The Haptic Tape-Loop Voltage Loom

The Mechanics:

An analog West Coast Eurorack modular synthesizer instrument combining a mechanical endless magnetic tape-loop transport with direct optocoupled vactrol voltage modulation and a multi-dimensional capacitance touch strip.

Rather than static digital tape emulation, the module physically drives a custom micro-cassette loop across a three-head tape core (erase, record, reproduce). Optical photo-resistors and capacitive touch pads allow the performer to manually brake, stretch, or scrub the tape speed with real physical friction while simultaneously harvesting raw CV voltages derived from the motor back-EMF and tape saturation distortion to drive downstream analog wavefolders.

Utilitarian Value:

Brings genuine physical mechanical tape friction, analog tape saturation, and motor EMF voltage harvesting into tactile Eurorack and desktop performance environments.

Target Ecosystem:

Eurorack sound designers, modular synthesists, ambient composers, tape-music auteurs, experimental hardware artists.

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