Demo #6
Editing Reel-to-Reel Tape
I. Purpose: To accurately edit unwanted tape from reel-to-reel recordings from previous lab exercises.
II. Procedure for set-up:
1. Turn on power for Four Track, Mixer, and Booth Monitor amp.
2. Assign Four Track input channels (1,2,3 and 4) to RMX.
3. At Auxiliary A, pan input channels 1-4 to the left.
4. Assign Auxiliary A to Booth Monitor (Stereo Master A).
5. Locate white polyester, yellow polyester and white paper leader; and set aside.
III. Procedure for editing beginning of tape:
1. Playback recordings on Four Track over Booth Monitor.
2. Stop tape when first sound is heard.
3. Push CUE button to up position on Four Track.
4. Hand turn reels to find exact spot for tape to be edited.
5. Mark spot on tape that aligns with center head of tape deck with a grease pencil.
Note: Be careful not to get grease pencil marks on tape recorder heads.
6. Place tape backside up in splicing block with grease mark above center cutting guide.
7. Cut tape with a single edged razor.
8. Spool off 15 seconds of white polyester leader tape. (Tape is marked every 7 1/2" to denote one second.)
9. Splice tape to leader with a 1" long piece of splicing tape. (Hint: Do not touch sticky side of splicing tape with your fingers. It will not stick to the tape if handled.)
10. Playback tape to listen to edited result. (Tape deck is not effected by leaving CUE button in up position.)
IV. Procedure for editing subsequent cues:
1. Play first recording on Four Track over Booth Monitor.
2. Stop tape when the end of the Take #1 is heard.
3. Hand turn reels to find exact spot where the end of Take #1 ends.
4. Mark spot on tape that aligns with center head of tape deck with a grease pencil.
Note: Be careful not to get grease pencil marks on tape recorder heads.
5. Play tape until beginning of Take #2 is heard.
6. Stop tape and hand turn reels to find exact spot where sound begins.
7. Mark spot on tape that aligns with center head of tape deck with a grease pencil.
Note: Be careful not to get grease pencil marks on tape recorder heads.
8. Rewind to grease pencil mark at the end of Take #1.
9. Place tape backside up in splicing block with grease mark above the center cutting guide.
10. Cut tape with a single edged razor.
11. Rethread tape from supply reel on the Four Track.
12. Engage EDIT function.
13. Press PLAY. Four Track will play dumping unwanted tape.
14. STOP tape when it reaches second grease mark indicating beginning of Take #2.
15. Disengage EDIT function.
16. Splice three seconds (22 inches) of paper leader between Take #1 and Take #2.
17. Repeat steps 2-17 for Take #3.
18. Label each take with a pencil or pen on the leader preceding it as Project #3, Project #4A, and Project #4B, respectively.
V. Procedure for internal splicing:
1. Find an LP with scratches.
2. Fast forward reel to reel tape past Projects #3 and #4.
3. Record the same one minute of music twice on the Four Track.
4. Play the second selection until a pop is heard on the recording.
5. Stop tape and hand turn reels until pop is located.
6. Mark either side of pop on the center head of the Four Track with a grease pencil.
7. Edit pop out of tape.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 for remainder of second recording.
9. Splice in leader before each recording as described in Section IV.
10. Label Take #4 and #5 as Project #6A and Project #6B, respectively.
11. Add fifteen seconds of yellow leader at the end of Project #6B.
VI. Results:
Your reel-to-reel tape should be in this order:
1. Fifteen seconds of white plastic leader.
2. Take #1: Project #4 (First 4 track recording).
3. Three seconds of paper leader.
4. Take #2: Project #5A. (Signal processor project.)
5. Three seconds of paper leader.
6. Take #3: Project #5B. (Sweepable EQ project.)
7. Three seconds of paper leader.
8. Take #4: Project #6A. (Original song to be edited.)
9. Three seconds of paper leader.
10. Take #6B: (Edited version of song.)
11. Fifteen seconds of yellow leader.
12. The remainder of your reel-to-reel tape to be used for Final Project.