WHAT IS TEAM LOFI?
In short, somebody records one track on a standard stereo cassette deck or a 4-track cassette tape multitrack-recorder and sends it to somebody else. He then records the 2nd track and sends it to somebody else, etc. The one who records the last track, mixes the piece and posts the results.
Because everybody can start a new tape or send out multiple tapes, tapes should come in randomly and often.
The goal is not getting the best sounding and performed song in the end, but it's more about the process itself which can be very fun, surprising, inspiring and positively unpredictable.
This format allows people to join this thing on the fly and even step out of it anytime.

We don't really have rules, so just take the following as some guidelines or recommendations:

I WANT TO JOIN THIS ÜBERCOOL THING, WHAT NOW?

• No problem, new people can join anytime!
• You just need a 4-track cassette tape recorder of any kind or a stereo cassette deck, but this can only be used for starting a tape
• Just PM me (RiF) your full name and mailing address and I will update the complete mailing list to everybody on Team Lofi via PM
• Start sending out tapes right away

I WANT DO START A TAPE, WHAT NOW?

• Record your stuff on track #1 of the tape (or the left channel if you're using a stereo deck), preferably with a 1 bar click count-in. It does not matter what you record, but think briefly about the others who want to add more tracks. A click track can be recorded to track #4 if you think it will help others
• Name the tape "TEAM LOFI, tape name" , where tape name is a name for the project. Be creative and make sure that two tapes floating around don't have the same name
• Note tape speed and noise reduction type on the inlay. The common format is double speed/DBX, but we have members with single speed and Dolby B as well. If possible take that into account
• Note track number, your GS member name and the type of track (e.g. "Drums") on the inlay, leaving room for 3 more lines for the other tracks
• Send it to somebody else in the current Team Lofi. It does not matter to whom, just make sure you don't send multiple tapes out to the same person
• you can start a tape anytime and send it out. There's no need to wait for anything

I GOT A TAPE IN THE MAIL, WHAT NOW?

• Don't erase what's on the tape already
• Choose the next free track and record something that you think could match ("match" is a flexible term…) the existing tracks. Just record one mono track.
• Note track number, your GS member name and the type of track on the inlay
• Send it to somebody else in the Team Lofi. It does not matter to whom, just make sure you don't send multiple tapes out to the same person
• Tourist photos of your tape in your home town would be cool

I GOT A TAPE, BUT I CANNOT RECORD ANYTHING (FOR WHATEVER REASON), WHAT NOW?

• Please be so kind and send the tape to somebody else. please, please, please! There's creativity and effort and fun on the tape already, so please don't let it die

I AM ON TEAM LOFI, BUT I WANT TO QUIT (FOR WHATEVER REASON), WHAT NOW?

• Please send a PM to me (RiF), so I can remove you from the list and inform all the other members

I RECORDED THE LAST TRACK ON THE TAPE, WHAT NOW?

• Do a stereo mix, convert it to a 256kbs MP3 and post it here on the thread
• It would be great if you could record the unmixed individual tracks into your computer and upload them as four 24bit/44KHz Mono WAV files somewhere. I will then download them and archive them for later remixing or whatever and will provide them to anybody who's asking for them (if he's from Team Lofi, of course)
• Store the cassette in a safe place

OK, enough with this! I need to go upstairs and unwrap a few TDK SA's now!

TEAM LOFI IS CURRENTLY:
Updated: Sep 9, 2014

1. lowpassfilter, USA. Fostex X-28H, Tascam 238 (8-track)
2. RiF, Germany. , (8-track)
3. zombiesarebad, USA. Tascam 414
4. e3p0, USA. Tascam 424MkII
5. jumdumb, USA. Tascam 414MkII
6. EmirHassan, Denmark. Tascam 424MkIII
7. iambearhead, USA. Yamaha MT4X
8. standup, USA. Peavey MCR 4/S
9. sdconvoy, USA. Tascam 414
10. minusfortynine, Austria. Yamaha MT3X
11. Koreth, USA. Fostex X24
12. KenHR, USA. Tascam 424MkII
13. frankieboy, USA. Yamaha MT120
14. JohnRichard, USA. Yamaha MT100

All units support double speed. The Tascam and Yamaha units have DBX, the Fostex's have mostly Dolby.

