Ep365: The Return of the Cassette Tape

11/21/22 • 46 min

1 Listener

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

The Cassette tape audio format is having a minor renaissance with artists & labels turning to the format in the wake of supply chain issues and a thirst for nostalgia. Today we talk to Jean-Luc Renou, CEO of Recording The Masters - RTM - about this phenomenon and how music lovers should think of the cassette tape.

Topics include:

Why are cassettes being revisited?
The history of RTM
The arc of cassette sales over recent decades
The difference between cassettes of the 80s and now
Record Store Day cassettes releases
Do we start w analogue tape?
The changing formulas for magnetic tape
Is there a finite amount of cassette tape?
The durability of cassettes
Can I play a cassette decades after last use?
Common mistakes in caring for cassettes
Aging parts of a cassette tape
Sourcing parts for cassette manufacturing
Were companies making cassettes in the last few decades?
Number of cassette manufacturers
Differences in cassette types – formulas, various noise reductions, etc
The history of the compact cassette format
The impact of the Sony Walkman
Was there a cassette format war?
Who is making cassette players today?
The niche industry helped cassettes survive the last 30 years
How long can cassettes last?
People purchasing cassettes with no means to listen to it
The biggest challenges to the modern cassette industry
Cassettes have benefitted due to the vinyl backlog
Creating pre-recorded cassettes
Modern demand for reel to reel tapes
Comments on VHS tape
Partner network for pre-recorded tapes
RTM’s new cassette tape player
Interview wrap up

Extended, High-resolution & Commercial Free version of this interview available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related

Topics include:

Why are cassettes being revisited?
The history of RTM
The arc of cassette sales over recent decades
The difference between cassettes of the 80s and now
Record Store Day cassettes releases
Do we start w analogue tape?
The changing formulas for magnetic tape
Is there a finite amount of cassette tape?
The durability of cassettes
Can I play a cassette decades after last use?
Common mistakes in caring for cassettes
Aging parts of a cassette tape
Sourcing parts for cassette manufacturing
Were companies making cassettes in the last few decades?
Number of cassette manufacturers
Differences in cassette types – formulas, various noise reductions, etc
The history of the compact cassette format
The impact of the Sony Walkman
Was there a cassette format war?
Who is making cassette players today?
The niche industry helped cassettes survive the last 30 years
How long can cassettes last?
People purchasing cassettes with no means to listen to it
The biggest challenges to the modern cassette industry
Cassettes have benefitted due to the vinyl backlog
Creating pre-recorded cassettes
Modern demand for reel to reel tapes
Comments on VHS tape
Partner network for pre-recorded tapes
RTM’s new cassette tape player
Interview wrap up

Extended, High-resolution & Commercial Free version of this interview available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8 Follow our Podcast: https://linktr.ee/vinylguide

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/VinylGuide Instagram: www.Instagram.com/VinylGuide

Support our show: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Previous Episode

Ep364: The Profound Mysteries of Röyksopp

8 years since the last album, Röyksopp has a massively ambitious project “Profound Mysteries” which is broken into III volumes, comes as a 6LP boxset and has visuals and even videos for each track. Röyksopp cofounder Svein Berge discusses the long journey of “Profound Mysteries”, the early and collectible records of Röyksopp, the Banksy record and more!

Topics include:

8 Years since “The Inevitable End”
The band set out to create a double album
The lack of constraints for “Profound Mysteries”
The variations between Profound Mysteries vol I, II & III
Growing up, getting records in Tromsø
Realizing he was a musician
The first time on vinyl record
The limited community of musicians in Northern Norway
The 1st Röyksopp single “So Easy” on Telle Records
The Banksy cover version of “Melody A.M.”
The story of Melody A.M.
Working with Banksy
How the Banksy records were distributed
Checking out Svein’s Banksy records
Banksy’s trip to Norway
The rights to Röyksopp music
Reissuing Röyksopp music on records
Challenges with pressing records
The “Profound Mysteries” 6LP boxset
The artwork of Jonathan Zawada
Developing a video for each track
What was left out of the Profound Mysteries concept?
Interview wrap up

Order Röyksopp's "Profound Mysteries" vinyl here.

Extended, High-resolution & Commercial Free version of this interview available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Photo credit Stian Andersen

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8 Follow our Podcast: https://linktr.ee/vinylguide

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/VinylGuide Instagram: www.Instagram.com/VinylGuide

Support our show: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Next Episode

Ep366: Gerald V Casale - DEVO & Beyond

With a new RSD release, Gerald V Casale of DEVO discusses the early days of the band, Booji Boy records, forming alter-egos, the impact of Saturday Night Live and his continuation of the creative spirit to explore make music.

Topics include: