There are a lot of ways to use analogue tape as an instrument, however a group who call themselves “Signal to noise” have created an actual art installation based on human-magentic tape interation.

Participants wear a special glove that contains an embedded tape head, and can interactively explore the recordings that are on the magnetic tape attached to the installation.

Audio is picked up by the tape head in the glove, and different sounds can be played (and at different speeds) based on where the user touches.

I love it. They further explain:

This piece intends to explore the somewhat obsolete medium of tape through a playful and sonically interesting experience, appealing to a wide audience. the pre-recorded sound on the tape is a random collage of compiled material including a range of musical styles & found recordings.

I think it’s a really creative idea, and I could imagine how this would work in an interesting way for a live music event.

Check out the video to see it in action at the Phoenix gallery in Brighton:

• SynthGlove: Nintendo Powerglove controller
• Nude bodies as a musical instrument
• 1973 ad for Sony reel-to-reel tape deck
• DIY floppy drive echo and delay