Direct mp3 download or play: Christmas 1978 Part 1
This recording is from the same session that was used on the first Negativland release. For example, “This is Negativland, reminding you to get ready for the Love Canal at Lovecourse 49,” which I had my grandmother read was part of this session. All of this tape was made in the kitchen at my home in Martinez, California. On this recording there is a discussion about grocery bags, followed by my grandmother reading “Are we not men? We are Devo.”  Then my mother sings and after that there is some more talk about “Devo.” The last part of the tape features “Goggles,” one of our cats coming into the house and causing our other cat “Sassy Sister Suzy” to become upset. She can be heard hissing and growling.
I can’t remember for sure which cassette tape recorder was used for recording but I think it was either the Superscope C-104 or the Norelco 1530. I will eventually have a picture of the Norelco.  I also recall putting one of my Sony F-98 microphones on a makeshift stand that was meant to hold a bird cage, and then I set the stand on a table in the kitchen.You may have noticed this is called “part 1,” but there likely isn’t any other recording.

Direct mp3 download or play:  Signal Generator Piece

Here is something I made in 1974 using two tape recorders, and either a homemade theremin or an audio generator. I honestly can’t remember some of the details or what instrument I actually used, because I have a habit of not labeling tapes. I do remember having access to recording equipment at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California because of a class in electronic music.
Located in a small room, was a recording setup with two tube type Magnecord tape recorders. They were very heavy professional units, which could handle ten and a half inch reels. One was a model 1028 and the other a 1048. They looked identical, except the 1028 had 7 1/2 and 15 ips and the 1048 had 3 3/4 ips and they were both half-track stereo. There was a professional looking Sony mixer with 8 or more channels. I think there were two Ampex amplified speakers with tubes similar to the one pictured. My setup for this recording was to feed the audio generator into a mixer input and have it panned to one side. Then the output of the mixer was connected to the ‘line in’ of one Magnecord recorder. Then I took the ‘line out’ of the recorder monitoring the third (playback) head and fed a stereo line back into the mixer. I made sure the audio signal was on the opposite side with respect to the audio generator input. This would create a ping pong (left/right) echo.  Next I ran the tape from the first recorder to the other recorder setup just to the right of the first machine.  The second tape recorder fed a stereo signal back into the mixer which would feed back the sound recorded on the first recorder a few seconds later.
With everything set up I could now begin recording. I very carefully started both recorders. They were both running at 71/2 ips with the first machine recording and the second machine playing.  Also the tape tension had to be just right to avoid breaking the tape or being too loose. While running this arrangement for a few minutes, I determined how high I could raise the faders on the mixer before the feedback would get out of control and become distorted. I then started fading tones from the audio generator up and down, letting the feedback from the two tape recorders process the sound. I recall being inspired to make this recording after learning about Brian Eno doing a similar and I admit a much nicer recording. I was also influenced by the sound effects of a favorite movie of mine, “Quatermass and The Pit.”  In addition, I’ve always liked the sound effects on “Doctor Who,” particularly the episodes from the late 60s through the middle 70s. I very much admire the work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, which made the sound effects and music for a good number of British TV series including Doctor Who.
After making the recording onto a 7-inch reel, the tape could simply be played back on a single tape machine, and what I have here is the result. I know this is a bit goofy, but it did give me goose bumps the fist time I heard it.

Magnecord Model 1028 Professional Tape Recorder

Eico Model 377 Audio Generator

Ampex Model 620 Amplified Speaker