Cassette Tapes. Does anyone still buy them?

[Stunsworth]

Yes, I know, but the state of those original tapes?
Many (sticky) open reel masters had to be baked before a one-last-chance transfer to a digital file....

It depends on the tapes. Blue Note currently have two LP reissue programmes in place that use the original master tapes - the 'Tone Poet' and 'BN80' series. These sound absolutely marvellous and in some cases the original recordings date from the 1950s.

[Serial_Apologist]

I LOVE watching the reels go round! In fact, I suspect that's what attracts the younger generation to vinyl. You can see the music being reproduced as opposed to popping a cd into an anonymous black box.

Watching a washing machine in operation is better because it's a more immersive experience.

[Serial_Apologist]

I don't suppose anybody on here is old enough to remember when reel-to-reel tape recorders first became widely available through mainstream retail outlets, and the excitement (or in my case horror) of hearing one's own voice for the first time. Some friends of my parents, impressed when we demonstrated our model - I forget the make - asked if they could borrow it for a cocktail party they were about to host. In the event, the husband concealed the thing behind his cocktail cabinet and placed the mike at the far end, where the drinks were being dispensed. Towards the end of the evening, he sprung his surprise on his guests, telling them he had been recording their conversation, and that if they wished, he would now play it back to them. After a few minutes, the wife, who had not been involved in the "conspiracy", was then shortly heard saying, "What? You're not giving this lot our best sherry, are you?"

[pastoralguy]

I don't suppose anybody on here is old enough to remember when reel-to-reel tape recorders first became widely available through mainstream retail outlets, and the excitement (or in my case horror) of hearing one's own voice for the first time. Some friends of my parents, impressed when we demonstrated our model - I forget the make - asked if they could borrow it for a cocktail party they were about to host. In the event, the husband concealed the thing behind his cocktail cabinet and placed the mike at the far end, where the drinks were being dispensed. Towards the end of the evening, he sprung his surprise on his guests, telling them he had been recording their conversation, and that if they wished, he would now play it back to them. After a few minutes, the wife, who had not been involved in the "conspiracy", was then shortly heard saying, "What? You're not giving this lot our best sherry, are you?"

[richardfinegold]

Obviously you should have digitised them earlier.

good joke.
However, these performances have been digitized and miraculously at that. I don't know why anyone would want to listen to these performances on 78s of that vintage except for nostalgia, and I feel the same about cassettes!

[ardcarp]

I don't suppose anybody on here is old enough to remember when reel-to-reel tape recorders first became widely available through mainstream retail outlets, and the excitement (or in my case horror) of hearing one's own voice for the first time.

Mrs A and I remember it well. Her Dad was the first to have one (a Grundig) in a small Somerset Village, and the locals regarded it as akin to Black Magic. But we do have some old reel-to-reel tapes of broad Somerset (of a type almost extinct) being spoken.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I do remember recording all my school concert when teaching in the 1970s & 80s. Most were recorded on a Tandberg 3300X open reel machine. Most of them sounded as good as new by the time I transferred them to CD in the late 90s, but one rogue tape was clearly shedding oxide, meaning the head had to be cleaned after each recorded item. So what should have been a simple transfer took many hours to complete. It was one of the few times I used a Memorex tape, rather than the preferred BASF.

One of my favourite pre-recorded cassettes was Barbirolli's EMI recording of VW Symphonies 2 & 5. Unfortunately this one deteriorated quite quickly, possibly due to being played too often.

[MrGongGong]

It was one of the few times I used a Memorex tape, rather than the preferred BASF.

AMPEX 456 is what you need (as well as a rather splendid new album on cassette and download )

[cloughie]

AMPEX 456 is what you need (as well as a rather splendid new album on cassette and download )

For casettes TDK and Maxell were the most reliable and my tape of choice.

[MrGongGong]

For casettes TDK and Maxell were the most reliable and my tape of choice.

Indeed
TDK over Maxell
I thought he was talking about the 1/4" ?

[cloughie]

Indeed
TDK over Maxell
I thought he was talking about the 1/4" ?

He was but did mention cassettes and the thread's title is on MCs - so I thought worth a mention - OK?

[Bryn]

For cassettes TDK and Maxell were the most reliable and my tape of choice.

As I recall, TDK had better slip-sheets in them than did Maxell, but I found Maxell UD120s had superior resistance to drop-outs, yet still had fairly low print-through. I tended to record lots of stuff which was too long to fit on one side of a C90. The rare C180s were just too thin to be a viable option in terms of dynamic range and resistance to print-through.

[MrGongGong]

He was but did mention cassettes and the thread's title is on MCs - so I thought worth a mention - OK?

of course

Worth investing in cassettes now though

[pastoralguy]

I popped into a BHF shop this morning and was surprised to see a shelf full of classical cassette tapes retailing for 99p each. Looked to be in reasonable condition but there's no way to check for stretching or drop outs without actually playing them. I'll keep an eye open and see if they sell.

Seems to an interest though.

[Barbirollians]

I have loads of them as LPs were so badly made in the mid 1980s and then for a significant period it was cassette or CD - until I bought my first CD player in a Rumbelows closing down sale in 1990.

I seldom play them largely because my cassette deck died and they sound pretty ropey in a little beatbox. I suspect from the last couple I have played that they deteriorate all too easily.