video upload by True Cuckoo
uTape Scrubber #001 test
video upload by Beepboop Electronics
See previous posts for Superbooth 2023 demos of the uTape.
via Beep Boop Electronics
"I present the LOFI uTape Scrubber….. based around modified dictaphone including the same replay and AC record circuits used in the upcoming 1U Taperack system!
The uTape scrubber module is easy to set up, use and maintain so requires no previous experience with tape or tape loops unlike the 1U taperack system which will be best suited to people with experience working with tape.
The Bi-directonal motor driver circuit I have designed is a huge improvement over the standard dictaphone motor driver circuit making it possible to scrub the tape back and forth with a single control knob or a Biploar CV signal.
The Pitch knob is used for fine tune control of tape speed, the range of the speed will depend upon the direction/range control.
The direction / range control knob can be used to choose the direction of the tape movement and the range of the overall pitch.
The Pitch CV control knob is an attenuator for the CV input.
The CV input works well with +/- 5V CV signals but for extreme speeds and scrubbing use +/- 10V.
The motor responds down to 100ms with CV signals. Add vibrato or tremolo to recordings and playback depending on the depth of modulation, pitch and Range position.
The module has a single head used for both recording and playback. The switch in the top right is used to swap between reording mode (Bottom postion) and playback mode (upper postion). During recording the input is passed through to the Tapehead output to make it easy to monitor what you are recording!
Listen to the Audio output jack on the bottom right.
Microtape loops are just as easy to make as normal tape cassettes once you get used to it so just one cassette is included with 5 replacement loops.
More loops and upgraded Microtape cassettes will be available from my website soon as well 🙂
To load a tape ensure the module is in REC mode and that the motor is not moving by returning the direction/range knob to the center. Press the grey button on the left nearest the motor to make sure the mechanism is ready to be loaded with tape as seen in the product photo. Line up the tape with the guide as place it in the mechanism. Press the middle grey button to engage the tape head and Capstan pressure roller and the tape loop will begin to move.
Regular micro tape cassettes can also be used. Be aware that micro tape play from right to left! So after loading ensure the direction/range know is only turned left.
If the tape stops moving simply give the cassette a wiggle and try changing directions.
The AUTO STOP has been disabled to make it possible to play with loops in both direction. This means a little more care is needed when using it with regular tape to ensure you do not damage the tape.
The REC red button has been modified in the same style as the “dub rec” mod I make to the varispeed tape decks. The means you can erase sections of tape momentarily while the tape is still in motion!
Create lush reverb and Chorus style effects by recording a sound source over and over again to layer up the audio.
Due to the high signal levels involved and effect of sound on sound it may tape a few passes to erase. In some cases it will be difficult to fully erase as the tape may jump on the splice. I will experiment with adding a real biaS erase circuit in the future but my aim with the module is to make it available to as many as possible rather than creating extra costs.
The Microloop cassette you use and the direction of the tape movement can effect the amount of wow and flutter when recording and playing back. For example when running the tape from right to left as the transport the audio and playback in clearer because the transport was designed for the recording and playback in this direction. This effect comes from the loop coming into contact with the spool wheel which when in reverse vibrates a little more than in the forward direction.
To overcome this effect experiement with diffrent loop designs. I have great results by installing guides and bearings into the cassette which make the loop longer and prevent it from coming into contact with the spool wheels. I will be mking these longer loops avaliable from my website soon!
Tape loops do wear out and break eventually but only after alot of use.
If you do need to replace yours use one of the replacement loops included or make a new one using the loop kit also included.
Extra uLOOPS – Micro cassette tape loops – will be avaliabke from the website soon."
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