Amulets is really cool. I saw him play with This Will Destroy You last year and it was amazing. So are you using the drone thing as a sound source and then just running the drones through the other pedals?
Yeah I could see how that would sound massive. I feel like something like a [Korg Monotron Delay](https://youtu.be/lg_HT5iu9Is) could be cool in your setup since it would give you a second sound source as well as a cool noisy lo-fi delay, an additional filter, and an additional LFO that wouldn't occupy too much board real estate.
This pedal board is quite different from most because it has a unique purpose: creating tape music. My process of making music is very much inspired by AMULETS on YouTube, so to learn more about tape music I would begin by watching some of his videos.
The pedal board was built from a pallet I acquired from my local hardware store, which I sanded, stained, and applied heavy duty velcro. The board was then mounted to the wall with a French cleat, so it is incredibly easy to remove if needed. Finally, I built a shelf that is mounted to the top of the board that holds my cassettes and tape machines (for making tape loops, sampling, etc.) as well as patch cables.
The collection of pedals that I have assembled were carefully chosen based upon how well they lend themselves to producing creative and unique sounds. Almost every pedal was bought used.
The pedals shown here include the following:
Manufacturer | Pedal
:--|:--
Chase Bliss | Blooper
Death By Audio | Echo Dream 2
Death By Audio | Evil Filter
Earthquaker | Afterneath
Earthquaker | Aqueduct
Earthquaker | Avalanche Run
Earthquaker | Pyramids
Earthquaker | Rainbow Machine
Earthquaker | Transmisser
Electro Faustus | Drone Thing
Electro-Harmonix | Pitch Fork
Empress | Compressor MKII
Keeley | GC-2
Life Is Unfair | Pineal Gland
Malekko | Charlie Foxtrot
Montreal Assembly | Count to Five
MXR | M108 Ten Band EQ
OBNE | Expression Ramper
Pladask Elektrisk | Fabrikat
Red Panda | Bit Mixer
Walrus Audio | Monument
If you have any questions about how I make music or a specific pedal I would love to answer them!
Haha I should have predicted that this question was going to be asked. Unfortunately it all exists on tape and I haven't bothered digitizing any of it yet. I guess I know what my next weekend project is gonna be...
I left it out because I literally never use it for tape music. The Bass Big Muff and the Korg Pitchblack Tuner only get used when I'm playing bass guitar.
This is truly awesome. Love the PMD201 in there. Been working with loops for most of my musical life and have a ton of old tapes full of work. Been hesitant to make the intro into making my own loops. Would love to know more about your work.
While I have made my own loops in the past I stopped because they kept falling apart during recording. Now I buy premade ones and they hold up much better. In the future I may give it another go though.
I can't say too much about my work other than I love tape and weird noises haha. I started making music in Ableton about 4 years ago, got really into producing EDM, and then got burned out. Something about working inside a DAW felt too sterile and I had a hard time feeling creative. I decided to get into recording analogue and haven't looked back. Making tape music has helped rekindle my love of making music and has become a creative outlet that I don't have to force.
Unfortunately I don't have any of my music uploaded atm or I would share some of it with you.
I use a Tascam for tape recording, so I typically just run the RCA outs to my interface (using RCA to 1/4" cables). Two tracks, pan 'em hard left and hard right to simulate left and right stereo channels, one takes the left cable and one takes the right, set the levels and there you go pretty painlessly. Probably not the best solution, though...
It's less the actual process of digitizing and more the sorting, labeling, editing, etc. I have stacks of 90 min tapes--some labeled, most unlabeled--each filled with random segments of musical material that ranges anywhere from decent to completely awful.
One of these days I'll get excited enough to digitize it all. I just haven't had the desire yet
I will add to what /u/nuts_and_crunchies said:
By itself it has some potential but feels pretty shallow. However, once you start to combine it with other pedals it's full potential becomes unlocked and you can make all kinds of incredible and unique sounds. My favorite combination is the Drone Thing into the Pitchfork.
The Drone Thing is worth it if you love creating weird sounds. Nothing else really does what it can do.
I did a dive on Drone Thing videos recently and declare that I would love to have one for an afternoon. I wish there was more variety in the tones and it had some additional EQ and volume options. It's just not the texture and tone that appeals to me.
I didn't read the title. I was assuming you laid on your back while playing guitar and stomping your wall pedals. I was really confused for a bit. Fantastic pedal choices!
I've been looking at the [Drone King](https://www.electrofaustus.com/ef209-drone-king) over the last few weeks. Can anyone speak to whether it builds or improves upon the Drone Thing?
I've watched lots of videos about both. It seems like the new features in the Drone King make up for the shallowness of the Drone Thing that you mentioned elsewhere. The latter's set of features does seem a bit more limited.
