a simple delay slapback sound in sound production

Kind of hard to explain it without visual aids, but the net effect was that it increased the distance the tape had to travel between the record and playback heads. Varispeed recorders didn't become common until the 1970s.īack in the day, and I don't remember which deck but I think it was an Ampex 350, I used to take an ordinary #2 pencil, put the eraser on the machine's deck between the record and play heads with the pencil held vertical to the deck, then ran the tape coming off the record head around the pencil before going across the playback head. The only thing better would be an old Ampex at 15 with the eq. This effect was especially popular in the 50s and 60s and was a staple of Elvis' vocal sound. Really short delay times (like eighth note and below) cause a tight slapback sound, similar to a short chamber reverb. When used at low levels, this creates a really subtle sense of ambience. Just remembershorter delay times tend to make tracks sound bigger, while longer delay times push a sound back in the mix. Within the delay are all of the controls you need to produce slapback, repeating echo. This will soften any transients, and help to push the delay back in the mix behind the main vocal sound. Almost all digital delays are much more than simple echo units. Varispeed recorders didn't become common until the 1970s. Start by rolling off the high frequencies of the delayed sound, using a low-pass filter. Only 15 and 7.5 ips was available in the '50s.

Studios that could afford chambers or plates didn't use it much.

A simple delay slapback sound in sound production