Korg Monotron Delay + Dictaphone // Station

This piece was recorded using a software synth to track a melody into the microcassette recorder. The track was then played through the korg monotron delay and recorded back into Ableton. I added Valhalla Supermassive to give the mono track some width.
Affiliate Links
Headphones: amzn.to/3y6bVmQ
Interface: amzn.to/3CoNKlW
Korg Monotron: amzn.to/3o9l86n
Midi controller: amzn.to/37qmXFv
Microcassettes: amzn.to/3o7ji60
...
Bandcamp: psionetics.bandcamp.com/music
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#dictaphone #monotron #ambientsynth

[@Psionetics]

Download the Supermassive plugin for free: valhalladsp.com/shop/reverb/valhalla-supermassive/

[@parasiteunit]

The legacy of tape in music production is extraordinary. Not just as a medium to use to store music, but as a springboard for affecting and creating whole soundscapes, the original Dr Who theme was realised not by oscillators and synths, but the use of tape loops... Still find it astounding how Julia Derbyshire constructed the piece with this deceptively simple medium. This piece has that feel and Vibe to it. Truly an inspiration.

[@Psionetics]

Thank you for taking the time to listen and comment!

[@wirefreesoft]

Love seeing someone keeping cassette alive ... and Radio Shack

[@Psionetics]

Viva Radioshack!

[@gokugoma3258]

Radioshack is dead

[@jukesjointOG]

@@gokugoma3258 Nope.

[@roxasparks]

Pffft i be trying but i cant find a casset player anywhere and most of the ones online are way over priced/ broken.

[@roxasparks]

@@gokugoma3258 its actually not, its just really smol now. I actually saw one somewhere around here not to long ago and was shocked.

[@patrickcorcoran889]

Gorgeous, I'll be playing this just to chill out to and very inspiring to watch - think you've decided which korg I'll be getting! Thank you.

[@Tekunikaru]

This is so simple and yet so awesome! You can have loads and loads of fun with this. Made an ambient track the other day with a microkorg and a volca FM running through my Monotron Delay. So much funnn!

[@Psionetics]

Thanks for watching!

[@hosiyamakaze]

Fantastic, I thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of drifting through space as if on a cosmic railway. 4:28 "ODoRiKo HyaKu-Jyu-Yon Gou" in Japanese「踊り子 114号」.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

I couldn't stop listening, thanks. ❤️✌️

[@Psionetics]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@afraidhishorses]

i love the sound of microcassettes... this is very nice

[@Psionetics]

Gracias por escuchar!

[@megalocosm]

Great sound and combination idea

[@Psionetics]

Thank you !

[@rnedp760]

Love this, feels very alive,

[@Psionetics]

Thank you!

[@SidRockett]

Wow! Nice ambient piece.

[@Psionetics]

Thanks for listening 🎧!

[@sanagola]

very nice

[@alonelyowl3709]

Wow!! that's pretty good sounds!!!

[@Psionetics]

Thanks for listening!

[@DariaMotorina]

Amazing combination of tools to achieve this ambient sound! I would like to try this with my monotron :)

[@Psionetics]

Thanks for listening! Your name reminds me of the eponymous MTV show, Daria

[@DJ-Lazy-Lodger]

good in and out feeling.

[@Psionetics]

Thanks!

[@bigkik]

Impressive ! I have to try it with my monotron delay to !

[@Psionetics]

Do it!

[@martinhansen6466]

Cool stuff..

[@Psionetics]

Thanks Martin

[@eFiddle]

Yes I have a tape recorder like that, and the tape is "dirty", brilliant work, I subscribed!

[@Psionetics]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@handbaked4937]

Good work!

[@Psionetics]

Thank you 🎶🎛️🎧🚀

[@nikolay-tsys]

This is brilliant, I didn't know that monotron have an input!

[@Psionetics]

Thanks for 🎧🎶

[@AMOKIAN]

Micro rigging rocks….micro tape rocks too…. Monotrons too for that matter.

[@ck-ck]

What a great idea, playing real world recordings trough a monotron ! 😛

[@Psionetics]

Thanks for listening!

[@omselection438]

Damned cool

[@Psionetics]

You should try it, it's fun

[@Santiagoarciniegaqui]

Inspiraras compadrito

[@Psionetics]

Gracias Santiago !

[@Ziqohth]

dude your channel is going to blow up. at least for me! :D subscribed!

[@Psionetics]

Wow, thanks Gab! That's a big compliment

[@MVMullins]

I'm ordering a Monotron and have an Artiphon Orba on the way. I plan to use them with a Sony Minidisc. I can't wait!

[@Psionetics]

Oh nice you have a Minidisc? Make a video!

[@MVMullins]

@@Psionetics I intend to do that very thing! I have a MZ-R70 in pristine condition and your video gave me the idea to use it.

[@Funkywallot]

I found that recording bassy sounds works best with micrcassete recorders. The hiss generated from the micro is unbearably loud, it needs massive cutting in the treble in post production. But still the result is unpredictable in a artsy fartsy kind of way. Its a good tool to spicen up your sound and creativity used with caution

[@Psionetics]

That's part of what makes the LPF in the Monotron so useful!

[@DevanDW]

such a beautiful piece! this has definitely inspired me to go into my own ambient tape stuff. probably dumb question: is the cassette an infinite tape loop (if so, how long is the loop?) OR did you play a record a whole synth part into the cassette (for however long), and manipulate that?

[@Psionetics]

I fired up a synth plugin and just noodled on a big pad/ chord sound in real time while recording with the dictaphone. I think I must have switched the tape speed during recording, because towards the end you hear the recording being played back at half speed. So in short it's not a loop. I do however have a CV controllable cassette player and some new looping cassettes in the mail...

[@PieAreSquared]

I love everything about this. May I ask how much of the "lofi-ness" is down to the monotron's delay rather than the dictaphone? been thinking of getting a monotron to pair with my 0-coast to make it sound a bit more lo-fi and crunchy. Thanks and again, great job on this video!

[@Psionetics]

Thanks! I would say most of the "lo-finess" comes from the magic of the tape recording, the low pass filter of the monotron definitely plays a part in filtering out the high end though, which is also a part of that sound.

[@AMOKIAN]

You may want to send some of your music to the “Radio Ambient” show?

[@713gk]

This is cool man I have a monotron and I just ordered a radioshack cassette player. Looks like a fun set up to take backpacking. How did you get the sounds on the tape?

[@Psionetics]

The dictaphone allows you to record via the built in microphone

[@713gk]

Sweet thanks!

[@jakethompson8133]

My monotron delay doesn't want to connect to my tape player. Works with almost everything I connect to it. Is that a diffrent adapter you have for your tape player?

[@Psionetics]

I'm using a mono cable from the tape player into the monotron, and a stereo cable on the output of the monotron. You can also use a stereo adapter with a mono cable on the output, but I believe a regular mono cable will not work. Hope this helps!

[@garretkaplan]

how did you record the piece into abelton?

[@Psionetics]

Via a Motu M2 audio interface. The vocal samples are on a separate track.

[@DragonGrafx-16]

This is really great but I think it would be even better without the voice clips... it kind of takes me out of space.

[@Psionetics]

I know a guy who could get you to space if you really need to get back, but it will cost you 3 halomorph crystals and a diluvian transfigurator

[@DragonGrafx-16]

@@Psionetics Wait, how did you know that I am an alien?