3 ms·

Cassette is such an interesting medium. Bands, fans and labels have told me they like it because it's analog not digital, portable (unlike vinyl), cheap and qui

Cassette is such an interesting medium. Bands, fans and labels have told me they like it because it's analog not digital, portable (unlike vinyl), cheap and quick to manufacture (vinyl isn't economical for small runs or quick turnarounds between recording and tour, which small bands need). But if you started designing a medium around these requirements from scratch today, would you design a cassette?

ghaff 9y ago
I'm not sure what you'd design because, honestly, I have trouble understanding why analog is a feature rather than a bug. Because it's a little harder to replicate and distribute further?
- logicfiction 9y ago
  One aspect can be that it turns the audio itself into a physical medium that decays with environment. There are related factors to how audio is reproduced from analog formats as well that change the character of the sound. Perfect fidelity is one goal for music listening that digital was taking to the ultimate end. But there's an opposing goal of having individual character, slight warping of a vinyl creating modulation wobbles and similar for tape. For me I liken it to how people find electronic music more interesting when dynamic articulations are added to the parameters of the sounds. For example, varying the amplitude of the hi hats will make it sound more natural and appealing versus just playing the sample back perfectly at equal amplitude every time. Variation can add detail. It's a bit different in how it happens with a vinyl or cassette, but still within those bounds.
- Kluny 9y ago
  I would guess that it's because you don't need any kind of computer in the play back device. It can be mechanical and therefore very simple.
  - jbergens 9y ago
    Simple as in easy to understand, yes. But probably more expensive. An mp3 player doesn't cost much.
    - Kluny 9y ago
      For a tape player? I feel like my old sony radio/tape deck was like $15.

ghaff 9y ago

I'm not sure what you'd design because, honestly, I have trouble understanding why analog is a feature rather than a bug. Because it's a little harder to replicate and distribute further?

logicfiction 9y ago
One aspect can be that it turns the audio itself into a physical medium that decays with environment. There are related factors to how audio is reproduced from analog formats as well that change the character of the sound. Perfect fidelity is one goal for music listening that digital was taking to the ultimate end. But there's an opposing goal of having individual character, slight warping of a vinyl creating modulation wobbles and similar for tape. For me I liken it to how people find electronic music more interesting when dynamic articulations are added to the parameters of the sounds. For example, varying the amplitude of the hi hats will make it sound more natural and appealing versus just playing the sample back perfectly at equal amplitude every time. Variation can add detail. It's a bit different in how it happens with a vinyl or cassette, but still within those bounds.
Kluny 9y ago
I would guess that it's because you don't need any kind of computer in the play back device. It can be mechanical and therefore very simple.
- jbergens 9y ago
  Simple as in easy to understand, yes. But probably more expensive. An mp3 player doesn't cost much.
  - Kluny 9y ago
    For a tape player? I feel like my old sony radio/tape deck was like $15.