The Reloop Tape: A loveable solution to recording your DJ sets on the go.
It’s cute, it’s chunky, it looks like a cassette tape. It’s the Reloop Tape, a funky little answer to that DJ problem: “How do I record my sets?”
Roughly the size of a cassette tape, this £80 / €90 device comes complete with a set of retro cassette stickers to personalise it. It is designed to let you record your DJ performance when you’re playing at a party, on someone else’s gear, or even when you’re using LE software that doesn’t let you record directly.
Here’s how it works: You plug your source (probably a mixer output) in to its 1/8″ TRS output. You’ll need to be recording from a mixer with a spare output – most have this. A “record out” is perfect, but an unused “booth out” is fine too. (Just get the level right and remember not to move it while recording…)
Next you select recording quality – the choice is 128kbps MP3 and 320kbps MP3 (the former is fine for spoken material, the latter better for music).
It’s got two recording quality settings, plus a ‘thru’ – oh, and a ground terminal for some reason.
And finally, you plug any USB “pen” drive into the USB slot on the unit, which is then used to record your DJ set onto. No computers, no hassle. You simply remove the USB stick when you’re done, and you can import the MP3 to your computer when you are ready.
We didn’t get to try it, so I can’t tell exactly how you’re meant to set the output level. And I don’t know how long its battery lasts. But I am sure we’ll carry a review of it soon enough and find all these things out.
For now, suffice to say it’s one of the most loveable little accessories we’ve seen here at BPM 2012, and it solves a genuine DJ problem (Christian, one of Reloop’s staff members and DJs, came up with the idea when he couldn’t record a DJ set a few months back).
Do you like the look of the Reloop Tape? Would you buy one as an easy way of recording your sets? Let us know your thoughts below.
Now go to:
How To Record Your DJ Set On An iPhone
BPM 2012 Is Here: What Can We Do For You?
Bundled DJ Controller Software: Facts & Myths
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Tags: bpm2012, recording devices, reloop tape
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looks epic and retro <3
[ link ]It’s cool looking but it’s too expensive, imo. The Zoom H1 is cheaper and offers more functionality.
Admittedly the Zoom doesn’t have the funky retro look of the Reloop Tape, but if you can’t do stuff like setting the input level on it, then it doesn’t matter how cool it looks. Nobody cares whether the device you used to record your set looks good… they’ll judge you on how your recording sounds.
Think I’ll be sticking with the ugly-looking but better performing Zoom for a while yet.
[ link ]I agree, I’ve been usin the the Zoom H4, but recently upgraded to the Zoom Q3HD. Both will solve the level problem. It’s a great tool to have in the bag.
[ link ]Very simalar to a device numark (think it was called the iKey?) have had out for a long while now, I had one when I was mixing vinyl in 2008.
[ link ]I found it a nightmare to get recording levels not right always seemed to clip over 0db)
Any thoughts on price Phil? Nice little gadget.
[ link ]In fact I missed that at the top. Ignore my ramblings
[ link ]sound helpfull.
[ link ]I think this is absurd. If you wanted a novelty item, how about something like a USB flash drive of maybe a few GB in a cassette shell for about $10. Now something that cheap, I would buy a few of and hand out at parties if I was DJ’ing.
[ link ]Glad to see someone already mention Zoom recorders. They’re great machines and you can chose to record from their built-in mics or an external source like your board’s booth out.
The Reloop Tape barely looks like it’s worth $10… it can’t even record in higher quality formats instead of mp3. It’d better have a world-class A to D convertor to justify the price.
[ link ]Way to expensive for what you get. Not even a built in memory?
[ link ]You mean like this? lol
[ link ]http://www.amazon.com/Mix-Tape-1GB-Memory-Stick/dp/B000ZZI9HQ
That’s just a USB stick in the shape of a tape cassette, isn’t it?
[ link ]Only records mp3? That’s a total no-go for me.
Mp3 introduces generation losses. Now let’s assume you’re already playing out from high quality mp3s, which still sound perfect in the club/bedroom.
Then it gets converted to analog and back to digital and, again, converted to mp3 by the recording device.
You might want to do some post-processing on the resulting audio file (volume adjustments, dynamics, etc.), so you have to convert it back to wav again.
Now you might want to upload the result to a service like mixcloud, which only accepts mp3, so you have to re-encode it once again.
Still, there’s a big question mark over what that service is further doing with the file. Chances are they’re re-encoding it once again to its final streaming format.
In this extreme case we’re going from a 1st generation mp3 file to a 4th generation one and what was once a nice sounding music file now might sound like a pile of cr**p.
In my experience mp3s at a high enough bitrate can take a 2nd or even 3rd generation re-encode without sounding horrible, but it’s still best to avoid them, and one less can already make a audible difference.
Should this thing also record wav or flac files though, i’d want one for christmas. Any info on that?
[ link ]I like the idea. Yet, I have to agree the price is a bit high. Cool gift, tho.
[ link ]Like many I enjoy the form factor, but I consider this a niche item when there are much better, as well as less wallet intensive, options available.
[ link ]Such a nice little piece of gear.
[ link ]But why mp3 recording only?
Otherwise I could use it for production purposes as well and it would be a no-brainer…
This way I probably won’t cotton to this…
Go ahead, say “mixtape” again!
[ link ]ahhh man that would be a great idea……but we already have enough devices to record into…i use my laptops mic/input 1/8 slot for my recording with adobe audition cs6..flawless
[ link ]Finally something to record a set on the fly.
[ link ]Sad it records MP3 only.
I was looking forward to this except for the fact that it has NO RCA INPUT. Seriously. I find it funny that they even put a ground plug for a turntable but no RCA to actually input from said turntable.
[ link ]Something more versatile like H1 is a better option IMHO. Not only can you record your DJ sets with it, but you can also use it to record lots of other stuff. Like do field recordings to spice up your sets once in a while.
[ link ]good thing in Reloop Tape is the output which send the sound thru the recorder and then you still have that output available to use. im not sure you can do it the same on zomo
[ link ]I was waiting for one of the sound nazis to come by and say MP3 sucks and doesn’t give you good sound quality.
All these voice/media recorders are quite expensive I don’t see why something like this can’t be useful.
The Zoom H1 is booshy, if you wanna get something get the H4 or Roland.
I don’t know why people like to introduce an extra step to their work this is not War & Peace or the 1812 overture.
[ link ]