Tape Delay

---

Before the advent of digital audio technology time delay was generated by feeding the signal from the playback head of a multi-head tape recorder to its own record head. Because the tape passes over the record head before the playback head there is a delay which is a function of the tape speed multiplied by the distance between the two heads. This is typically a relatively short delay time.

Longer delay times can be generated with this technique by using two (or more) tape machines. One machine is used to provide a feed of tape with the second machine used to gather the tape onto its take-up reel. The tape passes over the heads of both machines with the second machine being used to play back the signal. The signal from this playback head is also returned to the record head of the first machine resulting in a delayed repeat ofthe signal when it passes again over the playback head of the second machine.