DesertRatt
All Bark, No Bite!
Imagine this....ETSY is now big enough it's going public on the stock exchange. That's a huge demand for "handcrafted."
Cassette tape resurgence ?
MaxxVolume
Lunatic Member
Using a similar philosophy (but a different medium), I still carry a Tupperware case stuffed with Rand-McNally paper road maps in my car (!). Most fail to see any logic in this, given the sophistication of today`s GPS units. I have nothing against technological advances, but I enjoy the comfortable feeling I get from spreading out a couple of state (or county) maps, and being able to see all connecting roads, secondary routes, alternative routes, etc.
DesertRatt
All Bark, No Bite!
I totally get that! Ioooove maps! Just looking at a fine map makes me want to hot the road! Yes, I use my GPS, but only as a utility. I still carry maps, map books, and love looking at them. They are so rich with visual stimuli. And, when you open a big map you get macro and micro views almost at will.
I believe its a Pyle variant. Stay away as its a true POS. You are much better served by a vintage deck from the likes of Sony, Yamaha, Marzntz, Pioneer, Toshiba, Sansui, Teac, etc.
BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
Back in the day, the first thing I did when I bought a new record was to record it to cassette. This was in the mid to late 70s. My car at that time only had AM. So I bought a boom box, and started making mixed tapes. I would sit in my room, reading, recording, and listening. I found them great for cleaning up bad or poorly mastered lp recordings. As the song played through, I was listening to it. By the time it was half through, I knew what my next song would be. I would get it all prepared, start recording, and go through the same process all over. I made some great tapes in college, which I would bring to student council for play at lunch in the cafeteria. This continued until the fire burnt my collection in the early 80s.
I got a replacement, which was better, but still nothing special. It wasn’t until the mid 90s, during my second adolescence, that I got back into it. I went to various audio shops in my area comparing my sample cassette, a blank one for recording testing, and a prerecorded tape. After trying about 10 different top flight models, I settled on a Technics unit. I don’t remember what model. At the same time, I bought a Sony Beta HF900 machine. I used the Technics a little, for the car, but mainly the Beta machine for audio recording. It was great! Especially as background music when I was lucky enough to bring someone into my room of the large 3 story building a group of us shared Downtown.
About 5 years ago, I knew I was going to be driving my dads car across Canada from Vancouver to here. I had always wanted to do it, and here was an excellent opportunity. Since my dads car only had radio and cassette in it, and I knew we would be driving through areas where there was no radio reception, I bought a nice Denon 3 head unit. It records really well, and all the tapes I made with that machine sounded great in my dads car. Got us through the Rockies, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario!
Now I have a gorgeous Aiwa M700B that makes great recordings and sounds really nice! I gave it to a local tech who specializes in electro mechanical audio gear. A year and a half later, I got it back as non repairable. During this time, I wasn’t idle. I ordered a belt kit for the Aiwa. And I repaired most of the cassette decks I had accumulated because they were too beautiful to leave at the thrift! I also acquired the legendary Teac Z7000. What a beast! The controls are intimidating, but do make sense. The wired remote is also really nice! And the skip ahead option! I also have a Nakamichi LX3 and an HK 292 unit. And I have a few in the works. I was able to fix the Aiwa in 2 days of time. I replaced the belts first, then had to figure out what it was supposed to do and why it wasn’t. It turned out to be a little rubber disc that had turned to glue deep inside it’s innerds. I mcgyvered a fix and it is still working great a year later!
There is something about creating a mixed tape that sounds great any time you listen to it. It is completely personal, and shows your feelings at the time of the recording. You don’t get this when you create a playlist. The creation process never fully kicks in with digital.
I got a replacement, which was better, but still nothing special. It wasn’t until the mid 90s, during my second adolescence, that I got back into it. I went to various audio shops in my area comparing my sample cassette, a blank one for recording testing, and a prerecorded tape. After trying about 10 different top flight models, I settled on a Technics unit. I don’t remember what model. At the same time, I bought a Sony Beta HF900 machine. I used the Technics a little, for the car, but mainly the Beta machine for audio recording. It was great! Especially as background music when I was lucky enough to bring someone into my room of the large 3 story building a group of us shared Downtown.
About 5 years ago, I knew I was going to be driving my dads car across Canada from Vancouver to here. I had always wanted to do it, and here was an excellent opportunity. Since my dads car only had radio and cassette in it, and I knew we would be driving through areas where there was no radio reception, I bought a nice Denon 3 head unit. It records really well, and all the tapes I made with that machine sounded great in my dads car. Got us through the Rockies, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario!
Now I have a gorgeous Aiwa M700B that makes great recordings and sounds really nice! I gave it to a local tech who specializes in electro mechanical audio gear. A year and a half later, I got it back as non repairable. During this time, I wasn’t idle. I ordered a belt kit for the Aiwa. And I repaired most of the cassette decks I had accumulated because they were too beautiful to leave at the thrift! I also acquired the legendary Teac Z7000. What a beast! The controls are intimidating, but do make sense. The wired remote is also really nice! And the skip ahead option! I also have a Nakamichi LX3 and an HK 292 unit. And I have a few in the works. I was able to fix the Aiwa in 2 days of time. I replaced the belts first, then had to figure out what it was supposed to do and why it wasn’t. It turned out to be a little rubber disc that had turned to glue deep inside it’s innerds. I mcgyvered a fix and it is still working great a year later!