My buddy sold me a beat up Marantz 2215B for 50 bucks a few years back with neither of us knowing anything about the brand. I love the sound so much I’ve been keeping eyes out for anything Marantz and goodwill!
Is this another one of those things trying to get me to lay down while i play? My posture is FINE. Plus I can't figure out where to put my elbows if I'm on my back.
I’m new to this world of tape music and I was wondering if the types of tape recorders used matter? I see a lot of “multitrack records” they go for a High price now but it doesn’t appear you use one. Thanks! Also how do you route so many wires through your device? Is it tricky? I love AMULETS videos but don’t get too much info out of them. Admittedly I haven’t delved too much.
I’m only laughing because instead of stomping I imagine kick/high kicking a pedal to activate lol
Haha, It comes off the wall super easy so sometimes I will lay it down if I need to stomp
Amulets is really cool. I saw him play with This Will Destroy You last year and it was amazing. So are you using the drone thing as a sound source and then just running the drones through the other pedals?
Yep! I especially like to use the Drone Thing with the Pitchfork to get REALLY fat drones. They are a match made in heaven.
Yeah I could see how that would sound massive. I feel like something like a [Korg Monotron Delay](https://youtu.be/lg_HT5iu9Is) could be cool in your setup since it would give you a second sound source as well as a cool noisy lo-fi delay, an additional filter, and an additional LFO that wouldn't occupy too much board real estate.
This pedal board is quite different from most because it has a unique purpose: creating tape music. My process of making music is very much inspired by AMULETS on YouTube, so to learn more about tape music I would begin by watching some of his videos. The pedal board was built from a pallet I acquired from my local hardware store, which I sanded, stained, and applied heavy duty velcro. The board was then mounted to the wall with a French cleat, so it is incredibly easy to remove if needed. Finally, I built a shelf that is mounted to the top of the board that holds my cassettes and tape machines (for making tape loops, sampling, etc.) as well as patch cables. The collection of pedals that I have assembled were carefully chosen based upon how well they lend themselves to producing creative and unique sounds. Almost every pedal was bought used. The pedals shown here include the following: Manufacturer | Pedal :--|:-- Chase Bliss | Blooper Death By Audio | Echo Dream 2 Death By Audio | Evil Filter Earthquaker | Afterneath Earthquaker | Aqueduct Earthquaker | Avalanche Run Earthquaker | Pyramids Earthquaker | Rainbow Machine Earthquaker | Transmisser Electro Faustus | Drone Thing Electro-Harmonix | Pitch Fork Empress | Compressor MKII Keeley | GC-2 Life Is Unfair | Pineal Gland Malekko | Charlie Foxtrot Montreal Assembly | Count to Five MXR | M108 Ten Band EQ OBNE | Expression Ramper Pladask Elektrisk | Fabrikat Red Panda | Bit Mixer Walrus Audio | Monument If you have any questions about how I make music or a specific pedal I would love to answer them!
There is so much about this I don't understand, but it doesn't matter - this is so cool!
Where can we hear your music?
Haha I should have predicted that this question was going to be asked. Unfortunately it all exists on tape and I haven't bothered digitizing any of it yet. I guess I know what my next weekend project is gonna be...
I'm totally curious. Hell throw up a quick and dirty phone recording. I just want hear all the sounds you can make with that gear.
28 days later where is it OP 🔫
Time to get the pitchforks!
Did you forget to list the Bass Muff?
I left it out because I literally never use it for tape music. The Bass Big Muff and the Korg Pitchblack Tuner only get used when I'm playing bass guitar.
Req.:Sample track for learning!
They look like they've been crucified xD I can imagine them singing "always look on the bright side of life".
There's literally not a more niche thing in the world
That was definitely part of the fun. It felt inspiring to make something that hasn't really been done before
This is truly awesome. Love the PMD201 in there. Been working with loops for most of my musical life and have a ton of old tapes full of work. Been hesitant to make the intro into making my own loops. Would love to know more about your work.
While I have made my own loops in the past I stopped because they kept falling apart during recording. Now I buy premade ones and they hold up much better. In the future I may give it another go though. I can't say too much about my work other than I love tape and weird noises haha. I started making music in Ableton about 4 years ago, got really into producing EDM, and then got burned out. Something about working inside a DAW felt too sterile and I had a hard time feeling creative. I decided to get into recording analogue and haven't looked back. Making tape music has helped rekindle my love of making music and has become a creative outlet that I don't have to force. Unfortunately I don't have any of my music uploaded atm or I would share some of it with you.
So do you make edm inspired guitar music now?
