Adding "sound processing" into a tape loop?

[HighFidelityGuy]

Hi,

I'm normally pretty good at understanding how Hi-Fi stuff works but I recently read something that confused me and I can't figure it out.

I read that an EQ unit could be added into a tape loop so that it could be easily switched into and out of the system for comparison. I've also heard this mentioned for tube buffers to allow a "tube sound" to be added or taken away.

Now I've never really played with tape loops before, so I don't really understand how they work. I understand that the tape output on the back of a preamp is a fixed level output and the tape input is a simple line level input but can someone please explain what the "tape monitor" switch does and how this allows a loop to occur that doesn't cause a horrible screeching feedback loop?

Thanks. :)

[Themis]

If I understand properly:

1) You plug your source to Source1 input
2) You tell your amp to record Source1
3) You plug your device (buffer, EQ, whatever) between the tape out and the Source2 input
4) Switching between Source1 or Source2 you get the two results

But, not all amps allow for a "tape record" (or "tape monitor") choice.

[HighFidelityGuy]

Hi Dimitri,

My preamp has tape in and tape out and a tape monitor button. So I think I should have everything I need but I don't see how I could tell it to record from Source1 while Source2 is selected. I thought the tape output just allowed you to record whatever input was currently selected.

Surely if you connect the tape output back into an input it will cause a feedback loop as the signal will be going out, then in, then out and round and round. Not good. so I imagine this is where the tape monitor button comes in but on my preamp this just seems to turn on the tape input, I don't know what it does to the tape output.

Any ideas?

[Themis]

Hi Dimitri,

My preamp has tape in and tape out and a tape monitor button. So I think I should have everything I need but I don't see how I could tell it to record from Source1 while Source2 is selected. I thought the tape output just allowed you to record whatever input was currently selected.

Surely if you connect the tape output back into an input it will cause a feedback loop as the signal will be going out, then in, then out and round and round. Not good. so I imagine this is where the tape monitor button comes in but on my preamp this just seems to turn on the tape input, I don't know what it does to the tape output.

Any ideas?
What does the user's manual of your amplifier says about the "tape monitor" button ?
If this buttons is the only one you have, then you should place the device (buffer etc) between the tape outputs and inputs. Then just toggle with the "tape monitor" button.

[Beechwoods]

The Tape Monitor button should allow you to listen to the output of your tape deck (or whatever you plug into the Tape In connection) without disturbing a recording that you might be making from the 'Source' component. It was designed to allow you to listen to (monitor) the recording you were making, if you had a 2 head tape machine, for example.

[HighFidelityGuy]

The manual just lists the features and doesn't really explain how to do anything but based on what you've both just said I had a quick play and I've figured it out. When I press the tape button it enables the tape input but also leaves whichever other input you last had selected enabled. I can then change inputs while the tape monitor is enabled, so I guess this will be selcting the recording source. So if I put an EQ or something like that between the tape out and tape in I could hear the effects of the EQ when the tape monitor button was enabled. That makes much more sense now. I thought the answer would be simple but I just couldn't wrap my head round it. :doh:

Cheers. :cool:

[Themis]

:cool: