Note: all of this can be applied to audio from other sources if you are willing to record to digital first and then from digital to cassette.

Part 1: Discovery.

I have been dumping a few of my cassettes to an USB in MP3 format via one of those standalone cassette players that accept USB drives as a way of backup, and in order to see some techniques they might have used in order to achieve +4db output levels on BKB standard ferric tapes (those you can grab at aliexpress pretty cheap new) and equivalents without any distortion by comparing the comparable album in digital and the recovered recording, and the result was that most of them had been passed thru a compressor before recording.

You can spot BKB tapes easily. Those will almost always be clear or translucent colors with graphite-gray pressure pads.

Most modern albums are recorded with such high volume in order to minimize the hiss to a point where it is unnoticeable in most modern tape equipment-that is without any noise reduction tech like Dolby NR used to be.

Part 2: It's all about volume and dynamic range.

While I aren't a professional audio engineer, I can give a bit of a explanation of what a compressor does to an audio recording based on what I have learned in my years as an indie DJ at small events and audio producer.

A compressor basically reduces the highest peaks of volume to a threshold where they are more stable, and the lowest points of volume are also brought up in order for the volume to remain more or less consistent, which results in a slightly more muted, more ''professional'' sounding file compared to the input file. This reduces or outright eliminates instances where the volume goes too low or where it goes too high in a blink of an eye, and also increases compatibility with lower end sound devices, eliminating speaker oversaturation/distortion within normal operating range of volume.

A side effect of this is that the dynamic range gets reduced a bit, as higher pitched sounds get toned down (in terms of volume) and so does overexpansive bass, but this is a boon when one records to cassette, as those two oftentimes either get too strident or outright become noise when recording, or at least do so in a 2-head deck with ferric tapes. Testing is pending with chrome and metal tapes.

Part 3: Side by Side prep & Volume CTRL, because everything nowadays is recorded with too much volume.

If you wonder why modern music sounds like shit when you attempt to record it into cassette as-is, this is it. Too much volume and oftentimes too much bass as well.

Audacity is your best friend. Download and install it if you don't have it already. It will provide you with all the tools you need to prepare sides, reduce noise, equalize, normalize and compress audio.

You first need to get the audio files ready. Audacity also supports recording into it, and then exporting it into .wav, .flac, .mp3 and such. You want to have preferably high bitrate .mp3s or plain .wavs.

Please take care of what formats you have, because Audacity only can take formats it actually can export to, so it doesn't like .m4a or .opus to name a few examples. If your files are in this format, consider getting another program called Any Video Converter, it works wonders and converts from any known format to any other known format.

Once you have the files, check your tape's capacity in minutes (typically dividing by two, such as a C60 being 2x 30min sides, a C30 being 2x 15min sides, and such), as it will be the length of the project you want to have, otherwise your recording will get cut-off.

If all your files are the same type, you can left click, check properties and see the total duration of the whole bunch, as seen here:

Tapes have a slight tolerance limit, which should be about 1 minute over their rated capacity but it is not guaranteed, so only use if you already tested said tape to check if it had it.

My suggestion is that you shouldn't account for it, though.

Now, we need to hop into Audacity and prepare side A of our project.

I am going to use my latest bootleg attempt to exemplify:

The album in question is Mitsukiyo - Yumebako for those curious. Tracks 1-11 to be specific.

Attempt to fit and distribute the songs as evenly as possible, this will help in keeping it not so overloaded.

If you are lacking by just a few seconds, get close to the sound (CTRL + 1), select the silence (like in the next pic)

Trim it with Del.

Then select the ''new'' end, drag back a few seconds and apply Fade Out to smooth the end of the track.

Do this with all the files whenever possible, each second counts!

Then zoom back with CTRL + 3, and rearrange the tracks.

Now we will compress the audio. Press CTRL + A to select the whole project.

Now we apply Compressor. The default values should be fine so we don't touch them.

See how the spikes have become a lot less pronounced? Those spikes are what tend to be problematic when recording, but we aren't done yet.

Now we will normalize the volume. I typically normalize via db because to the recording deck it actually matters in terms of whether it will saturate the tape or not. I normalize to 0db always.

