Blank cassette tapes are an art form of sorts
April 26th, 2008
Blank cassette tapes are an art form of sorts. They have been used for decades to compile long lists of songs to capture moments of time. Some people gave them as tokens of their affections; others gave them as ways to pass on new music to their friends. These could also continue around in other circles and pass from friend to friend as music tastes continue on.
Before the evolution of MP3s I had to listen to the radio for hours together to catch my favorite song. I would be able to record those songs on blank cassette tapes with a bit of luck. However this was never perfect and a lot of trial and error method was to be adopted. In my search for the perfect mix tape I had to record plenty of DJ small talk and commercials.
Some people even stretch their artistic abilities to the blank cassette labels. Those can be decorated with markers and stickers. Quite often, when a blank cassette tape was a gift a creative name was made up and decorated appropriately. This really was an art form in and of itself. It was not just about the music it held, it was also about the presentation.
As technology has improved, new ways of recording have evolved. Blank cassette tapes have made way for CDs and DVDs. There also is a whole new system of digital audio tape to improve recording. And also with the invention of mp3s, recording mixes got even easier. Now you could download any song from the internet and burn it to a CD. And you could even print a CD label when you are done!
Many people would like to have good old blank cassette tapes for recording. Some people prefer to sign up for online communities and swap their own cassette mixes with others, which enables them to expand their music knowledge. These people have a lot of fun and get exposed to different music as they go all over the country and the world.
For all the subsequent technological wonders we have seen, the blank cassette tape left an indelible mark on the public. It made it possible for us to creatively mix our own music for the first time, a skill we have since refined with MP3s and CDs. Still, you never forget your first mix tape.
Blank cassette tapes were used to record/compile songs of special moments and given as gifts or for circulation among friends. Prior to MP3 days one has to listen to radio to hear his favorite song and record on tape. However, this is not a foolproof method. Blank cassette labels with creative ideas can decorate with stickers/marker pens. The presentation is important for the gift, in addition to the music itself. New recording technology with DVDs/CDs and the digital audio tape gives improved quality. MP3s facilitate your own mixes. Online groups discuss/buy/sell/trade mixes. In spite of changes in Technology tapes will exist and it is fun mixing tape.