Digital Tape Delay question

[Donnie B.]

The El Capistan has two basic delay modes.

1) playback head is fixed and the tape speed is adjusted
2) speed is fixed and head gap is adjusted

The differences between them are easy to understand with analog,
but what do you think the DSP guy is doing to make them sound different?

For want of better descriptions, 2 sounds crisper while 1 is more polished.
Simple EQ adjustment?

 

[psychodave]

The El Capistan has two basic delay modes.

1) playback head is fixed and the tape speed is adjusted
2) speed is fixed and head gap is adjusted

The differences between them are easy to understand with analog,
but what do you think the DSP guy is doing to make them sound different?

For want of better descriptions, 2 sounds crisper while 1 is more polished.
Simple EQ adjustment?

The first one is a Roland Space Echo

Second is an Echoplex.

I would have to think they are both too similar to really distinguish, but I would have to guess more / greater warble. I have both an Echoplex and Roland Space Echo and I've never worried about warble. The space echo was always quieter and had more options. Back to warble... the echoplex always has more warble since it holds more tape and the tape is wrapped around two spools in an oval pretty firmly. That causes pressure and the tape to have memory. The space echo has tape just sitting, but it still has a tiny bit of warble.

 

[Donnie B.]

The first one is a Roland Space Echo

Second is an Echoplex.

Makes sense based on how they sound. Thanks.

 

[paulyc]

Holy shit you guys were actually NICE to each other !!! ?