Tape loops are loops of prerecorded magnetic tape used to create repetative, rhythmic musical patterns. A measure of recorded magnetic tape is cut and spliced to end to end, creating a circle or loop which can be played continuously.
Simultaneous playing of tape loops to create phase patterns and rhythms was developed and initially used by Musique Concrete and Tape music composers, and was utilized by Steve Reich and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Pop musicians, most notably The Beatles and Pink Floyd have used tape loops on their albums.
Brian Eno's and Robert Fripp's Frippertronics is one of the earliest examples of using tape loops produced on stage during live performance.
Tape looping is in some ways a precursor of digital sampling.
