TUTORIAL The Tape Loop Gap // tips, tricks, and ideas for using four track tape recorders

One of the most common questions I get it "What do you do about the gap?!", and in this video I give a few thoughts on that. I'm pro gap. Love it. Work with it.
This video features a Tascam 424 mki and Korg Volca Keys.
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[@deaftone]

Great video, thanks. You know, on this machine you don't have to move cables between inputs 1-2 and 3-4 :) you can keep it plugged on 1-2 even when recording on 3-4. Rec. enable switches and panning determine where it goes on the cassete. cheers ;)

[@fritz3802]

How?

[@bgnelson6821]

I didn't realize there were 4 tracks with that much control. That's almost all of what I was looking for for a project I have in mind.

[@User173]

awesome! Doubling the chords on the other two tracks to make the gap create texture is a brilliant idea! thank you for sharing. Please keep it up, these are thoroughly enjoyable.

[@BlankFor_ms]

User 173 glad you dig it! More to come, I have so many ideas for these.

[@akashamitra8533]

Your tutorials are so good. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your ideas and knowledge with us.

[@mintpillow]

This is fun and inspiring, breaking out my Fostex now!

[@20YearsofTascam-rc1he]

I'm amazed by the endless "repurposing" of this old tech. All I did was write, arrange & record songs with my 424 ...little did I know. 😉

[@Oberheim2001]

Very good tricks my friend!! Tape sounds and gaps are great. Love your channel!!!

[@michaelcurtismusic742]

Sweet, after lots of trys to cover the erase head to avoid the gap, I have decided to embrace it and use it. I like you am also pro gap

[@solidground4157]

Love gaps too, nice to have ideas how to work around it! Thanks!

[@arbitrarychemistry]

This is great. Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@BroMordekai]

Bought a Porta one that im currently fixing, literally because of your channel!! Found you on IG first but im super in love with your soundscape!!!

[@BlankFor_ms]

Thanks so much! Enjoy the P1, its one of my favorites.

[@PatchMonger]

Super job, please keep the tutorials going. Some really nice ideas here 👍👍👏👏🙏🙏

[@ferrifet7267]

That was good that, the arming switches for the tracks are great fun. Try swapping between the speeds for random arpeggios and octave jumps!

[@krisulrich]

Thank you for making this. I've got an MK1 coming sooooon.

[@SupahDupah]

Mind the gap! But cool... gonna try and work with it as well! Good tips!

[@whispercafe1515]

Nice! I just got a porta two so I'l have to try this out. Been having trouble with my headphone out not being in stereo :/ soon as i get that sorted this'll be a good exercise.

[@thejustingaw]

This is so extremely helpful! Thank you

[@excmicke]

Brilliant doubling, never thougtht of that before. Curious to know how far you might be able to layer it all. Could you record the output, of say what you have already, and keep adding layers of sounnd?

[@simoncrabb]

I can't figure out how your loop tape is routed, it's quite short but you've got that big static reel of tape in there!

[@wewatchtheskywaiting]

that's some textures... would love to try this. As a first buy, would you recommend a 414 (v1) or a portaone ? I don't really know about Tascam tape machines & I got a plan to buy those, (same price +- 120€ ) .. will be helpful ;) thanks a lot & keep on doing nice stuffs!

[@robguitarwizard]

Interesting. Not sure how pleasing that sounds to me, but I like your 'experimentation'. Incidentally, I have that same model 4 track. Bought it new in about 1994/95. Use it in conjunction with my digital recording gear. I like to dub across to tape and then vary the pitch. I try to keep the machine 'clean' by only using chrome tapes reserved solely for it.

[@Fu_kTheZeitgeist]

Now I HAVE to try this. Thanks for keeping me busy, sensei!

[@BlankFor_ms]

Fu_k the Zeitgeist I do my best 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@realityregenerator]

I recently bought some 8 second tape loops I want to use with my 4 track, if I wanted to use beats is there a method to getting the timing right or is it just experimentation?

[@alexriley9501]

Thanks for doing these man, cool to see other people's process. How do you know what length of tape to cut to get different length loops?

[@BlankFor_ms]

Alex Riley that’s a great idea for another tutorial video actually. It’s a bit hard to explain. My method isn’t terribly scientific, I often just loop some tape around and then cut it at what seems like the right spot. I don’t try to control the exact time length.

[@robguitarwizard]

Amulets does some tutorials on how to cut tape loops.

[@alaska5290]

Have you found any way to create loops without the gap? Even with the erase head covered I’ve not been able to get a smooth transition over the splice point. I recently tried 45 degree cuts, and thicker tape which helped a bit, but haven’t been able to get a smooth transition yet

[@christopher_ecclestone]

You could record a section of tape longer than you need for a loop, then make the loop out of the prerecorded piece of tape. All you'd have is the splice point, but no gap.

[@Blarm]

How long is this tape loop?

[@mftorino]

Awesome video! Question: For the stereo signal do you just use a cable splitter? Thanks!!

[@Sirius-qr4vu]

should work

[@crime_wavcorp]

THIS IS A STUPID QUESTION BUT HOW IS ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE TAPE SPINNING?

[@BlankFor_ms]

With loose tape loops the spools aren’t always pulled along. Sometimes they just sit, while the tape passes by them

[@vasopel]

it's not a normal cassette, it's modified and in a loop, most people remove the remaining tape but not in this one, look here for more details: www.instructables.com/Audio-Cassette-Loop/

[@thehangmansaxe]

You can put a switch on the erase head quite easily. Blank record the tape loop, then switch it off and record without gaps.... Sorry, I know that wasn't the point of this video!