Is the tape revival set to rival vinyl in the DJing stakes?
Tapecassettealism
Jeremy Bell has developed what could be, for tape enthusiasts, quite possibly the ultimate DJing tool, called the ScrubBoard.
It’s a block of wood featuring a deconstructed cassette machine that includes a hand-held tape head that enables you to scrub over the free playing tape.
A foot pedal is used to control the speed and direction of the tape and Jeremy has also deployed another product of his making, called the DoubleStop Rocker, to act as something akin to a crossfader in this setup.
The results are pretty good and, while it won’t be replacing turntables anytime soon, it does have one thing over its vinyled sibling - the ability to sample and scratch at the same time.
As the video shows, you can sample in a sound and then instantly scratch the results.
Check out the full demo.
Despite mounting a failed Kickstarter campaign back in 2014, Mr Bell is seriously open to creating a production model of the ScrubBoard once again. So, if you want one, then we suggest you register your interest with the man himself.
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I take care of the reviews on MusicRadar and Future Music magazine, though can sometimes be spotted in front of a camera talking little sense in the presence of real musicians. For the past 30 years, I have been unable to decide on which instrument to master, so haven't bothered. Currently, a lover of all things high-gain in the guitar stakes and never one to resist churning out sub-standard funky breaks, the likes of which you'll never hear.
"There was water dripping onto the gear and we got interrupted by a cave diver": How Mandy, Indiana recorded their debut album in caves, crypts and shopping malls
"Despite recording some truly iconic albums that became a huge part of pop culture history, he always felt like one of us": Five seminal records Steve Albini worked on