There is something about creating a mixed tape that sounds great any time you listen to it. It is completely personal, and shows your feelings at the time of the recording. You don’t get this when you create a playlist. The creation process never fully kicks in with digital.
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vwestlife
Super Member
In my tests, the TASCAM 202mkVII (also sold as the TEAC W-1200) has an actual wow & flutter of around 0.15% WRMS, or about the same as many entry-level 1980s and 1990s cassette decks. It's good to have some new cassette decks on the market today, but most people would be better served by acquiring one of the many good used cassette decks that are still readily available and which have Dolby Noise Reduction (which Dolby unfortunately stopped licensing to manufacturers in 2014).
Ty67
Active Member
What kind of tape deck is it?
Taketheflame
Super Member
I'll definitely agree that it's good there are any new cassette decks at all on the market - and it's good to know that the Tascam is beating it's advertised W&F in your tests. But the lack of Dolby (NR or HX Pro) is a shame, as I think some of the new pre-recorded tapes out there can be a bit noisy in quiet parts. Most of the older HX Pro/B or S NR tapes I've found are quite good, I think.
Speaking of which, I'm about to hit a milestone in jumping in on the cassette resurgence - I will soon have over 200 pre-recorded tapes in my collection, as soon as a few more I've ordered arrive!
Ronald1973
8-trackin', Hank, Sr. man
I intend at some point to get a good deck. I bought one on eBay several years ago. It came in making all kinds of weird noises, but it played at the time. I nicely let the seller know it wasn't as described and they refunded my money completely and told me to go ahead and keep the deck. It finally bit the dust last year. It wouldn't play-it would just make a clicking noise when you hit play. I had a heckuva time getting the tape back out. I gave it to my brother in law so he could scrap out the metal.
There is just some stuff you can't find on CD, LP, or digital format. If you're into gospel music, a lot of local/regional groups only did cassettes. Then you have flea markets/thrift stores that will sell cassettes for 25¢. If there's something I think I would even remotely like, heck yeah, I'll shell out a quarter!
Until about 3 years ago I still had a vehicle with a cassette player. I loved making a list on my computer of songs (I have over 30,000 songs on here!) and making a 90 minute mix tape. That was so much easier than the old way I used to do it. Dig out this album for one song, dig out this 8-track for one song, dig out this CD for one song and having to switch the different options on the receiver. I made hundreds of mix tapes that way, and I enjoyed myself the whole time. I couldn't imagine doing it that way now!
There is just some stuff you can't find on CD, LP, or digital format. If you're into gospel music, a lot of local/regional groups only did cassettes. Then you have flea markets/thrift stores that will sell cassettes for 25¢. If there's something I think I would even remotely like, heck yeah, I'll shell out a quarter!
Until about 3 years ago I still had a vehicle with a cassette player. I loved making a list on my computer of songs (I have over 30,000 songs on here!) and making a 90 minute mix tape. That was so much easier than the old way I used to do it. Dig out this album for one song, dig out this 8-track for one song, dig out this CD for one song and having to switch the different options on the receiver. I made hundreds of mix tapes that way, and I enjoyed myself the whole time. I couldn't imagine doing it that way now!
Are you looking into getting another deck? I too have some blues and rock albums from some obscure non mainstream artists that are either insnaley expensiive to replace with a CD or the CD doesn't exist, or it doesnt exist as a digital file. Thats why I have 3 cassette decks, one per system so that I have access to me entire music library on anyone system.
Ronald1973
8-trackin', Hank, Sr. man
As soon as my finances straighten out. I'm in that dreaded period between being denied disability and getting to see a judge. I still have tapes I never got around to digitizing, plus I found a tape from around 1979/1980-ish that my parents recorded of the then pastor of the church we were going to. I know her family would be excited if I digitize that and post it where they can hear it.Are you looking into getting another deck? I too have some blues and rock albums from some obscure non mainstream artists that are either insnaley expensiive to replace with a CD or the CD doesn't exist, or it doesnt exist as a digital file. Thats why I have 3 cassette decks, one per system so that I have access to me entire music library on anyone system.
MTalley
Well-Known Member
Posted my deck in a different thread, but I'll repost it here. Sat up way too late last night listening to cassettes. I managed to get my Teac A-550RX up and running yesterday evening (at least the playback portion). It really sounds great. At one point I was enjoying the nice, clean highs on the music and was debating turning Dolby on. When I walked over to turn it on, I found that it was already engaged. Sweet.
(Also shown - an inexpensive vintage cassette cabinet on top of which is sitting my mint Realistic CTR-51 cassette recorder).
.
