Cassette : What is it?
| Cassettes record sound or music in tape or analog format. Also called cassette tapes, they contain a strip of 3.18-millimeter wide magnetic tape wound around two spools, which are rotated to move the tape over a player's tape head for reading. Tape length ranges from 129 to 135 meters, depending on the size of the cassette shell. In standard play, the tape is moved at about 47.6 millimeters per second and plays about 74 minutes of sound.
During a recording, a high-frequency signal is sent to boost the analog signal recorded on the cassette. This signal, known as bias, increases the tape's magnetic response and improves sound quality. A cassette may have normal or high bias, depending on their type and application. |
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Kinds of Cassettes include the following: |
Iron oxide cassettes (Type I)
Iron oxide cassettes, also known as ferric tapes, have 120-µs tape coated with iron oxide. They are the cheapest type of cassette available and offer the most basic recording functions. They are commonly used with portable recorders for simple recordings, such as lectures or interviews. They are available in normal bias or low bias types. They have write-protect notches at the bottom of the shell to prevent recorded material from being erased or recorded over.
Chrome and cobalt cassettes (Type II)
These cassettes use a 70-µs thick tape coated with cobalt or chromium oxide. They also offer playback equalization and increased record equalization compared to Type I Cassettes. They also offer high bias and are ideal for music and professional recordings. They have two additional notches beside the standard write-protect ones at the bottom.
Metal cassettes (Type IV)
Metal cassettes use an improved 70-µs tape designed for CD and studio-quality recordings. They offer high fidelity, which means that no sound or quality is lost during transfer. They can also be re-recorded several times without wearing out or losing sound quality. They require a CR/MTL switch to record and playback properly. They have extra notches between the write-protect notches. |
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Bias: If you will be recording music or dubbing in a studio, choose a cassette with a high bias to optimize sound quality. This will also reduce ambient noise for a cleaner sound. For recording speech from a portable recorder, a normal-bias tape will do.
Playback length: Choose a cassette with a long playback length. This is usually indicated with labels like C46, which means that the tape can play for 46 minutes, 23 minutes on each side. Choose a C90 or C120 tape for maximum playback time. Look for one with a 135-meter tape contained in a compact case.
Tape quality: Choose a cassette with a 120- µs thick magnetic tape if you plan to record several layers on the tape. They may not be as compact as some models, but they last longer, will not wear out and can better withstand repeated recordings. |
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