Description

A simple dictaphone modded with a smooth variable speed control for use with tape loops. Perfect for pitched down  LOFI samples or just keeping your daily memoirs at various speeds…..

The cassette compartment door has been removed for quick loading and unloading. Also I’ve modified the case, cutting out two slots, so that you can use “breakout” style cassettes for making longer tape loops.

This dictaphone uses a built in microphone to record to the tape. This very direct and quick approach to recording samples really can be really refreshing if you’ve spent to much time as a screen….. go outside a find something to record!

There is a 3.5mm headphone output jack labelled ear and also a built in speaker for listening to your recordings.

The Varispeed dictaphone comes with a Microcassette tape loop. Record and collage of sounds randomly to the tape loop at different speeds and even over the top of each other!

The results, both intended and unintended, can be both beautiful and discordant.

Here are a couple of examples of it in action producing something nice and then something nasty..

First washed out drones after recording a Super6 polysynth and then harmonising the playback courtesy of Hamish (a.k.a MoralFible) at Elevator sound.

Secondly we have me… I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing here but it had  something to do with feedback.

Third here is a Tape loop collage of noises to make Musique…

 

Naturally these dictaphones were never meant for a perfect sound reproduction but this is what lies at the heart of their character and charm.

Quick demo video

Some fun things to try!

It is possible to switch into REC mode by only partially depressing the red REC button! When doing so the erase head will not be properly engaged so it is possible to do S.O.S (Sound on sound) Recordings! Also as the button is only partly depressed it does not latch making the “S.O.S” mode momentary!!! This is really useful for mixing in new sounds to a tape which already has a recording made on it!

Note. On some models the FFW or FRW either do not work or do not go up to full speed. As some dictaphone has been made from used models expect some cosmetic blemishes.

Tape included but get your own batteries.