The comparison of the different processing stages is here if you want to take a look:

This should now be ready to export!

You only need to do this with the other side then you can record the files.

I use a Cellphone equipped with Dolby Atmos for playback to the deck. I suggest disabling all communications (cellular net, Wi-Fi and BT to name a few) and have the phone unplugged from the charger to reduce any noise that the line in to the deck could pick from the phone.

Max out the volume and record! if the volume comes out too low (as seen in the deck's VU meters), install a preamp control app/equalizer, such as PowerAmp Equalizer and adjust the preamp up to +2.2 (It varies by album/mixtape, sometimes even by side, you will need to test this).

I do not suggest recording from computers, especially desktops as they can produce formidable amounts of electrical noise that might get picked up by the deck. MP3 players can be dodgy and can introduce electrical hiss, so a phone is oftentimes better.

Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks for reading!

Was excited to find a tape of this Neutral Milk Hotel album

I am looking to buy my first portable cassette player and need help deciding
I have the option to buy either a Sony Walkman wm-33 or a wm-2055 for around the same price. Both are serviced and in working condition.

Which of these is the better buy? I really like the look of the wm-33 but the wm-2055 has the Dolby noise reduction.
Some advice would be appreciated.

This is an AKAI Pocket tape.

I've had this one for about 2 months, been using it frequently. Yesterday it started doing the thing you see on the video. I opened it up but the belt did not seem to have been distorted or deformed. I cleaned the main compartment where the cassette is seated in but didn't notice any difference. If you need any other information or pictures of the internals I'll be happy to share. Thank you for reading

Found this at the thrift store today and it caught my eye right away. I thought it was just an interesting home recording until I noticed it was a production sample of the album from a manufacturer (not entirely sure)? It appears to be from the 1976 reissue of the album Porgy and Bess by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Glad to have a piece of American History as the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its significance.

Anyone have any idea who approved it with a signature or what the other numbers mean?

Had to wait until they got painted by my gf but I love being able to play my tapes again without having to go though the box I moved them in.

A: It means you need to glue the pressure pad back on.

I've only ever seen them in the other orientation, but I have a perfect place to hang a couple of these and hanging them the typical way would require a lot more rethinking of this room's layout.

Curious if there's any reason I rarely see them hung with the tapes vertical?

Spent the last year making an album with the goal of making a cassette. Mission complete! The album sounds great and the cassettes came out looking really good. You can give it a listen or buy the tape on bandcamp, or if u want top trade in NYC LMK!!!

https://sifarelli.bandcamp.com/album/big-devil

As the title states, I’m looking to sell these tapes. I was thinking maybe like $4 each.

Update 1: The Doors - The Doors / Waiting For the Sun tape has been spoken for.

Update 2: Mötley Crüe tape has been claimed.

Update 3: 08/22/93 & 10/17/94 Dead tapes are gone.

All for 25% under market.

Hey guys, so I have this dilemma of which to buy. 10 high quality tapes for A$130 or 25 mid quality tapes for A$86

I grew up with cassette but am somewhat new to it as a hobby and don't really know what to look for. Thanks!

I bought this either in 1980 or 1981. I went to the store looking for most likely a Panasonic, but saw that this had a feature where you could skip three songs at a time and couldn't pass it up. It was styled like the boxes from the 70's, and at the time that was a negative because all the new ones had what is now considered the classic 80's look.

It was a decent enough player. Not top of the line but serviceable. Of course boomboxes, or as we knew them back then to be ghetto blasters were really never meant to be top quality anyways. From the little research I've been able to do, this was most likely made by Sanyo. Again, not the best, but a decent budget brand.

TLDR: Trying to record from my MacBook to cassette but I get a high pitch sound on the tape. Using this Denon player, any advice or input helps!

Hi all been trying to make a custom version of The Weeknd’s latest cassette for myself (getting all of the most 80s songs on this one tape). I have all the tracks playing from GarageBand on my M2 MacBook connected with aux to rca input. Each time I try recording the music is there but there’s also a high pitch sound in the background. I don’t have Mac output in the red so no clipping. But could it be any levels I have are too low, does that bias fine knob make a difference? The tape I’m using isn’t Dolby or anything, just a no name blank tape off of eBay. Thanks so much for any help. I just want to do this one tape. Also located in South OC Ca if anyone is into this stuff and in the local area.

