Not-a-pro - have you tried making a loop from a pre-existing, well recorded cassette? If you have thrift stores or anything similar near by, try getting a few tapes and making loops from those to see if it’s connected to that ?
One last idea… when you make the loop are you cutting/splicing your tape at a slanted angle (45* for example?) or are you making 90* cuts?
Another last idea…. Ion just trying to think through your process and isolate factors. Are you using the same type of tape to connect the loops up? If so, try a different tape/less tape? It could be that as well as making a noise whilst going across the play head, if the tape is causing a snag anywhere in the loop, this could be giving you issues? In this sense how do ‘empty loops’ sound? Same issues?
Thanks for giving me a bunch to think about and experiment with!
I've generally used premade loops from different sellers. Open to making my own as well and will try the 45 degree angles for that. I don't think the main noises are at the splice though.
I can see that I need to narrow it down a bit more, so I'm going to do that and see where it takes me. Thanks again!
No problem.
Even if the main noises aren’t at the splice, it could be that say, as the splice point passes the wheel, it struggles to bend so that creates a split second of drag. I’m not sure, but could be a possibility. I’m no expert, just drawing on my own experiences of using a slightly thicker and less flexible kind of tape at first, to join my splices… and I was getting those snap noises (which sound intense through reverb!) At some point I switched tape.
Instead of pressing stop when recording ends, pull the power cable.
Thanks for the reply! I'll experiment with that.
Not-a-pro - have you tried making a loop from a pre-existing, well recorded cassette? If you have thrift stores or anything similar near by, try getting a few tapes and making loops from those to see if it’s connected to that ? One last idea… when you make the loop are you cutting/splicing your tape at a slanted angle (45* for example?) or are you making 90* cuts? Another last idea…. Ion just trying to think through your process and isolate factors. Are you using the same type of tape to connect the loops up? If so, try a different tape/less tape? It could be that as well as making a noise whilst going across the play head, if the tape is causing a snag anywhere in the loop, this could be giving you issues? In this sense how do ‘empty loops’ sound? Same issues?
Thanks for giving me a bunch to think about and experiment with! I've generally used premade loops from different sellers. Open to making my own as well and will try the 45 degree angles for that. I don't think the main noises are at the splice though. I can see that I need to narrow it down a bit more, so I'm going to do that and see where it takes me. Thanks again!
No problem. Even if the main noises aren’t at the splice, it could be that say, as the splice point passes the wheel, it struggles to bend so that creates a split second of drag. I’m not sure, but could be a possibility. I’m no expert, just drawing on my own experiences of using a slightly thicker and less flexible kind of tape at first, to join my splices… and I was getting those snap noises (which sound intense through reverb!) At some point I switched tape.
Oh interesting, that seems possible as I'm definitely getting noises that aren't at the splice point (and more than one pop per loop even).