Blank cassette tapes are art in themselves. For decades these tapes were used to record and compile number of songs and to capture and retain some special moments. People gave these as a kind of gifts to others. Blank Tapes were also passed among friends as a way of sharing music. These tapes would be constantly moving around the circles from friend to friend as music tastes continue to spread.
I would listen to the radio for hours to hear my favorite song. This was back in the days before mp3’s. I would capture those moments on blank cassette tapes, if I was really lucky. However, those tapes weren’t perfect and there were a lot of hits and misses; I would often record the DJ’s small talk and commercials while trying to create the perfect mix tape.
The external artistic presentation is as important as the music contained in the audiocassettes for successful marketing of the cassettes. People show their artistic abilities in designing even the blank cassette labels. These are artistically decorated with markers and stickers. Such decorations are an art form itself. People also give creative names for this and decorate it suitably to gift it.
Improvements in technological innovations have resulted in the way the recording is done. CDs and DVDs have replaced the blank cassette tapes. In order to improve the quality of recording digital audio tape has come into being. MP3 invention has resulted in easy recording of mixes. One can download songs from Internet and record it on CD. On completion one can print CD label also.
There are still those who swear by good old blank cassette tapes. There are even online communities where people sign up to swap their own cassette mixes with others in an attempt to expend one’s music knowledge. Those can be a lot of fun and very amusing. People are exposed to such different music as they go through their lives all over the country and the world.
No matter where technology takes us, we will always remember the blank cassette tape and the mark it made on out society. It transformed us all into music mixers and let our creativity flow. And we have carried this on into our mp3 and CD burning world. Nothing is quite as fun as that classic 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.
