First violin starts the recording tape (6)
I believe the answer is:
leader
'recording tape' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'first violin starts' is the wordplay.
'first' becomes 'lead' (lead can mean leading or primary).
'violin starts' becomes 'er' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'lead'+'er'='LEADER'
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for leader that I've seen before include "Superior" , "Person in charge" , "important member of orchestra" , "One whose example is followed" , "One is ahead and shows the way" .)