Tape editing with razorblades

[rdproductions01]

What a disaster to edit a piece of music... I am very glad there are computer to work with now...

[otraxo]

@rdproductions01

I actually wish I knew or trusted myself to splice tape..

A lot of work, but good to know if you want to experience that analog sound. A lot of big names in music still utilize tape and I'm sure the Engineers who know how to work with tape and the tape machines will become more and more valuable.

[chrisconwaypeters]

what a pain in the ass it used to be to edit a recording in post. computers are a definite improvement

[tonyvtc3]

Lay the reel 2 reel on it's back its alot easer to edit dude . just make the space for it .

[btown2011]

why not just dub? i would rather dub than use tape cutting today, because of the prices

[ctelon]

am I understanding this right? that this video was shot recently?

I'm sorry, i don't mean to diss, but why would anyone really want to still do it on tape when it takes literally just a few seconds on a computer. Art is no good if it is not apreciated.

[dickcamnitz]

By the way, that's a hell of a lot easier with the machine on it's back.

[StrawberryGun500]

@dickcamnitz

okay, point taken.

but i was just giving him advise.

how stupid it can be.

[scaryfishdude]

*advice

[dickcamnitz]

Keep up the art man, I must have made a couple of hundred thousand splices in the 60s and 70s in radio and recording and loved the art. It's especially fun to do music. Those of you trying to promote the digital methods, you are just repeating the obvious and "don't get it".

[StrawberryGun500]

wouldnt be a computer easier?

no offense but nowadays you can use software and some editing program's/

[tapewolf]

@StrawberryGun500:

Yes, but doing it this way was more adventurous.

[stormsirens2]

@tapewolf I would love to do editing with video and audio this way. heck i'm 15 whatever.

[QuiltedPine]

@tapewolf

Some people just don't appreciate old stuff. or maybe it's an interest mostly shared by the people (or generation) that did not grow up with this. I was on the trailing edge of the analog hey-day, when everybody was getting CD players, my family bought a tape deck (1986) when my friends were into video games I was into reel to reels...

I can't remember how many times I broke tape and scotch-taped (the sticky kind!) it back together...

very good video

[porcorosso81]

@StrawberryGun500

Man, you are so clever....

[StrawberryGun500]

sarcasm?

[porcorosso81]

Obviously, since you tell him that he can use computers for editing as if it was a big, new invention,ignoring the fact that he uploaded a youtube video, which actually requires using a computer.

Similarily, you could also tell any artist using pen & pencil that Photoshop is available, or any guy visiting a store in real life that Amazon is available and much easier to use...

My point is: there are still some people left in the world who like doing practical things. Foolish that may be...

[slimyesli]

@StrawberryGun500 and tape recorders tend to sound way better you know for classic Rock N Roll

[danieldobbsmusic]

@StrawberryGun500 Software has been designed to make things easier, but my teacher always said that you lose something in the digital era. Some studios prefer the sound of tape because they say it provides this warmth that digital doesn't have. Some of the best producers came out of working with tape long ago and some people just prefer it which is weird to me haha! It's sort of like your Dad or someone older using a computer and not knowing how it works. Tape is bloody expensive though XD.

[paranormaalutrecht]

this is not done..... Only with broken tapes.... if you want to edit... do it on high speed, with 2 recorders... you can put out all the misstakes with a minimal lost of quality.. further: use audacity... doesn't cost you any penny, and works in one second....... It is a taboe to handle the tape with your bare hands! *drop outs* ánd if you want to edit the tape in this way, you need a desk, where the recorder lays in... with an edit splitter.

[jbrstockport]

jesus what a ballache! Tape was before my time (before i learnt to produce). id love to get into this stuff though. i hate the way DAWs just do everything for you nowerdays...

[brnbear99]

I wish that you would be able to show a close up shot of what you are doing..(just a bit closer) I have sort of forgotten "how" to splice..and I really need to learn again!

(I used to be quite good at that..but, lately I haven't done such a fantastic jobs with my tapes..and that is upsetting!!)

