NB: This event will now take place at Walthamstow Trades Hall, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Rd E17 4RQ

Timothy Tate leads you on a practical exploration into the world of magnetic recording media in this exciting afternoon workshop. From the very earliest days of its inception, this incredible technology has yielded countless creative innovations; from the musique concrète of Pierre Schaeffer, to the work of practitioners such as Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and indeed into the realm of popular music recording, the ability to manipulate and reconfigure sound on magnetic tape continues to find new creative context well into the 21st century.

Participants of this workshop will gain hands-on experience crafting their own tape head preamplifier circuit, complete with free-standing tape head, and acquire insights into magnetic media, it’s associated technical attributes and creative performance possibilities. Techniques including tape looping and modification of tape recorders will be explored, as well as more unconventional and non-linear approaches such as adapting everyday objects with magnetic media to discover new creative potential.

You are welcome to bring along your own cassettes, walkman/shoebox cassette players, reel-to-reel tape, or any object you wish to decorate with magnetic tape and transform into a playable instrument! Even old credit cards, gift cards, train tickets or anything else with a magnetic strip may also be used!

The workshop is limited to 10 participants. Suitable for those with an interest in electronic and experimental music or sound design. Previous experience with electronics and music performance is beneficial but not essential. All materials are provided and participants will keep what they make.

About the workshop leader:

Timothy Tate is an Australian creative technologist, researcher, composer and performer who makes use of obsolete recording technologies — magnetic tape/floppy disk drives, primitive sampling devices, CD Players — which he circuit-bends and uses in combination with his own hand-built electronics, to create notated compositions, immersive live performances, experimental electronic instruments and site-specific work. His music often explores notions of ‘composed glitch’ and weaves together complex feedback loops to create rich sonic landscapes. He holds a Master of Music in Composition with Distinction, in addition to a second study in Viola, from the Royal Academy of Music, London and is a current PhD candidate at Griffith University (Queensland Conservatorium of Music | Queensland College of Art), where he is also a Sessional Academic, teaching music, sound art and design. Timothy also runs the creative space zero.one.four.six in Yeerongpilly, Brisbane, which focuses on workshops and creative outputs incorporating obsolete media and electronics.