Cassettivity

[Shaffer]

Some may recall a piece on S'phile's site (it may have appeared in the book, as well) by SM discussing cassettivity.com:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/cassettivity

I'm s sucker for new, grass roots-type recordings so I ordered about a dozen new cassettes, bought a minty mint - although kinda poor-sounding - Tascam 112 (love having it, even just to look at. Seriously), and a Nak that sounds fairly decent. I also dug out some of my old tapes from the '80s, recorded on a similar Nak, and I'm having a blast! No, this isn't "Best Sound" by far, but it is riot to play with.

Has anyone else listened to the newer cassette releases? Even though the answer is likely obvious, I thought this might be fun to talk about.

 

[Andre Marc]

Some may recall a piece on S'phile's site (it may have appeared in the book, as well) by SM discussing cassettivity.com:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/cassettivity

I'm s sucker for new, grass roots-type recordings so I ordered about a dozen new cassettes, bought a minty mint - although kinda poor-sounding - Tascam 112 (love having it, even just to look at. Seriously), and a Nak that sounds fairly decent. I also dug out some of my old tapes from the '80s, recorded on a similar Nak, and I'm having a blast! No, this isn't "Best Sound" by far, but it is riot to play with.

Has anyone else listened to the newer cassette releases? Even though the answer is likely obvious, I thought this might be fun to talk about.

Another retro hipster revival.

 

[Shaffer]

Another retro hipster revival.

You mean the idea of exposure to music by artists who don't/can't follow traditional distribution channels? Okey-dokey.

Out of sheer curiosity, Andre, how old are you?

Edit: ATM, I'm spinning Thai Funk Vol2, a 20-track compilation. A (Thai) cover of Hot Stuff is filling the room right now. I'm all grins:

http://cassettivity.com/catalogue/?item=96

 

[Andre Marc]

You mean the idea of exposure to music by artists who don't/can't follow traditional distribution channels? Okey-dokey.

Out of sheer curiosity, Andre, how old are you?

Edit: ATM, I'm spinning Thai Funk Vol2, a 20-track compilation. A (Thai) cover of Hot Stuff is filling the room right now. I'm all grins:

http://cassettivity.com/catalogue/?item=96

I just turned 45.

Felix, I can't imagine artists CAN'T follow traditional music channels. It is obvious they choose to use cassettes.

Thai Funk? You sir, have my attention!

I have quite a few similar collections from Cambodia, Nigeria, and Ghana.

 

[Shaffer]

I just turned 45.

Fair enough. FWIW, I'm 49.

Felix, I can't imagine artists CAN'T follow traditional music channels. It is obvious they choose to use cassettes.

I wasn't being literal. Anything is possible. The point centered on the discovery of music by less conventional artists, which you dismissed solely as a fashion statement. Of course they choose to use cassettes; it's all a part of their artistic expression. Some runs are as small as 50 pieces.

Thai Funk? You sir, have my attention!

I found a LP in Austria for ~$50 shipped.

 

[Andre Marc]

Fair enough. FWIW, I'm 49.



I wasn't being literal. Anything is possible. The point centered on the discovery of music by less conventional artists, which you dismissed solely as a fashion statement. Of course they choose to use cassettes; it's all a part of their artistic expression. Some runs are as small as 50 pieces.



I found a LP in Austria for ~$50 shipped.

Actually, I am glad you posted. This has turned into the Jplay and Computer Audio Forum, and
its wearing thin.

FYI, I still have a perfectly good functioning Kenwood deck that I have over the years made excellent recording
with.

Back in the day the Nak Dragon was the stuff dreams were made of. I remember seeing them in stores and thinking
life would be complete if I could have one.

 

[Shaffer]

Actually, I am glad you posted. This has turned into the Jplay and Computer Audio Forum, and
its wearing thin.

FYI, I still have a perfectly good functioning Kenwood deck that I have over the years made excellent recording
with.

.... might be something to have a little fun with.

Back in the day the Nak Dragon was the stuff dreams were made of. I remember seeing them in stores and thinking life would be complete if I could have one.

A friend bought a brand new Dragon. That was years ago. The thing was stunningly gorgeous in a very manly sort of way. I kid you not, it spent more time in the shop than it did in his system. So disappointing, I'm sure more for him than for me.

FWIW, a story on cassettes by the WSJ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9TccPAgvU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ect212UsVs

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Is this where folks are hiding out from jplay? I've got a nice old Teac in my toolshed....

Tim

 

[Andre Marc]

.... might be something to have a little fun with.



A friend bought a brand new Dragon. That was years ago. The thing was stunningly gorgeous in a very manly sort of way. I kid you not, it spent more time in the shop than it did in his system. So disappointing, I'm sure more for him than for me.

FWIW, a story on cassettes by the WSJ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9TccPAgvU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ect212UsVs

Thanks for the links!

