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a cassette will cost you a third of what an LP will, while offering you that same sense of physical ownership. but it puts everyone – major label, indie label, local band, bedroom improviser, mixtape compiler, bootlegger – on the same level. cheap to make, easy to do in very tiny limited runs, easy to make into beautiful objects.
the affordability and the small form factor make them easy to keep picking up - at any merch stand, bandcamp page, overseas record store or charity shop. even if I do most of my listening digitally these days, it's a lovely treat to bring the walkman out if I'm walking into town.
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I was skeptical at first thinking it was solely a nostalgia-chasing trend, but I found out quickly that tape cassettes can sound really great! I think the lo-fi bias comes from our collective memory of car decks that were never cleaned and tapes that baked on Toyota Corolla dashboards for years. I was able to find a decent used Sony player, and then I realized the real benefits:
1. A lot of bands still release cassettes. It's cheaper for them to make, which means you don't have to drop $25 just to support a band you like
2. Used cassettes are SO CHEAP. It's a bit of a gamble on the quality, but when we're talking a couple dollars for a decent copy of your favorite album, it's a no-brainer. I have a local shop where I'm able to get them to check out whether they look ok or not.
3. It's the perfect middle ground between the frictionless aspect of streaming (where we fall into that "analysis paralysis"), and the slow, purposeful ritual of listening to a vinyl record from front to back. When you pop a tape in, you still get to bring it wherever, but you'll likely commit to it all the way through.
I can say so much more about the technical aspects, but maybe I'll save it unless people have questions.
Feb 29, 2024
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now i love buying vinyl. i think the sound quality is better and it's fun to build out a physical collection of my favorite music. BUT, they are SO expensive that for a person not made of money like myself, i can only splurge on one every once and awhile. seriously, like 30 dollars for a vinyl i just cannot justify sometimes.
BUY A CASSETTE PLAYER AND BUY CASSETTES!!! this has become my new favorite way to build out a music collection while still enjoying the physicality of a tape. also tapes are just so cheap compared to vinyl. go to your local record store and they should have boxes just overflowing with tapes going anywhere from 1 dollar to like 10 MAXIMUM. at this point i just buy random 1 dollar tapes in the hope that i am exposed to some new music i haven't heard before, and i am always pleased!!
now is the sound quality a little worse? yes, but that is a trade-off i am willing to make at this point. also most portable cassette players have radio functions, and nothing is better than falling asleep to AM radio.
Feb 14, 2025
Started collecting Cassettes a year ago. Results?
Pros;
-great to show off to house guests
-less expensive in the long run
-physically playing music = good for the soul
-keeps you off your phone
-keeps you patient and makes you appreciate the music more
-good excuse to go into music shops and have fun!
-cheaper than vinyl!
Cons;
-Static noise underneath music
-Expensive in the short-term than a Spotify subscription
-requires batteries
-less options for albums/artists than vinyl (newer music = more money)
-tape can get ruined easily if not taken care of
In the end, it's up to you! Collecting things is a fun hobby anyways and collecting something that gives back (tunes and sick beats!) is worth it.
Feb 9, 2025
Top Recs from @colm
the simplicity of exploring around on Google Earth meets the infinity of local radio from every single pocket of the globe. the thrill of the hunt and the joy of just hanging out. it doesn't get better than this folks
Dec 4, 2024
it's only like 11°C outside in Dublin right now but the sensation of sunlight helps to elevate the cruel existence of Computer Work. so, fuck it! balcony season! allowing the Macbook to experience its true natural habitat of Somewhere That Isn't My Desk has made me a bit more appreciative of its possibilities. last summer I took the idea to its logical end point and brought my cheap usb dj controller out on the balcony with me, recording DJ sets for nobody in particular on my headphones as the sun sets. those days approach once more. now if only I could solve the glare problem
4d ago
Jan 7, 2025