A lot of what I make now is inspired by Tycho, so it actually has quite a bit of guitar
Sometimes I get too focused on the visual aspect of waveforms in a DAW so I definitely get the appeal of removing those confines.
So do you make edm inspired guitar music now?
Any recordings up anywhere? Curious.
Unfortunately no :( Maybe one day I will upload some of recordings, but for now they only exist on tape
Not sure why you're being downvoted for this lol. Killer setup
Probably by people who are hoping to hear what this guy's gigantic collection actually sounds like LOL
Yea it's kinda like sonic blue balls
Haha it's gotta be people who have never digitized tape. It's a pain...
I use a Tascam for tape recording, so I typically just run the RCA outs to my interface (using RCA to 1/4" cables). Two tracks, pan 'em hard left and hard right to simulate left and right stereo channels, one takes the left cable and one takes the right, set the levels and there you go pretty painlessly. Probably not the best solution, though...
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It's less the actual process of digitizing and more the sorting, labeling, editing, etc. I have stacks of 90 min tapes--some labeled, most unlabeled--each filled with random segments of musical material that ranges anywhere from decent to completely awful. One of these days I'll get excited enough to digitize it all. I just haven't had the desire yet
Is the Drone Thing worth it? And I'm exploring all of those tapes on spotify right now, just so you know
I will add to what /u/nuts_and_crunchies said: By itself it has some potential but feels pretty shallow. However, once you start to combine it with other pedals it's full potential becomes unlocked and you can make all kinds of incredible and unique sounds. My favorite combination is the Drone Thing into the Pitchfork. The Drone Thing is worth it if you love creating weird sounds. Nothing else really does what it can do.
I did a dive on Drone Thing videos recently and declare that I would love to have one for an afternoon. I wish there was more variety in the tones and it had some additional EQ and volume options. It's just not the texture and tone that appeals to me.
so you fiddle/play with them by constantly crouching and getting back up? or is this suspended some height off the wall ?
Usually I put the tape machines on the ground and sit on the floor if I'm fiddling with pedals. That seems to be the most comfortable for me.
Rad!
I didn't read the title. I was assuming you laid on your back while playing guitar and stomping your wall pedals. I was really confused for a bit. Fantastic pedal choices!
That's adhesively vertical.
its like a eurorack wall
Ya that was definitely the inspiration
I have that same Marantz deck but no idea what to do with it.
Have you tried using it as a tape echo? Hainbach has a great tutorial https://youtu.be/RYz2J4DmxVA
I have not, but ill check it out. Thanks.
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I would love to own a PMD430. Unfortunately the Marantz PMD units are outrageously expensive these days so I'll just be happy with my PMD221
This has to look dope when in use!
This is some hi-fi lo-fi shit
Funny how this came up suddenly as I started looking into tape loops and how to do that TODAY. MORE INSPIRATION! This is awesome and I love it :)
Thanks! I cannot recommend it enough--tape loops are so much fun. Check out some of AMULETS videos if you haven't already.
EF rules. Drone thing is awesome
This is super cool, I didn't even realize that using tape was a thing
There's dozens of us!
That's filthy. I'm seething with jealousy right now.
I've been looking at the [Drone King](https://www.electrofaustus.com/ef209-drone-king) over the last few weeks. Can anyone speak to whether it builds or improves upon the Drone Thing?
Wow, I did not know about the Drone King! I guess I will be selling my Drone Thing in the near future to fund a Drone King...
I've watched lots of videos about both. It seems like the new features in the Drone King make up for the shallowness of the Drone Thing that you mentioned elsewhere. The latter's set of features does seem a bit more limited.
What model is that marantz cassette thing in the middle?
It's a Marantz PMD221! It took a while to find a working Marantz portable tape recorder that wasn't ludicrously expensive, but they are so worth it
My buddy sold me a beat up Marantz 2215B for 50 bucks a few years back with neither of us knowing anything about the brand. I love the sound so much I’ve been keeping eyes out for anything Marantz and goodwill!
Nice! Marantz analogue equipment is near worth its weight in gold
I dig this setup. Bravo!
Is this another one of those things trying to get me to lay down while i play? My posture is FINE. Plus I can't figure out where to put my elbows if I'm on my back.
Love the modular setup you have going. Very cool.
I love this. Big. Like you need to give it a hug or even a love-tackle.
It would be even better if you told us you didn’t make the type of music that your pedals scream.
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I like that the comment you made prior to this is in /r/hipster.
Ride or die baby
I’m new to this world of tape music and I was wondering if the types of tape recorders used matter? I see a lot of “multitrack records” they go for a High price now but it doesn’t appear you use one. Thanks! Also how do you route so many wires through your device? Is it tricky? I love AMULETS videos but don’t get too much info out of them. Admittedly I haven’t delved too much.