Revox A77: How to create a reel-to-reel tape loop

This video will show you once again how to create a tape-loop. Somebody asked me in a comment on my last video to do a tape-loop on a ReVox A77. Here is the demonstration: it works (-; (more or less good). If I had more time, you wouldn't hear the cut for sure!
The track I used for the loop was "Owner of a lonely heart" by "Yes" from 1983.
The video was recorded in 2009!
You can buy a splicing block for example here:
redir.love/tho...

[@jeanfatale]

He speaks perfectly well and everyone can understand without the least problem.

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

It's cool to watch the old-school ways of how some things were done before the easier and better methods that we have of doing them now were developed. :-)

[@hoover728]

Easier? Yes. Better? No. Digital is a sampled facsimile of music, tape is analogous to the actual signal.

[@stevedoubleu99B]

Ha ha, yes that is indeed the word, very widely used in UK when things #@¥& up! Nice video.

[@pcallas66]

That was a great video, by the way. The tape got crinkled is probably the most precise word, and wrinkled would be a close second, in a couple spots. The A77 isn't the most friendly machine to play back a tape loop, but you did a great job.

[@technikfans]

Thank you Paul! I´ve never heard this word before. Good to know! ;-)

[@pcallas66]

You're welcome.

[@MrRockntube]

thank you for a great and funny video :)

[@ac1dman]

That was informative and also you are adorable

[@technikfans]

Thanks a lot! :-)

[@hardeheelmeesters]

great video!

[@goodFinMusic]

This was an awesome video. Sub

[@FUnKNUg]

Sound like a cool guy! Liked the video, thanks

[@timridley1]

Love your language and your splicing speed too.

[@rudyrudy6882]

Thank you for your work, it’s magical 🙏🇧🇪

[@madjidhamdini8114]

Hello from belgium ^^ "Magnetophone" remind me mi childhood (im from 1977) , i had 2 sony 4 tracks but loose it ...sad . i maked loops with tape and also cassete tape ! this old technology is fine ! easy to cut/repare/ etc. I worked severals year in Germany (essen ,baden baden ,koln ,frankfurt ) supermarket open until 11PM ^^ very good , a very wonderful country i love it ^^ PS: Haha your german accent is better than my Belgian accent in english lol !

[@sitizenkanemusic]

Actually, making a loop analog-style is just as easy as digital (well, not that easy, compared to point and click). I have both and albeit, analog is fun to mess around and is pretty straight-forward to learn because everything is limited in terms of what equipment is available to you.

[@ppeterso22]

LOL@ 7:03!!!!! You get respect from me for using an A77 to do this--not an easier B77 or PR99. Thanks for the posting! I have 3 A77's (1 HS and 2 Dolby models)--I had all but given up on using them and have been using my B77 and PR99 units. I will use my A77s now!

[@AleMarasso]

Hello, I leave a question, maybe you can help me. Does the sound of a revox a77 depend 100% on its heads (head)? I'm seeing if I buy Revox a77 that apparently has changed heads and I have my doubts. Thank you!

[@technikfans]

Hello Ale! The tape heads are always extremely important for the sound of any tape recorder. With old devices it is normal for the tape heads to be ground in a little. If the cut is too strong, the recording and playback will lack the treble. Sound heads must not be ground in more than 3mm.

[@daspolemon]

You have obviously a hard time explaining things in English. I suggest you do it in German, and use the subtitling function of KZbin, and translate your audio.

[@jankersting]

I love your german accentt

[@technikfans]

Thank you! ;-)

[@19stanley46]

When you said the tape was f***ed up - you meant CRINKLED or CREASED or FOLDED... any of those words would do!!!! Just to let you know....

[@Dante655321]

I don't know how i got to this vid, but I'm marveled. Is just "too easy" these days

[@77easylis]

We have enjoyed how you work after the cut, without wind, hand in hand (A77) Die A816 ist natürlich für sowas optimal. Danke für das interessante Video.

[@sitizenkanemusic]

You sound like my music theory professor, Doctor Schmitz from München.

[@BlackBearTexas]

hahaha you're videos are awesome! you remind me of my friend Moritz! Thanks for uploading :)

[@madjidhamdini8114]

50 metres / seconds ?!? Wow , mine i had builded for he a pitch bend lol ( a volum button 47kohm for the motor he work very fast or very slow like +/-60 or 70% absolutely not precis hahaha , i was younger and learnin electronic ^^ )

[@technikfans]

No sorry. Its 15m per second... But this is also pretty fast. 😉👍

[@schipbreukeling3]

Nevermind it is a great trick, thank you for sharing

[@egoadsr]

:D wow, revox time producers was so patient ! the amount of time saved by the samplers is phenomenal ! thanks for sharing ;)

[@unclereg7713]

Is there a specific equation of tape speed and tape length to work out where to splice so your loop plays in a 12 bar in 4/4 time for example. I am planning on making some loops but will need them to always play in time when the splice goes over the head.

