HAINBACH’s Tape Looper Trick: Hands-On Chaos for the Brave and the Bizarre

HAINBACH kicks things off by sticking his finger where most folks wouldn’t dare—right into the guts of a tape echo. This isn’t just for show, mate. With a move that’s as obvious as a sausage sizzle at Bunnings, he reveals a technique that turns any reel-to-reel or tape echo, even the legendary Roland Space Echo, into a looper. The trick? Just nudge the tape away from the erase head with your finger, and suddenly you’re looping like it’s nobody’s business.

It’s a hands-on hack that’s as playful as it is practical. You can punch in silences by letting the tape touch the erase head, then fill those gaps with fresh sounds. The beauty is in the simplicity—no soldering, no fancy mods, just you and the tape, getting up close and personal. HAINBACH’s style is all about demystifying the weird and wonderful, and this technique is a perfect example of his knack for making experimental music feel like a backyard BBQ: accessible, a bit messy, and heaps of fun.

This method isn’t about pristine loops or clinical precision. Nah, it’s all about embracing the quirks of tape—the dropouts, the fading highs and lows, and the rhythms that emerge from happy accidents. HAINBACH shows how each machine, from the Nagra to the Space Echo and even the finicky Sony TC-377, brings its own flavour to the party. Sometimes you’ll get inspiring rhythms just by letting the tape slip or punch in silences, and other times you’ll be fighting the machine like a surfer in a rip.

The imperfections are the real stars here. As the tape wears and the heads get grubby, your loops start to filter themselves, with mids hanging on while the rest fades away. It’s like having a built-in EQ that’s powered by chaos. If you want to hear these artefacts in all their gritty glory, you’ll need to check out the video—words can’t do justice to the crunchy, warbly textures that only tape can deliver.

Let’s not sugarcoat it—this technique has its ups and downs. On the plus side, anyone can give it a crack. No need for a soldering iron or a PhD in tape mechanics. You can literally play the tape with your fingers and get a feel for it as an instrument. But there are catches: you’ll need one hand on the tape most of the time, unless you’re handy with a 3D printer or some DIY magic to make a cover for the erase head. Just don’t scratch the head or stress the tape, or you’ll be in for a world of hurt.

And here’s a big one—don’t go poking around near any wires or mains voltage, especially if you’ve dragged some ancient beast out of your grandad’s shed. Most machines are safe where you access the tape, but better safe than zapped. Also, if your tape machine’s motor is wheezing like a smoker after a fun run, maybe give it a service before you start adding extra drag. HAINBACH’s advice is spot on: respect your gear, keep it clean, and don’t be a galah when it comes to safety.