HC-TT

HUMAN CONTROLLED TAPE TRANSPORT

The HC-TT is a compact cassette manipulation device which allows you to manually play a cassette with your hands. The resulting sound can be incredibly similar to scratching a vinyl record. Sound will only be produced while your hands are turning either of the large playback knobs. By turning these knobs you are directly rotating the cassette spindles which moves the tape across the internal tape head. The knobs “play” a regular cassette forwards and backwards. There is no motor in this device, so direction and speed is left to the performer. The illuminated touch switch is a momentary mute for both the mono audio output as well as the CV/Gate outputs. The Arches and Moons touch plates allow for feedback and other strange interactions.  This device does not record audio but only outputs pre-recorded audio from any cassette tape. The HC-TT comes COUNTERCLOCKWISE, an open-source sample compilation cassette produced by Landscape. Please see below for additional details. 

SPECIFICATIONS:

-Forwards and Backwards knobs w/metal cranks utilize 4 ball bearings soldered into the case allowing for responsive control and manipulation of an audio cassette tape. Scrubbing of audio tape using the two knobs can sounds nearly identical to scratching a vinyl record at times. There is no motor or automatic playback in this device, you are the motor. [Large Arrow] knob is forwards and [Small Arrow] knob is backwards.

-Momentary Touch Mute [Sunset] for gating audio (tape or external) and/or CV/Gate outputs. Touching the mute switch and Feedback Points simultaneously will create strange buzzy tonalities which change based on how much skin is in contact with each touch point.

-A Gain control at its highest level can get quite loud and add a bit if overdrive to the signal, plus when used in combination with the tone control it can pushed a little more. At its lowest level it still allows cleaner audio and lower CV out when moving the tape. This is also pre-CV/Gate which means it will be used in tandem with the tone control to send the desired CV/Gate amounts out of the HC-TT. 

-A lo-fi dirty Tone control which cuts most bass content at its lowest level and boosts bass content at its highest. This control is pre-CV/Gate which means it will allow you to adjust your CV/Gate levels and response. You will hear scrubbing sounds when turning this knob and the audio will also cutout due to its placement in the feedback path of the circuit. Turning the knob very quickly creates a bass drum like effect and if you do this while holding the touch mute the tone will change. This can also be used to send out a Gate signal or to “mute” audio destructively by quickly turning the knob.

-3.5mm CV and Gate [Half Moon and Square] outputs which allow you to use your chosen tape's audio content in combination with your playing style as a way to manipulate a modular synthesizer. To put it another way, the HC-TT is also a tape based "controller" or modulation source. Utilize the immediate responsiveness of a mechanical device and analog tape to control your system in chaotic or subtle ways. Hand crank a sequencer using the gate output, "scratch" a VCO with the CV output or make your system sound somewhat similar to the warbled tape you are currently manipulating. 

-I/O Feedback Touch Points [Arches and Moons] allowing for touch sensitive analog feedback within the preamp (not to tape). The feedback you create through your skin also outputs to CV/Gate. This feedback can greatly distort and mangle your manipulated tape sound as well as incoming audio. By touching only the input pad [Arches] you will turn your body into an antenna injecting radio signals, hum or static to the audio and CV/Gate outputs (radio frequencies and results vary greatly by location). While touching the input pad [Arches] you can also use your other hand as a lo-fi “circuit sniffer” to listen to the sounds of laptops, cellphones and other equipment which output EMF. While touching both pads [Arches + Moons] and also introducing slight contact towards the sides of the touch mute switch you can change the character of the feedback to sound more liquid. By touching all three directly you will hear bee or mosquito like tonalities which will change depending on the amounts of skin in contact with each of the touch pads.

-The cassette inserts along the front edge by lifting both knobs and then reseating them through the cassette spindles and into the ball bearings below. The cassette is not damaged by this playback method and this technique makes it nearly impossible to tangle a tape.

-1/4" mono output [Up Arrow/left side]

-1/4” mono input [Down Arrow/right side] which allows you to use the HC-TT’s circuitry as a lo-fi overdrive and playable touch feedback processing device. The input does not go to tape but does go through the tone control and drive amount. The input is also sent to the envelope follower for the CV/Gate outs. The touch mute will also mute incoming audio.

-The included 12v power supply works in all countries and is provided with both a country specific and US plug type adaptor.

-The entire construction is made from 6 x heavy duty 2mm and 1 x 1.6mm thick Immersion Gold PCBs (composite of woven fiberglass cloth with an epoxy resin binder + copper w/thin gold plating for oxidation resistance)

-The tape head can easily be reached and cleaned with a cotton swab.

-Weight: 0.8lbs

-Ships with one copy of COUNTERCLOCKWISE

-Price: $345 usd / DIY version: $242 usd

NOTE: The HC-TT drives tapes forwards and reverse utilizing the spindles which means store bought loops or loose diy tape loops will not work in this device. Tape loops are normally driven by the Capstan which pulls the tape along.