If you ever get a chance to show how it's done up close..step by step..I would be thrilled! Thanks!!

[tapewolf]

This film was actually shot as a spur-of-the-moment decision ("Hold on, people might find this interesting..."). One day I'll get a couple more cameras and see if I can arrange a multi-camera shot, which would likely be more useful for this kind of thing.

[synchronoise]

Bet he's really fun to hang out with . . .

[p3945u5]

Cool. I did it too in the 80ies, painstakingly what today can be done on a computer in one second. But it was way more fun, you had to think very hard about the cuts and crossfades and plan it all out. One mistake in cutting and you had to record the whole reel again.

[lz2k7]

what do u think about the Tascam br-20 for editing?

[tapewolf]

I've never had one. If it's anything like the TSR-8, it will be marvellous to use as a mastering machine and with superb tape handling, but a major problem if anything malfunctions. For editing specifically? You'd have to find someone who's tried it on that machine.

[lz2k7]

yeah i wanna do stuff just like on Meowbay's videos ... i know that it can be done on computers but it's all about the feeling, nothing against computers :D

[surfsunadam]

Wow, this is cool

Sure took a lot longer than Highlight - Delete - Save though :P

[freqazoidiac]

do you mark the front or backside of the tape with the white pencil?

and what machine are you using there?

[tapewolf]

The backcoated side. This machine is a B77mk2 high-speed. I've since upgraded to an A807.

[aarowsmith]

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon was all tape editing and it blows away any DAW effort made up till today period!!!

[aarowsmith]

working with computer DAW programs is like watching grass grow or counting tissue paper out of a Kleenex box, WOW what fun?!?

Reel to reel is where its at'!!! Very Cool!

The best recordings ever made were made on a reel to reel tape machine......

[andreasoberholz]

Very interesting but good luck that we have today DAW and can send tracks to tape and back into the DAW.... now I know how hard that work was!!!!!

[Mikkysixx]

But thats the fun stuff! Really having to work hard with a project is what makes you proud of it. I am not proud of a project if all ive done is hit "rec", cut and edit.

[tapewolf]

I have to confess that the voices were originally lined up on a DAW. However, the final production and mixdown itself was done on an 8-track machine, with the dialogue sent to it in stereo pairs, one channel for each speaker. Where three or more people are talking, it gets a bit more difficult.

[eldoctordub]

If you lay the machine on its back, you'll find it alot easier to mark the edit point. Also, I see you've taken the cover off the head-stack. With the deck laid flat and the edit block stuck to the head-stack cover, editing is suddenly a whole lot easier and faster. Anyway, that's how we did it back in the day...

[lz2k7]

where can i find splicing tape like yours?

[tapewolf]

The splicing tape is Zonal stuff. I'm not sure how widely available it is outside the UK.

[SlashButcher]

Thats right kids, learn whats tape editing. Too bad that today's teenagers don't know whats a cassette, tape. How it is.. Thats really bad..

[trufuzionshow]

I learned how to splice tapes at 12 years old man.I remember when the computer went down at the station and all the new jacks using cool edit pro were stuck and could not do commercials.I just grabed a roll a tape and a razor blade (Chumps) LOL...Good Stuff

[antonycals]

amazing,amazing. ok brazil...

[Amishman35]

Nowadays we have voice activation, but I heard that's how they did the "B-B-B-baby" stutter sounds in 1980s songs. And I used to think it was somebody tapping a piano key on a sampler, but the sound quality of samplers weren't good enough for high fidelity till about 1988. But if they had magnetic tape since the 1950s, why wait until 1985 to stutter?

[CassetteMaster]

Cool splicing and nice tape deck!

[jasonyoudj]

shit dude you are totally awesome

[fire2332]

Wow That look hard 0_0

[crypticreign]

I was feeling anxious just watching this! How tedious. Thanks the the tutorial :)

[JacobAshcroft]

Thanks! That was very helpful.

[MrRom92]

awesome!