Cassettes vs. CDs

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

I may be in a minority with a member count of one, but I prefer audio cassettes over compact discs.

CDs are nice for skipping straight to the song you want to hear. It is nice not to have to rewind a CD. But with respect to the sound, I think cassettes were better.

Some people tell me that vinyl was even better. I don't know. I'm not that old .

Do any music majors out there want to inject your thoughts?

 

[cjedick]

I don't know a whole lot about cassettes, expect that many of the CD Replication companies (since I'm a musician who was looking for ways to provide my music) try to get the cassettes to sound most like CDs...that probably means that cassettes aren't as high quality as CDs; but that may not be true. I imagine someone else can answer that.

Personally, I don't think cassettes sound as good as CDs. Also, I HATE THE FACT that they can get all tangled up!!!! And sometimes you have to wind them with your pinkie to get them tight before putting them in your "tape player." Tape was an interesting concept. But it will go the way of vinyl.

I DO know that vinyl is generally mastered differently than digital audio. In that case, vinyl record should usually sound different than its sister CD. I generally enjoy vinyl. I don't know if it is the sound or the novelty that I like, however. Also, you have to consider that the sound quality for vinyl will depend on how long the record is. If it's a longer record and the grooves have to be cramped together, BASS usually gets quieter and quieter--thereby making it lower and lower quality. At least that's how I remember it, when I was considering pressing some vinyl albums. Fortunately, vinyl usually sounds pretty dang good. Sorry that I said "dang," but I don't want to get in trouble for TALKING.

 

[BOJAX]

Cassettes are absolutely HORRIBLE. 4 tracks crammed onto 1/8 tape isn't going to sound as good as digital audio.

However...

Reel to reel 1/4 or larger tapes sound FAR BETTER (imo) than digital audio. Analog has more dynamic than digital, which sounds very flat to me in comparison.

Vinyl to me is at the same level as r2r tapes. However, depending on the storage of tapes, some vinyls sound better than their masters. That is what some labels fail to realize when they make comps of older, and rare material. A clean pressed disc is going to sound far better than poorly stored tapes.

 

[The Theory]

tapes are a pain in the hang.

and the sound ain't so hot, either.

and i absolutely adored it as a kid when my favorite tape got eaten by the tape player.

 

[Oblivious]

CDs are sooooo much better than cassettes IMO.

- The sound quality is 100X better.
- They'll last forever if you take care of them (while cassettes sound worse and worse the more you use them).
- You can easily find a song on a CD. Finding the beginning of a song on a cassette is a royal pain - rewinding, fast forward, etc. etc.
- CDs just look cooler.

 

[Macewindu77815]

Mp3's are the ways to go now...

 

[foo-oswald]

I prefer audio cassettes over compact discs.

 

[jesusrocks85]

heh, mcs sucks compared to cds

 

[* kittie *]

Mp3's are the ways to go now...

lol i would agree too...

hmm CDs > cassettes. the whole unwinding thing... >.< lol

 

[Lecarde]

I like the sound of tapes. I like analog sound better in general. But with the right equipment/software, you can make digital audio sound almost exactly like analog. I have a vinyl collection and love it

 

[ArmouredSaint]

CDs are sooooo much better than cassettes IMO. The sound quality is 100X better.
- They'll last forever if you take care of them (while cassettes sound worse and worse the more you use them).
- You can easily find a song on a CD. Finding the beginning of a song on a cassette is a royal pain - rewinding, fast forward, etc. etc.
- CDs just look cooler.

Agree 100% hate tapes,esp in the car trying to find a certain song.I still have a few too.Somewhere!

 

[Qyöt27]

Although the sound of a tape (in my case, taped from radio) is generally worse clarity-wise, I actually prefer it in many cases because CD sound often has too much of one element or too much of another, whereas on tape (and this is probably because I taped from radio, so it was pre-equalized) the balance is a lot more satisfying.

That said, I need to transfer my cassettes to CD whenever I get the chance. Don't want to worry about degrading them. It helps that I don't use them often anymore.

With vinyl, I would love to know how well this laser turntable works, granted it's not a hoax or a scam. Reportedly it scans the deepest part of the groove, which wouldn't have the wear-and-tear that the sides get, and since it's a laser it would take a lot longer - and a lot more effort - to damage the record. The only problem is that it's set at nearly $20,000 for the full model.

 

[absolutely_lost_86]

cds r way better,, no rewinding

 

[brightlights]

Tape was an interesting concept. But it will go the way of vinyl.

Tape will never go the way of vinyl. Vinyl has a sound that exists nowhere else. Tapes are just sucky CDs.

 

[cjedick]

Tape will never go the way of vinyl. Vinyl has a sound that exists nowhere else. Tapes are just sucky CDs.

Hey, I didn't say that I didn't like vinyl. But you ought to admit that it's almost completely dead. I LOVE VINYL. But many record companies cannot afford to press vinyl because of the initial fee for creating the metal master plates, and the fact that sales decrease every year.

I mean does anyone have a percentage of vinyl sales over CD sales?? It's probably less than 1%. That's just a guess...don't get all cranky.

 

[brightlights]

Hey, I didn't say that I didn't like vinyl. But you ought to admit that it's almost completely dead. I LOVE VINYL. But many record companies cannot afford to press vinyl because of the initial fee for creating the metal master plates, and the fact that sales decrease every year.

I mean does anyone have a percentage of vinyl sales over CD sales?? It's probably less than 1%. That's just a guess...don't get all cranky.

I don't mean to be cranky -- just facetious . Vinyl probably has a pretty big market, though, what with the millions of DJs in existance -- especially in the hip-hop scene.

 

[feline]

I have some nostalgic feelings for cassettes .... all those mixed tapes from middle school, but yeah, overall they suck.

 

[Maynard Keenan]

CDs have incredibly higher audio quality. Would you rather drive a horse and buggy or a new pickup?

 

[Dying2Live4Christ]

Why I like CD's over cassettes:

*Cassettes can be eaten in cassette players
*Cassettes have to be rewinded/fast forward so much it wears out the player, the tape, and the batteries quicker.
*They do not sound as good as CD's in my opinion
*I'd rather have the special features some CD's offer, such as videos, pictures, website access, etc...

 

[The Theory]

Cassettes will never be on the level with Vinyl. Even sales-wise, vinyl continues to be made while cassettes have gone the way of the buffalo (except in certain releases in the southern gospel/classical category because of the market of old folk)... but it's very common for indie rock bands to release limited vinyl releases.