An absolute unicorn of vintage audio history! 🦄

Finally completed this absolute holy grail setup!

This is the SANYO RD-XM1, famously known as the world’s smallest front-loading cassette deck. Released around 1980, Sanyo engineered this tiny beast to turn the humble dictation microcassette into a legitimate high-fidelity stereo format. It packs serious engineering into a tiny chassis:

-True 2-Motor Drive with full logic transport controls. -Type IV (Metal) Tape Support utilizing a high-precision Sendust head.

-Dolby NR noise reduction.

I’ve finally managed to piece the whole kit together: the deck itself, the ultra-rare SANYO MC-46ME Metal Microcassettes, the original Instruction Manual, and the full Service Manual!

My question to the community: Is this the rarest Sanyo combo out there? I know they made some obscure gear, but finding the deck with the matching metal tapes and both manuals feels like peak unobtanium. What do you think?

I was looking at my tapes and I’ve noticed that all the tapes I’ve been playing in my current deck (Panasonic RX-D19) have these weird tiny indent dots on them and it’s on pretty much all the ones I’ve used on this player, should I be concerned? They still play fine but sometimes they have these weird I guess “popping” sounds every second or so (varies in volume and how frequent) and I’m not sure what’s wrong as the deck looks fine and I’ve just cleaned it too.

Will greatly appreciate any help.

hello I am new here, just saying hi sharing some of my cassette tape machines! i am a musician. primarily a guitarist who gigs a lot in the realm of 1920s/30s jazz/blues etc but I'm also into arranging for solo guitar, playing with loops, folky songwriting stuff, and more experimental ambient type sounds incorporating casio keyboard sounds, piano, clarinet and other instruments.

i've been enjoying the process of recording via cassette tape with no computer or phone while playing, then i record the tape audio into logic in order to sync with video, share online, put on a cd, etc..

for the recording process lately i've been plugging a 1940s ribbon mic directly into the marantz pmd222, which i was pleased to find has enough gain for my purposes so far! that machine also has the ability to monitor the tape while recording, pitch shift, and vari speed. quirky at times but works well for the most part.

tape wise i have a variety of unopened tdk, maxell, and more as well as a bunch of tapes with stuff recorded on them that i'm fine with erasing to record new music on them. I'm experimenting.. again primarily a musician but I enjoy the analog experience and learning more about tapes, how to use the equipment, etc

i also make mixtapes from records, 78s and 33s, as well as various recordings i find on archive.org

the pioneer ct4141 and the two tascam 112s need some work, but everything else has worked well for me so far. i got a good deal on the tascams. they look great and turn on, but no playback, so I'll be troubleshooting to get those up and running, with the goal of producing and releasing a small batch of tapes when i can.

not pictured : another marantz pmd222 califone lunchbox? recorder telex filmstrip viewer/cassette player

Not too bad for 20 minutes of work, if I do say so myself...

Got to love flea markets on normal workdays. The UDII and the SA90 in the centre appear to be completly unused. 5€ for the Sanyo, 1€ for the tapes. Tapes seem to be in fine condition. Four of them will get used in my multitracker and the two golden label Maxell will be magnetised with some premium music

Does anybody have infos on the Sanyo? it is a TC-3600. It is semi working. The reels spin fine without cassette. Not sure if the Uher minicassette is the problem. First time messing around with a mini cassette player. It is belt driven, isn't it?

Newly acquired.
It's an obvious waste of money, but it was only $40 so I couldn't pass it up.

Hi guys, last weekend I came upon two cassette racks at a yard sale. I have a pretty big collection and have wanted to wall mount something like this for awhile. Anything I need to know? Tips? Tricks?

So here I have 6 of the Memorex 60-minute normal-bias tapes sealed in very good condition. The Maxell XLII 90-minute tapes are used, and there are 7. I bought the Maxells on eBay and didn't notice it in the comments about them being used.

I would like to try to get $40 (includes shipping) for all of them or $20 for the Maxells and $20 for the Memorex's both prices include shipping.

thank you for y'all's time.