonorgan]

i have an echolette made in Germany still works great

[@iNerdier]

This is super rad.

[@ari-elm]

Beautiful

[@Safefragrance]

I would love to hear this technique used in a destruction loop as well :)

[@SilverSequence]

Instant Aphex Twin vibes

[@Hainbach]

Wait until I make a video on the Quadraverb 😊

[@flyinggoudacheese]

Me too

[@aitorgarciadevicuna3263]

@HAINBACH I discovered your channel 2 days ago, and im totally hooked to your videos! they are amazing! I have to decide between an Uher 4000 or an Uher Royal Deluxe C. Which one you recommend? Thank you and keep uploading amazing videos!

[@ChickyNYC]

Excellent, as usual

[@mal2ksc]

I bet the disabling of the pitch control during recording is done by a couple contacts on the long slider switch that gets moved when RECORD is pressed. You may be able to simply scrape off a segment of the trace from one of the pins of that switch, so the pitch control no longer knows it's supposed to step aside, optionally with a switch somewhere to turn this capacity back on if you wish to use the recorder as originally intended. You may also be able to replace the speed knob's potentiometer with a higher value to get more variance in pitch as well.