[@technikfans]

I think it depends on how long the loop should be. But usually the fastest speed is the best speed of course. 😉

[@ruudvansteenis]

After having been a professional sound engineer for 25 years, I had a good laugh watching your video! (It almost shows how it should NOT be done, hahaha! :) )

[@technikfans]

As long as you get entertained, everything is good to me. I know that it wasn´t perfect, but it was just a short improvised video to give people which are not familiar with the "how to" a clue of how to do it. Maybe I will do another video and than also you can see, that I know what I´m doing... ;-)

[@ruudvansteenis]

***** I didn't write this to piss you off (I am sure you know what you are doing), but almost everything that could go wrong, went wrong! (Edit wasn't perfect, splicing tape was sticking out, tape loop got stuck in the Revox etc.). But I thought is was very funny to watch! By the way: beautiful Studer machine!

[@technikfans]

Ruud van Steenis It´s ok Ruud - I don´t take that all here not to much serious. ;-) Anyway: I think I will do a new video in the next days! :-)

[@juzsomeguy22768]

***** real good or not,, its fun to see back haha, i used to make the cuts allways in a 45 degree angle or less, gave a bit smoother transition, fun times with that old stuff :)

[@sekaiology]

Fucking amazing, thank you!

[@jimthekid6477]

Thanks mate! Good video

[@rsanchez7111]

Thanks for sharing. Btw where did you get that splicing block. Nice and easy to use. Thx again. Cool!!

[@technikfans]

rsanchez7111 I have this splicing block since many years. It´s an original spare part vom ReVox. You can ask for example at ReVox in Germany or Switzerland to buy it. Alternative: look at ebay! You often can find there such parts! :-)

[@ΓιώργοςΜπέκας-ν8ψ]

hahaha! germans ...trying to speak english!

[@DOPEDOGTOPDOG]

What about using the loop for using the A-77 as a tape echo ?

[@technikfans]

+DOPEDOGTOPDOG I did not try it untill now. But it sholud also be possible if there is enough tape-tension on it.

[@colbym3295]

DOPEDOGTOPDOG my exact thoughts, I'm looking at a teac 4010 to use as a tape delay

[@GenuineSoundware]

I think I was the guy who requested an example of looping a tape with the A77. Great video! Thanks a lot! I really need that "splice block" or whatever it's called... do you know where I could buy one?

[@slobodanjozejoksimovic973]

Imate li koji za prodaju ili sličan sa zvučnicima 50 do 100 vati za upotrebu. Imam 100 snimljeni traka na uheru koji je u kvaru

[@technikfans]

Ne, uglavnom ne prodajem nijedan uređaj. Žao mi je!

[@shoprat17]

Not bad English for a German!

[@klinkske]

very informative, thx

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

LOL, "Peeeeep!" instead of "beeep"! :-D Love that German accent, man! :-D Fun video (even with the disappointment that the pro recorder was too stupidly designed to play also)!

[@technikfans]

"Peeep" is just the German version we would spell it, cause we pronaunce it exactly like this! ;-)

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Heheheh!

[@444damn]

@technikfans i was actually being sarcastic you're welcome to swear as much as you like, i was mocking the jerk who took issue with it

[@bunko74]

enjoyed that. danke

[@smadaf]

Very cool video. The English word you wanted is "precise"; a German way to write how it's pronounced in English is "priesseiss".

[@Disco5100]

@technikfans I am too a reel2reel fan,you can see my videos:D...I have rusian machine,not HI-FI but sounds very good:D

[@AdventurousInsight]

Great video!

[@Sirenfreak1000T]

Pause 0:51 as of today 10-18-2014 at 12:23pm I got that exact CD at a yardsale for a dollar

[@MrSinisacmrecak]

love this video!!!!

[@technikfans]

Thank you! :-)

[@djzerotwoo]

Wow great video! I always wondered how they did this sort of thing. Would you be able to make a track or a little mix or something so I can see how they make the layers of sound when recording because if I remember they used to use samples and cut them together

[@kolbenschieber]

"Traident", nicht "trident". Precise ("Prießeis") ist präzise.

[@technikfans]

Danke! :-)

[@cdorval1]

Excellent video! Thanks. If the tape deck is off the floor, you can create tension by simply hanging a reel from the tape loop, and letting it dangle over the edge.

[@Highways6]

That’s cool!

[@OneRoomShed]

That's a great video. Analog equipment is so much more fun that digital equipment. Anyone can make loop on a computer, but to do it on an open reel takes skill. Long live the reel to reel tape deck !!!!

[@ericjason]

Thank you for this video. i just picked up a Sony TC 200 and it is a very similar machine to your ReVox A77 so i will be able to accomplish the same. Cheers, friend!

[@rolandblocko4229]

Dear technikfan, could you give me an advice if this is also possible on a revox f36? I tried it but without success. What am I doing wrong?

[@peter-subramanian]

I had no idea that this was even a thing!!!! Just the amount of technical skill and precision that this requires as compared to purely digital audio manipulation blows my mind.

