C30 C60 C90 - will you go?

On 31/08/2022 at 08:18, Source said:

Interesting return from Ace Records of what I once thought was a long gone format... first cassette issue (since the 1990s) will be released on the 28.10.2022. One of the most important albums in the history of black American music: Gil Scott-Heron "Pieces Of A Man".

 

will you partake in this format return?

 

Never thought they would make a comeback 

Binned every one I owned years ago , no regrets either back in the day they were great but today I prefer the ease of CDs now to convert back to even buying vinyl again so cassettes are definitely a no no , still got a player and a turntable though and the records collected over the years . 

No regardless of the artist or artists. I rarely play the couple of hundred cds I own so definitely won't return to cassettes. 

Not a chance.

Absolutely not. Same for 8-track cartridges, in case any record executives have got more bright ideas.

Cassettes never completely went away, did they? They just lost popularity over the years and, like vinyl did a decade ago or more, are now enjoying a resurgence of interest and increased sales - as a blog post from Discogs points out:

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Since 2015, the number of cassette releases added to the Discogs Database has increased almost every year. Part of this growth can be attributed to the number of new cassettes being released. Incredibly popular artists like Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift have all released their recent albums on cassette in addition to vinyl, CD, and digital formats. We’ve also seen a return to cassettes in underground music. Bands like Poison Ruïn have kept the DIY cassette alive by self-releasing their own recordings, while labels like Sacred Bones offer cassette versions of the latest Molchat Doma and John Carpenter albums. 

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The data also shows that older releases are being discovered or rediscovered as the amount of tapes listed for sale has grown significantly over the last several years. In 2020, over 600,600 cassettes were listed for sale on Discogs. This year [2021] still has a few months to go and we have already seen more than 1,000,000 cassette tapes listed for sale this year. 

Given the significant growth in interest, particularly among younger music fans, it makes sense that Ace should target the cassette sector. That said, while I still have a twin tape deck as part of my sound system, I very rarely use it, and thus won't be adding to my meagre collection of about 60-or-so aged cassettes.

https://blog.discogs.com/en/cassette-trend-popularity-sales-2021/

 

NO IVE RUN OUT OF PENCILS !!!

23 minutes ago, Steviehay said:

NO IVE RUN OUT OF PENCILS !!!

stock up on sellotape and razor blades or those later posh repair kits for when ya overdo the winding 

 

has there been any improvements to the technonogy, as in the actual players , as in do you still get that background hum?

56 minutes ago, Source said:

...do you still get that background hum?

Background hum? Can't say I've ever noticed a background hum when playing tapes - no matter what the tape player.

22 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Background hum? Can't say I've ever noticed a background hum when playing tapes - no matter what the tape player.

the hum ya get as soon as you press play

If vinyl is like eating chocolate, cassettes are eating chocolate with the silver paper still on.

13 minutes ago, Source said:

the hum ya get as soon as you press play

Never experienced that at all.

7 minutes ago, Leicester Boy said:

If vinyl is like eating chocolate, cassettes are eating chocolate with the silver paper still on.

As above, not in my experience.

3 hours ago, Source said:

stock up on sellotape and razor blades or those later posh repair kits for when ya overdo the winding 

 

has there been any improvements to the technonogy, as in the actual players , as in do you still get that background hum?

No improvements. Most go for the "old" cassette decks. Where some vintage models are even prized by audiophiles of the strangest nature I admit. Nostalgia plays a big part in there I believe rather than pure playback maginificence. But the rvival of the cassette has been going on for years and is still growing amongst "young" small group or acts.

Original, easier and cheaper to DIY manufacture than vinyl. FWIW those cassette machines are actually fairly simple to fix for any techie with the proper tools. They can sound good on a good amp & speakers. Nothing like our kid's days "trash" effort to make swappers tapes. But what a thrill that was discovering records that way... Nostalgia moment (      ).

As Am'dam Russel pointed out not a 'hum' (= ground loop issue) but more like a 'pink noise' symptom. Like 'strong wind blowing in your ear' if you will. Higher end tapes with higher end cassette player will improve that 'pink noise' pollution but I was a prole and only had the cheap gear as a teen and enjoyed them cassettes loud and proud with 'pink noise'.

I remember reading decades ago how it was invented as a Dictaphone, and when used for music, the quality was instantly halved (for stereo)

 

I would imagine the cost of making tapes would far out weigh any sales profit (if there is any).

New vinyl releases are one thing, but for tapes can't see any appeal unless you have a vintage car with original car radio/tape in it.  

 

I went through a period of buying tapes when I bought my first car in the last 80s. Sometimes they contained a bonus track which wasn't on the LP. They've been filed away for over 30 years but I had heard recently that there's starting to be a fresh demand for them.

 

4 minutes ago, Supercorsa said:

I would imagine the cost of making tapes would far out weigh any sales profit (if there is any).

New vinyl releases are one thing, but for tapes can't see any appeal unless you have a vintage car with original car radio/tape in it.  

Costs for beginner self promoting "artists" are not calculated in profit terms most of the time (besides daddy's or mommy's spoiled brat) but as how to do with what one has in the pocket without losing it all at the same time while making sure to keep enough spare change for a last beer...

New vinyl release for small projects are often over expensive for what they are and are too often poorly and unproperly mastered (through overkill digital stages) for a disastrous pressing release making the buyer admit I liked the gig though while the record is playing for the first and last time.

On the contrary it's rather catching (OK like a 'niche' thing) as it's appreciated by the elder ones who knew the format and will have a "memory" geeky object next to the gig ticket. As for the younger ones it's a financial support for the artists even though they can only play their music digitally...

5 minutes ago, Daved said:

 

I went through a period of buying tapes when I bought my first car in the last 80s. Sometimes they contained a bonus track which wasn't on the LP. They've been filed away for over 30 years but I had heard recently that there's starting to be a fresh demand for them.

 

Occasional phono gear fixer and seller I once had 3 decent cassette decks (of the good kind) at once that I sold within 3 months time. That was a year ago. One was not even fixed nor even revised by me as I didn't want to spend time and money in it and was bought 'as is'.

Now I'm out of any cassette players but if I had any I would sell them easy by now. Cult artists with commonly completists fans collect cassettes for a long while now. With some rare items fetching decent dosh. Prince would be one but likely earlier tapes for better money.

I converted many of my cassettes to cdrs a few years back and gave the remainder away. Quite a few of them were used by a mate’s son as samples for beats at the studio where he worked. Good to see the music therein used positively.

I’m unlikely to buy a cassette again but then I’m not the market.