A Brief History of Magnetic Recording - The Era of 8-Tracks and Compact Cassettes

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Today, we often see the cassette tape used as an icon for nostalgia. But if they were so important, why is it that no one uses or even seems to talk about them anymore?

In this video essay, I dive into the evolution of magnetic sound recording technology - the era that sits in between the famous vinyl record and the digital era of today.

watch the first video in this series, The Invention That Changed Music:

Please like, comment, and subscribe to follow along in this mini-series, and more to come (:

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:33 The Origin
05:51 From Records to Cassettes
11:30 Conclusion

Sources:

[MusicTheoriesChannel]

If you were around, what's your favorite memory from the era of 8-tracks and cassette tapes?

[whosdeea]

Underrated
Thank you for putting all this info out there <3

[MutantShredder]

Wow! Such an informative video! This is awesome. Loving this series!

[zulumax]

6:32 Muntz and Lear came out with the 4 track cartridge before the 8 track that followed. No built in rubber wheel, 2 programs, and a locking brake for the hub that the 8 track lacked. some larger 4 track carts were make that were much bigger than an 8 track as well were made.

[shawnjolly]

I was still using my dad's Sony Walkman in High School 2007 to 2009 and I'm still using that tape player everyone was walking around their phones but I didn't have any phone

[eddiebrancovictor]

Very informative and interesting video! I was wondering why a channel with such quality content had so few subscribers. Then I noticed have you recently made a comeback. Hope you keep producing! I love this format of videos.

[filipbarski]

Very nice video, one nitpick 6:18 the photo shows a later Nagra either III or IV

[baconpanda]

Love this series. I hope this channel blow-ups soon!

[blockswingperry]

i have my mothers and aunts and uncles cassette tape collection. its fun to have around when the internet goes down. ive taken a couple of cassette tapes from trashes to record my favorite spotify playlists onto and meme sound collections. i regret not taking my cassette player with me to college :')

[AlexRamirez-fjdj]

I have a 2 track and 4 track open reel recorders. The 2 track has great sound when i taped a cd on it to see the quality. It caught the sound of the cd better than the audio cassette due to its higher speed of 7.5 ips. Vs 1 7/8 ips. I still enjoy using them since i have old tapes only recorded on either machine.

[mcgintymedia]

Instant subscribe. Great video! Great voice! I look forward to binging your other videos. PS...I still collect cassettes and reel to reel tape.

[jackcrook]

Great presentation! I've never heard of anybody with the opinion that cassette has a better sound quality than vinyl though haha. Maybe there are people who enjoy the medium more subjectively (I love listening to music on cassette), but nobody can argue the frequency responses are even close to being as hifi on a cassette when compared to vinyl.

[alexanderkramer]

I always heard cassette was introduced in 1963 not 65. Meaning it even came before the 8 track.

[MikinessAnalog]

9:29
a radio / cassette player (recorder) that could also transmit as well?

[magnoliamike]

Video and audio is very intriguing. Video is a little more easier to understand because it’s just fast moving pictures, but audio on the other hand is very confusing

[prowlermadmax]

The reason i collect vinyl records vs cassettes, is that cassettes tapes in time drys out and produces a high pitch noise when playing.

[musclecarfan]

lesser known are the RCA Cassette, 1958, 4-track 1962 Play Tape 1966, and Sony Elcaset 1976

[cheesecakefox]

Guess that makes me rare? 😂 because I love cassettes and collect them.

[billyyoung]

This is amazing if you think about the history of the world at that time wow

[tasawarmehmood]

v nice mam. plzzz make a new video of this type. great mam