Too bad about the mighty Dragon. I was unaware it had reliability issues. I guess it was like the Lamoborghini of tape decks.

 

[Andre Marc]

Is this where folks are hiding out from jplay? I've got a nice old Teac in my toolshed....

Tim

Dig it out!

Yes, here is your refuge. It boggles the mind how those threads are going no where and how much music I have listened
in the meantime via my network where Jplay and Jriver are utterly meaningless.

 

[NorthStar]

The best thing about cassette tape decks and cassette tapes is that they are now almost free!

The worst thing about cassette tape decks and cassette tapes is that they ....

* Anyone here truly cares if I still have my three heads JVC, Nikko, Akai, Teac with DBS, Denon, ? ...and I forgot the rest.
- Cassette tapes? ...Few thousands of those, and even my blanks were some of the most expensive ones (Metal from Maxell and TDK).

' Bout S-VHS tapes to record music only? ...That worked too. ...From LPs and CDs.

 

[Drikus]

Some may recall a piece on S'phile's site (it may have appeared in the book, as well) by SM discussing cassettivity.com:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/cassettivity

I'm s sucker for new, grass roots-type recordings so I ordered about a dozen new cassettes, bought a minty mint - although kinda poor-sounding - Tascam 112 (love having it, even just to look at. Seriously), and a Nak that sounds fairly decent. I also dug out some of my old tapes from the '80s, recorded on a similar Nak, and I'm having a blast! No, this isn't "Best Sound" by far, but it is riot to play with.

Has anyone else listened to the newer cassette releases? Even though the answer is likely obvious, I thought this might be fun to talk about.

Thx for the link! Still have my Sony TC-KA3ES in the attic. Loved making mixtapes from LP's

 

[Shaffer]

Thx for the link! Still have my Sony TC-KA3ES in the attic. Loved making mixtapes from LP's

Wanna sell it?

 

[Drikus]

Wanna sell it?

Looked at some old set-up pics and it's a TC-KA6ES I've got, not a TC-KA3ES;

I'm not selling mine but you can still find one on ebay now and then.

 

[NorthStar]

It doesn't have Left & Right microphone inputs.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

It doesn't have Left & Right microphone inputs.

It shouldn't! Cassette had it's challenges just duplicating good recordings. Making recordings? Not good. I had one of those 4-track multi-channel Teacs for awhile. It would build up grunge faster than the undercarriage of a 69 Buick in rural Arkansas. I also had one of the big Teacs that mulit-tracked on 10" reels at 15 ips. Better.

Tim

 

[Shaffer]

Picked up another deck today - a Denon DR-M11. Mint. ~45 out the door. It seems to do a decent job on pre-recorded tapes, perhaps a bit better than my Nak. Spinning Rob Wasserman's Duets ATM.

I stopped in at a local record store that still has thousands of brand new cassettes. Bought a couple that should be well-recorded, but my main interest lies with new, obscure music, so I ordered a few more titles from Cassettivity.

BTW, if anyone has a quality deck they'd like to sell, plese shoot me a PM.

 

[NorthStar]

It shouldn't! Cassette had it's challenges just duplicating good recordings. Making recordings? Not good. I had one of those 4-track multi-channel Teacs for awhile. It would build up grunge faster than the undercarriage of a 69 Buick in rural Arkansas. I also had one of the big Teacs that mulit-tracked on 10" reels at 15 ips. Better.

Tim

Thing is this Tim: Even a tape cassette deck with integrated stereo (L & R) mic preamp I can make 'reel' good use of it myself, them mic jacks.
And I did just that in the past: I connected a CD recorder to it, using the analog connections (of course), and while pausing the tape deck by engaging the Record/Pause button, I adjusted the balance levels of both L & R mics, and finally sat down and played my own acoustic guitar. ...Perfect CD!

I did much more, but you get the suite of the possibilities (which were established and performed by I in all their various direct contentment).
...Like amplified instruments directly plugged in those mic jacks. ...I made a bunch of my own CD recordings that way, instead of making tape cassette recordings from my own music playing. ...Those were made in the seventies (cassette recordings).

You are a musician yourself also Tim; I am certain that your level of innovation and originality and creation must be on an equal level as I. :b
What used to be is still very reel today.

 

[Shaffer]

Apparently, someone used the golden screwdriver on my Tascam 122, as it's way out of azimuth. It likely has other issues, as well. I did record a couple of tapes and I have to tell you guys, the sound was gripping: dynamic and powerful. Powerful. It's the only descriptor that comes to mind. I've never heard a cassette sound that way. So, tomorrow I'm sending it out to the 122 specialist to be serviced. I'm already anxious to get it back, and it's still in my room.

BTW, I'm listening to Another Brick in the Wall. The Thai version. Way too fun to be legal.