THE FINISHED TAPES SO FAR:
Updated: Oct 30, 2014
Super Avilyn (karnevil's mix)
Super Avilyn (e3p0's mix)
Super Avilyn (RiF's mix)
Super Avilyn (zombiesarebad's mix)
Panda (RiF's mix)
Jokes (standup's mix)
Blacklight (standup's mix)
Golden Pear (JohnRichard's mix)
Keramik (zombiesarebad's mix)
Keramik (RiF's mix)
Russian For Travellers I (RiF's mix)
Mao (JohnRichard's mix)
Def March (RiF's mix)
Shorty (RiF's mix)
Beating The Street (standup's mix)
Wavenya (Zack Facco's mix)
Yah! (lowpassfilter's mix)
Russian for Travellers (zombiesarebad's mix)
Guh 1xSpeed (e3p0's mix)
Guh 2xSpeed (e3p0's mix)
Guh (Zack Facco's - aka jumdumb - mix)

Anyone new want to join in?

What's our criteria for tape type? Cassettes are hard to find around here. I've only found tkd a90 so far. Are these useable?

I swear on the type II tapes TDK SA(X) or SM, Maxell XL(S) and BASF CS2 and I will use one of those for my recordings this weekend. But don't overthink it. It's called Team "Lofi" for a reason :-). Use what you have available.

Pick one

PIMP.

I literally have thousands of type I cassettes I will send for free to anyone in the U.S. Some are NOS and the rest are recorded once leftovers from mass duplication.

I have a good stash of NOS and used type II I will use for this project.

A nice new fresh thread. Thanks RiF.

Studio Master

Someone in the last thread or maybe another thread mentioned this company that makes new type II cassettes for recording. Saves the hassle of hunting down NOS on amazon and ebay.

I have recorded three cassettes today (NOS TDK SA60, btw), now I need to shoot some tourist photos tomorrow .
They will go into the mail on monday to lowpassfilter, e3p0 and beingmf.

I found a place in Toronto with sa60 tapes for $1 each. Sorry for my newb question but do I want tab-in or tab-out? I'm recording on a fostex x15.

My understanding is removing the tab prevents the tape from being recorded on?

Yes. If the tabs are out, use adhesive tape to close them.

Thanks. Always used cassettes as a kid in the 80s/90s but never knew about tabs/different cassette types

Berger (and everybody else), don't overthink it. This thing is about creativity, collaboration, inspiration and the total ignorance of almost everything which is discussed on GS every day. Listen, get inspired, hit record, play, send it out, forget it and move on to the next thing.
It does not matter if it's made on a NOS Sony Metal Master or on a used no-name ferric tape.

Well, almost – the metal tapes will destroy your machine's heads pretty quickly... But maybe that's the idea behind "LoFi" ?

I'm working on some tapes as we speak and boy are they ever gonna be lofi lol

All 4 tracks cassette recorder I cam accross were type II (chrome) only.

Here's the first set of tourist photos for the tapes that will go into the mail today. The photos were made in Hannover, Germany on the Maschsee, a lake in the middle of the city.

PS: Tapes have been mailed out to lowpassfilter, e3p0 and beingmf today.
I've recorded the "Fabrik" tape for lowpassfilter without noise reduction for compatibility reasons. I did not remember tapes being soooo noisy...
The other tapes have been done with DBX. All are double speed.
lowpassfilter and e3p0 are getting a drum track while beingmf gets a guitar track (played to a click, with 1-bar count-in on track #1 and click track on track #4).
BPM / chord- & song structure are provided on the inlay.

This is the most brilliant idea I've come accross recently! I'd love to join in, have just sent a PM to RiF.

Welcome Deleted 7e0795a!

Post #2 updated.
New updated mailing list will go out tomorrow.

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much RiF for adding me! I'm really looking forward to recording
with Team LoFi!

AHHHH! This is exactly what I need to be doing right now!

Only thing... I CANNOT track down a PSU for my TASCAM Portastudio 424 MKIII... and it's making me cry every day, walking past it collecting dust.

Eeeeeee :(

Anyone on team LoFi craft enough to build a new one or happen to have one lying around? Team LoFi is my only hope....!

I just got my tape today. Woo! I will take a listen tonight and see what I can come up with. I will probably send it out in just a few days. Who do I send it to?

Here is a cheesy camera phone shot of my Thingamagoop and the tape I got.

Medearis,

Check out this topic, you might find some help there:

Modding a Tascam 424 MKIII Portastudio?

These power supplies are quite hard to find nowadays but not impossible.
I'd also contact Tascam, they might still have support for the MKIII.

Who wants it?

i'd love to take it, but it looks like my Tascam has shit the bed once and for all. I'm surfing ebay and Craigslist right now for a new four tracker. Does anyone here have any experience with the Ross 2x4? One on craigslist here in Maine for cheap.

i'll let you all know when i have a replacement machine.... it shouldn't be long.

I would be down if it was an 8 track cassette trading letter... Any 688/488 owners?

lowpassfilter has a 238 and I have a 688, so feel free to start an 8 track tape!
For 8-track tapes, everybody can record up to 2 tracks.

Is there an already finished tape I can hear?

I'm happy to receive tapes, I can't wait...