(Also shown - an inexpensive vintage cassette cabinet on top of which is sitting my mint Realistic CTR-51 cassette recorder).
Just pulled a crate of tapes outta the garage and am also on the hunt for a deck. Mostly tapes I recorded, but a few with commercials from ad agencies I worked at. One has John Cleese talking about Carlsburg beer and comparing it to English beer that he terms "pond water".
Would like to find a deck to add to my 70's system. Don't care about auto reverse or other bells & whistles, but think at least Dolby B & C would be good. Any suggestions. There is a Yamaha KX-390 in town for what sounds like a decent price. Several Naks including a 480 ($100), CR-3A ($150 & needs a belt), BX-300 ($450), and a Yamaha KX-300U ($150 with new belts & caps).
Went with the Yamaha KX-390.
Went with the Yamaha KX-390.
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david1111
Barba non facit philosophum
I have a wad of road maps in the passenger door of my car cuz its just nice to use them. I've always used maps.
But a buddy of mine got in the passenger side a while ago, and he looked down, and pulled out a handful of maps. Then he said, "What are ya ... a Terrorist??"
Funny guy ...
Dave
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MTalley
Well-Known Member
How's the deck working for you?
MT, it sounds great. Not Vinyl but didn't expect it would be. Playing mostly stuff I recorded from college buddies records, or they recorded for me. Most of it is well recorded. Listening to the Police, the cymbals and highs aren't muffled and there isn't any hiss to speak of.
This deck detects the type of tape it's playing, it's distinguished between most of the tapes being type ll and the few that are Metal. Not sure if it adjusts automatically or not, but for whatever reason sounds best w/o any NR switched on during playback. Scanned the manual and came away thinking I should put on Dolby B/C if the tape was recorded that way, but the highs get cut if I do, and I don't hear any hiss w/o the NR so I'm leaving it off. Nothing like my earlier Yamaha, or the Denon downstairs.
This deck detects the type of tape it's playing, it's distinguished between most of the tapes being type ll and the few that are Metal. Not sure if it adjusts automatically or not, but for whatever reason sounds best w/o any NR switched on during playback. Scanned the manual and came away thinking I should put on Dolby B/C if the tape was recorded that way, but the highs get cut if I do, and I don't hear any hiss w/o the NR so I'm leaving it off. Nothing like my earlier Yamaha, or the Denon downstairs.
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Thought I'd get in on this thread. I had an interesting purchase at our local flea market and it gives me a reason to post. The seller had a big plastic box on his table with cassettes stacked in it and a sign pricing them at two dollars each. There were some good looking tapes on the top level, so I tried digging in deeper. The way he had jammed them in made it tricky, but I was able to see about a row of black top blues stuff and got even more interested. I assumed he hadn't sold many if any the way they were locked in and figured maybe he'd just want to sell the whole box one price. I shot him fifty bucks and he said no way. He pointed out that there were well over two hundred tapes. I responded that it didn't seem like many had sold and up my offer to sixty. He said he couldn't sell them all for sixty bucks, but then his wife got involved, so they countered with sixty five and I bought them. My wife wasn't home when I got back with them and I started poking through to see what I had bought. I took a picture of the tapes in the top level. There are four levels...about two hundred and forty...more or less. When I saw my wife pull in, I hid the tapes and the rest of the box. No reason to sully up her day. This is my first look. All the tapes appear to be in excellent condition. When I get another little block of open time, I'll post some more. I am looking forward to seeing how many of those black top tapes are in there.
My wife definitely thinks something is up. I just can't stop grinning. She's gone grocery shopping now and I was able to get back into the box. Looks like about twenty four of the black top tapes. I don't figured that everyone out there is familiar with these. Heck, I've only found a few myself over the years. Then tend to be very high quality recordings of mostly blues and mostly live in New Orleans. A good chunk of them use chrome tape. There were also a number of alligator tapes...also mostly blues...and that doesn't get rid of my smile either. I am in for some good listening. It appears the rest of the box is country orientated, not something that bothers me, but they are easier to come by. I saw a couple Emmy Lou Harris and some Vince Gill stuff, plus more Stevie Ray and Johnny Winter. All in all a nice pickup. The black top stuff alone is worth more to me than I paid for the kit and caboodle. My Nakamichi 680 is about to get a workout. Now to go clean some heads.
david1111
Barba non facit philosophum
Wow, good find Joe. I've been doing the same sorta thing (although not quite as lucky), but I've picked up a few nice 50 tape collections.
In the mix, has been some good quality tapes I can use for recording, like: TDK SA-X60 Type II, and Sony UX-Pro90 type II. I've got about 30 of these now, and they only cost a buck each.
I'm constantly amazed at how good the music sounds on a good cassette.
Happy listening.
Dave
In the mix, has been some good quality tapes I can use for recording, like: TDK SA-X60 Type II, and Sony UX-Pro90 type II. I've got about 30 of these now, and they only cost a buck each.
I'm constantly amazed at how good the music sounds on a good cassette.
Happy listening.
Dave