[@revolvingtoto007]

awesome

[@sitizenkanemusic]

Well i just subscribed to you channel! I like how you say the word "music" in the german style, "Musik"

[@quincythomas5282]

thanks you! i was dreaming about this when i pulled my Sony reel to reel out of the trash, good to know my dream in full affect! im going to layer 4 reels on one machine and displace the tension of the loop. 4 reels will hopefully make the loop longer and look badass. ; - ) ^^if that even makes any sense^^

[@NathanRichan]

The word you were looking for was 'precision', if you haven't since found it.

[@mkarnicki]

This vid made me subscribe to your channel. Very cool! (And funny non-censored comments haha)

[@justinmacri306]

Anyone else hearing Christoph Waltz?

[@kink303]

very good explanation, thank you!

[@alalal1979]

Fantastic video and great fun to watch....... you should be on TV!

[@odedka76]

As someone with totally zero knowledge about Tape Recording, I must admit this looks and sounds exiting. You did a great job here!

[@SeansYTEntertainment]

I love this! I have an A77 too, and other than listening to classical music on it (coz that just seems so right!), I'm looking for ideas on how to use it in my digital music creation

[@TheFRiNgEguitars]

"ok forget it" 7:35 hahaha very funny! Very informative video, and obvious you're experienced and highly skilled .. cheers from the USA!

[@TuneStunnaMusic]

VEry nice video, dont care if you missed the splice, this is still a lost art.

[@maurosaverio]

Du meine Güte "Bandschlaufenwiederholung" für Anfänger...fangt bloss nicht damit an ;-) aber okay für Alle die so was noch nie gesehen haben...übrigens seit über 20 Jahren gibt es Komputer auf welchen sowas viel besser geht ;-) Such-maschint mal: Echodelay, Les Paul oder auch The making of Dark side of the moon Money Loop. Übrigens das Basis Drums auf Totos Africa wurde so gemacht allerdings mit einer 2-Zoll Mehrspurbandmachine. Grüsse ein alter Tonmeister Hase

[@echriton]

You can use cisor to cut hairs :-) That works perfectly and you can change the angle of cut.

[@Filiu1]

You have a lot of Swiss audio masterpieces.Congratulations for your collection!Do you live in Switzerland?

[@SirDubluv]

Thanks ! Good video , I am going after 2 Revox A77 MKIII this afternoon.. Excited! :)

[@whyamisotired1]

Brilliant videos man! This really helps me as im doing an essay on tape for University. Thanks!!!

[@Jensmusiclover]

Owning a B 215 as well- great machine! Also, I have a PR 99 and a TELEFUNKEN M 28 Let's stay in touch: PORTRAIT - Aus dem Radioalltag von Jens Messtorff (ein Film von Danny Tristan)

[@ΓιώργοςΜπέκας-ν8ψ]

I wue aa deitsch redn, koan I aba ned, I hob nua Dialekt glernt... was meinen Sie, laesst sich so was bei google translate uebersetzen?

[@SaGruenwdt]

Oh mann... ich glaub bei sowas bleib ich dann doch lieber bei Adobe audition *lach Auch wenn ich Bänder liebe!

[@september-pp6gt]

we love your video!

[@TonyStewartKY]

Thanks for the entertaining video

[@jgk381]

lmao, a leeetle beet fffaacked up -7:00

[@MrKrokkenoster]

I use open reel tapes since 1967 and I fiund that if you want a PERMANENT splice use cyano acrilate or "super glue" as the splicing tapes glue becomes gooey after some time and the splices jam up

[@MrMedsetfair]

How about a video Gerhardus???

[@jen3800]

cute as pie. great work!

[@davidannett3322]

This is awesome. That is some sweet sweet gear!

[@verovieira1]

Fantastic, thanks for sharing !

[@portaismusicstudio]

funny guy thank you for this lesson

[@dubdoodle7191]

Why do so many Revox RTR owners place them on the floor ?

[@technikfans]

If you want to cut the tape, this is the most comfortable way. 😉

[@NicholasT-f9n]

Hello, lovely video ! Could you describe your preferred process for biasing tape on a deck ?

[@technikfans]

Since I am not a technician, I have never measured the A77 myself. You would have to ask a professional.

[@MikeSevero]

Greetings from Kansas City. Very helpful, Thank you!!

[@newagecult4292]

Blowing my mind right now.

[@artemik1986]

С кассетаами раньше такое вытворял :)

[@corbs132]

This is seriously impressive.

[@digableweb]

Excellent ! thanks :)

[@vitorjunior2023]

Nice! Hahahahah! Yes Rocks!

[@PhantomPain043]

please play backwards! ;-)

[@sitizenkanemusic]

looks really tedious :(

[@richardwedlich8823]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@technikfans]

You're welcome! 😊👍

[@tylermcdonald7751]

You are the greatest!

[@thevideosinc]

Watching this makes me epreciate modern technology more

[@peterangelospanggaard9200]

Exactly 😂

[@Disco5100]

man,you're awesome:D

[@chumanjames]

thats amazing

[@MsWiesengrund]

GREAT!!!

[@BigShagger2]

great video!

[@odedka76]

Thank you for the lesson!

[@fr6nco]

niiiice :D

[@TheAuralab]

great!!