Tape delay throws involve manually routing an audio signal into a tape machine to generate echoes on isolated words or moments rather than continuously across an entire performance. The delayed signal is returned to the mix on a separate fader, allowing the engineer to emphasize specific phrases on demand. This approach leaves the main performance clean while highlighting selected focal points with audible repeats.
How the songs in the archive use it
In All Along the Watchtower by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, the vocal feed was manually sent to an Ampex tape machine running at 15 IPS, bringing dramatic single-slapback echoes up on a separate fader to trail specific words like 'hear' and 'thief'.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Tape delay throws send momentary snippets of an audio track into an echo unit to highlight key vocal or instrumental moments. Use this to add drama and space to select words or note tails without muddying the entire performance.
Create a bus send on your audio track routing to an auxiliary channel.
Insert Tape Delay on the auxiliary channel strip.
Turn Dry completely off and set Wet to maximum so the auxiliary channel outputs only the delay repeats.
Engage Tempo Sync on Tape Delay to keep the repeats in time with your project.
Automate the audio track's bus send level to burst up only on the desired word or phrase.
Plug-in
Control
Value
Listen for
Tape Delay
Tempo Sync
On
repeats locked to song tempo
Tape Delay
Feedback
35
several trailing rhythmic echoes
Tape Delay
High Cut
3500 Hz
warm, vintage tape decay on repeats
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (1)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
All Along the Watchtower by The Jimi Hendrix ExperienceTape Delay Throws: Kramer manually routed Hendrix's vocal mic feed into an Ampex tape machine running at 15 IPS to create dramatic single-slapback echoes on specific words (e.g., "hear", "thief"), bringing the echo back up on a separate fader.Sheet score 10/10 · Source given: [Eddie Kramer Sound On Sound] · Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques