using an audio tape splicer

[Andy Dingley]

It was used in Dr Who to make loops that were played continuously. The desk was then used to fade particular loops in and out. Bit like a huge continuous-looped Mellotron 8-)

[Andy Hall]

OK, now I understand - basically the typical 3 head design.....

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Pro machines use three heads - erase, record and replay in that order. And decent ones will ramp in the erase current - and record bias - to give a smooth 'insert' electronic edit. So if a reasonably constant signal - like say applause - is the end of one wanted part and the start of the next you can simply run the machine back a few inches after the end of the recording and go from play to record at the edit point and you'll get a seamless joint. Rather better than cutting the tape. But, of course, not so accurate.

[Andy Hall]

Although presumably much of this is now done digitally anyway?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Oh indeed. Only a few specialist companies use analogue tape machines these days. But they were fun in their day.

[Dave Liquorice]

Yes, DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) where just about coming in when I got made redundant from the BBC in 1992. Last I heard from my old base was that the radio production offices all had their own PC based DAWs and the audio staff where reduced to "online assembly" and rescuing the duff edits done by production...

I never really got on with the DAWs I tried, the physical and very fine control you have manually moving tape back and forth across a replay head is pretty tricky to do in the digital domain, especially at very low speeds. The user interface is a bit lacking in a jog wheel or mouse as well. I don't know if more recent machines are any better, I don't get to see them these days.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Crikey. I was using Audiofile in the mid '80s. Tape editing had got quite rare by '92 - we were using MiniDisc for simple studio type topping and tailing.

There are still audio staff? ;-)

One way is to do it visually - you have the waveform trace on the screen and zoom it in so you can 'see' the edit point. It 'sounds' a bit strange when you're used to rocking a tape over the heads, but for many things is pretty effective. And of course non destructive editing allows you as many bites of the cherry as you need. No more trying to find that tiny bit of tape on the floor when you've screwed up. ;-)

[Dave Liquorice]

I'm talking network radio not TV. B-) There was an Audiofile for regional telly.

I believe so.

Lost of clicking to keep zooming in and out. Strikes me as much slower that a blade but waveform editing can be very effective.

A good editor only needs one bite... B-)

Rule one: Don't throw it on the floor until you know the edit works.

Better still put all the outakes onto a seperate reel. BTR2 with outriggers, best editing machine I ever used.