Recent Articles of Interest

Any youngster born in the late '70s or early '80s could tell you what the first audio cassette he ever bought was. Children born more recently could tell similar stories, but they would be about CDs, MP3s, or other technology. Those of us who remember music before the invention of the CD are a dying breed.

The audio cassette paved the way for a completely new kind of musical experience, in which music was truly portable for the first time. Now you could take music with you to your car, to your workplace, and even while walking around. The kind of damage that could occur to a vinyl record- scratches and breakage- were no longer a concern with audio cassettes.

Use of audiocassettes in place of Gramophone records made from vinyl has improved the handling capability. However, cassette tapes have their own shortcomings. The ribbon in the cassette is delicate and gets twisted and tangled which results in the end of your favorite tape. The audio cassettes have withstood a lot more abuse than old vinyl records they are likely to be overrun by the CD.

My friends and I were discussing our most memorable experiences with TDK audio cassettes. A particular friend said she used tape with a recording of her mother's lullabies to comfort her as a child. Another recounted that his elder brother would send him mix tapes from home when he was at university. I have no doubt that nearly everyone has similar memories from their youth associated with audio cassettes.

There was once a time where audio cassettes and CDs lived in harmony, but that day has come to a slow end. CDs, while blatantly more useful, were also more expensive. But as their prices dropped, so did the popularity of the audio cassette. The fact that the CD possesses the functionality to repeat, and search for songs, makes it more useful, and that fact that they are cheaper means the day of the cassette tape is at an end.

The music technology has been evolving over a period of time and changes have taken place in recording and storage devices. Whatever be the developments, one cannot forget the role of the audiocassette in this. With the introduction of CD the audiocassette has lost its former glory. However, it still exists after lasting for a long time and will be close to the hearts of those who love it.