This may have been brought up before...

[jjones1700]

...but I had an epiphany. Yes, it hurt like hell for those of you wondering.

I'm not sure if this idea has been tossed around or not, but here it is anyway. Would it be possible to compile a mailing list (for all parties interested) for sending cassette/open reel tapes around for everyone to sample and listen to the material as it is meant to be? I realize the logistics of varying tape machines and overseas shipping would prove a tad bit of a sticky situation, but I figured something like what the guys do for the old radio show reels would be pretty neat. I think there would be a small divide in the choices of 1/2 track machines and 1/4 track machines, but I think something could be arranged. The tapes could circulate through the mailing list in a given order and eventually sent back to the owner of the respective media.

Just a thought.

 

[evm1024]

It has been brought up in a rather high end way. Too bad I don'r\t have the money....

http://www.tapeproject.com/

I for one wouuld go along with this. Either 1/2 track quater inch or quarter tract stereo....



Regards, Ethan

 

[jjones1700]

I wasn't referring to copyrighted major label material. I was talking about the stuff that we record. Instead of converting the tape to digital and compress it to mp3, send out an analog format to a mailing list.

 

[dodgeaspen]

That's kind of a cool idea. I think I would be willing to do something like that.

 

[Outlaws]

I wasn't referring to copyrighted major label material. I was talking about the stuff that we record. Instead of converting the tape to digital and compress it to mp3, send out an analog format to a mailing list.

For much less loss you could use .flac or .ogg files, and they are not absurd in file size, all things considered. MP3 isn't the only format for music transfer (thank god). Or you could use full on 24 bit wavs. I am sure any loss from transferring to that medium would be much less noticeable than the loss when someone/UPS/climate trashes a reel of tape.

 

[cjacek]

While sampling will kill the original analogue source, somewhat, I'd opt for 24bit / 96khz flac / ogg trading. At least you're getting more of the original and it's a lot more convenient and less costly than swapping tapes.

 

[jjones1700]

While sampling will kill the original analogue source, somewhat, I'd opt for 24bit / 96khz flac / ogg trading. At least you're getting more of the original and it's a lot more convenient and less costly than swapping tapes.

You've got a point with the shipping, especially nowadays. I hadn't thought about the other file formats. Just about makes my original point moot.

 

[lo.fi.love]

I'd personally be interested in a cassette swapping network, and I've thought about doing one myself after I complete enough material to share with others.

I'm going to resurrect the record label idea that I was working on - which was my impetus to get into recording - but I'm choosing a different genre/style/format than I had originally decided to highlight/showcase. I will do cassettes for the first releases, as it's more cost effective for me and I can guarantee the quality since I'll be duplicating it all at home.

So, in the future, if anyone wants real-time cassette copies of experimental music recorded on open reel, let me know

(Wait, I shouldn't get too far ahead of myself here!)

 

[jedblue]

Go for it Jeff. We're working on three more releases at the moment for our little cassette micro label. The cassette format gives you a whole raft of packaging options that you don't have on cd. Their boxy dimensions are a real plus - anything from their original jewel cases they come in to tin cans to boxes and containers made from all sorts of things.

Here the 'one of' shipping container I made for the rOn.KnOb single that's going for the Cassette Culture compilation. It's got a cd and a cassette inside and it's made from extra long, skinny, colored popsicle sticks...

The box...

opened...

the cd inside...

and the cassette underneath...

There won't be another one of those again but I like the popsicle stick idea. I'm currently making ten boxes from normal popsicle sticks that will have pyrographed artwork and an oiled finish for my own four track cassette ep.

We're happy to do cassette swaps with anyone who's mucking around in this field. PM me if you're interested.

Geoff

 

[lo.fi.love]

Hey Geoff,

I think we should talk about this more. I read your PM but I'm typically pretty bad about responding to them. I'll write to you sometime this weekend and I'll give you my email address.

- Jeff

 

[jedblue]

Good-oh Jeff

 

[cjacek]

That's some outstanding packaging Geoff.

I'm actually warming up to the cassette trade thing, guys. It's the only stay-in-the-analogue-realm medium, which can (with the aid of a good tape deck) sound surprisingly good, is cheap and postal rates are very reasonable.