'Tuning' an analog tape recorder to pitch

Jan Dunn · Post by **Jan Dunn** » 5 Jun 2002 3:23 am

Finally a simple question--simple except to me. Using a cassette tape recorder with a pitch (speed) adjustment, I can tune my tape recorder rather than play with the tuning of the guitar. Often rhythm tracks have an electroninc tuning tone or the vendor puts on a live 'E' note to get you in tune. If I run the tape into my tuner I can get a pitch reading. Here's the question. Should the tape recorder playing an E be set to 440 (its the band, right?) or to something more tempered like the guitar, say 442.5 ala Jeff Newman? I've always set the tape recorder to be producing 440 when the tuning note comes up but I never really thought it through. I'd greatly appreciate advice from you experienced folks. thank you.

Probably the smart thing to do is once I have a definitive answer, put all these old tapes I have on CD-ROM and laugh about the whole thing over a beer.

Bob Farlow · Post by **Bob Farlow** » 5 Jun 2002 4:21 am

I play with rhythm tapes quite often. I always vary the speed of the player to be in tune with my guitar. The only thing that really matters is that you play in tune with the tape. No need for a tuner at all. Some rhythm tracks are on CD, which necessitates a CD player with variable pitch also. Let your ear be the deciding factor, not a tuner.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 5 Jun 2002 4:46 am

I have to concur completely with Bob on this one. Adjust the speed of your tape recorder so the song is in tune with YOUR guitar.

May God bless you in your attempts,

carl

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 5 Jun 2002 6:26 am

Who makes a cassette/tape player with a variable speed (pitch) control? I am in the process of making a contol (pot, resistors, voltage regulator, etc.) for my boom-box, that will vary the speed of my cassette motor. This is a project I would rather not do if there is an alternative.

Thanks for any input!!

Al Udeen · Post by **Al Udeen** » 5 Jun 2002 8:18 am

Tom! I recently bought a small Sony cassette recorder, with a speed contol, at Kmart for 29.95 It works great!model # TCM-200v Its also very good for recording live music! Regards! au

David Weaver · Post by **David Weaver** » 5 Jun 2002 8:25 am

Tom...

Most of the rack players (Tascam, etc). have pitch control. May be a little harder to find on boom box style. Same is true of pitch control and the A-B buttonfor CD a player. Probably need to go to a rack mount or at least an entry level home-studio model to get pitch control on a CD player.

Look into some rack systems if you have a budget you can work with. Nice stuff is available in rack mount at reasonable cost. I use mine every day and I love it.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 5 Jun 2002 9:39 am

This might help:

b0b.com/infoedu/slowtape.html <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by b0b on 05 June 2002 at 10:50 AM.]</p></FONT>

Steel tryin · Post by **Steel tryin** » 5 Jun 2002 12:13 pm

JVC makes a dual head with variable pitch.
I would enthusiastically RECOMMEND
the SONY Minidisc recorder for Home Sessions.
This has A-B function for looping segments
also variable pitch 0.1 to 0.5 step. It has it
all

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 5 Jun 2002 6:49 pm

Look for a small Karaoke machine. A lot of them come with a CD and cassette, but I think the variable speed is only on the cassette.

I've seen them as low as $99 at K-mart and Marrs Music.

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 5 Jun 2002 6:56 pm

Marantz makes a line of portable cassette decks, some with vari-speed control. I believe the model number is PMD-201, etc. Some are stereo, some mono; I'm not sure which ones have the speed control.

I have one of those Sony TCM models (TCM-459V). I noticed that when the speed control was set in the "detent" position, which should be the "normal" speed, that the speed was actually slower than normal. I had to crank up the speed control to get the tape back to normal pitch. This was somewhat annoying.

Also, if you are vari-speeding the tape to match your guitar, any vocals are going to sound wacky.