First, start with a fresh reel, cut the tape at the right speed—exactly 150 ips for a standard ¼” master—so the groove is tight but still leaves room for those natural pops. Record each track onto a separate layer, let the hiss whisper in the background, and don’t chase it away. When you splice the map data, use a paper‑clip loop of magnetic tape, a tiny bit of warble, so the listener feels the pulse. Finally, run the whole thing through a ¼” U‑spool and a warm, slightly overloaded analog mixer; the distortion is your signature, the hiss is the secret guide. That’s the pure, imperfect ritual you’re looking for.