Tape varispeed involves adjusting the motor speed or electrical power cycle frequency of a tape machine during recording or playback. Tracking audio at an altered speed and returning the machine to standard speed during playback shifts both the pitch and duration of the recorded material, creating artificially deep or bright timbral textures. Dual machines run at varying offsets can also generate sweeping comb-filtering and flanging effects.
How the songs in the archive use it
In one vision, slowed vocal playback routed through an AMS DMX 15-80S provides an atmospheric opening, while fame manually slows an Ampex capstan to drop vocal phrases several octaves into sub-bass registers.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Simulate recording or playing tape at altered machine speeds to alter both pitch and tempo simultaneously. Use this to track difficult parts slowly or impart a unique formant and tonal shift upon playback.
Control-click the control bar and choose Customize Control Bar and Display.
Select the option for speed manipulation within the transport controls column and apply changes.
Set the operational mode to adjust both pitch and tempo simultaneously.
Alter the rate percentage to change tracking speed, record your performance, and return the rate to zero percent for playback.
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 (5)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
one vision by queenPitch-Shifted Intro Collage: Slowed, pitch-shifted tape vocal playback routed through AMS DMX 15-80S creates the dark, swirling electronic opening texture.Sheet score 8/10 · Source given: Studio documentary analysis · Open the full track sheet
fame by BowieVarispeed Tape Pitch Dropping: Ampex capstan slowed manually during multitrack vocal bounce, plunging Lennon and Bowie phrases down multiple octaves into sub-bass registers.Sheet score 9/10 · Source given: Documented Harry Maslin production log · Open the full track sheet
Warrior on the edge of time by HawkwindTape Flanged Gong Resonances: Orchestral gong struck softly and sent through dual reel-to-reel tape varispeed machine offsets to generate slow psychedelic comb-filtering sweepsSheet score 7/10 · Source given: Historical audio engineering analysis · Open the full track sheet
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag by James BrownTape Splicing & Varispeed: The master tape was ruthlessly edited. Brown and Syd Nathan (or Ron Lenhoff) cut the lethargic intro and sped the tape up significantly. This raised the pitch and created an artificial, frantic, and tense kinetic energy that came to define funk music.Sheet score 10/10 · Source given: *The Beautiful Ones*, James Brown biographies · Open the full track sheet
I’m only sleeping by The Beatles Tape Varispeeding (Vocal Lethargy): The rhythm track was recorded at the normal 50 cycles per second. For Lennon's lead vocal, the tape was run fast (at 45 cycles). When played back at the normal 50 cycles, Lennon's voice sounded artificially deepened, sluggish, and dreamy.Sheet score 10/10 · Source given: Lewisohn / Emerick · 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