How to Buy Blank Cassettes

By eHow Electronics Editor

Rate: (3 Ratings)

If you want your custom-mix tapes to sound their best, you have to start by choosing good tapes. Match the tape you choose to both your tape deck and what you're recording.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Blank Cassette Tapes

Step1
Check your tape deck's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations.
Step2
Buy "normal bias" Type I tapes for use with mini-recorders.
Step3
If you're playing tapes on a boom box, personal stereo or low-end car deck, buy Type I tapes unless the playback unit has a switch for "high bias" Type II tapes.
Step4
Choose "metal bias" Type IV tapes if playing tapes on a high-end cassette deck.
Step5
Check the Maximum Output Level (MOL) specification to compare tapes and brands within a type. Higher numbers are better.
Step6
Buy Type I tapes for recording speech.
Step7
Choose Type I tapes or lower-grade Type II tapes for dubbing from one cassette to another.
Step8
Buy Type II or Type IV tapes if recording live music on a deck.
Step9
Select higher-grade Type II or Type IV tapes for recording from LP or CD.

Tips & Warnings

  • Higher-grade tapes within a type are typically distinguished by an "X" or an "S" model number.
  • Most tape decks automatically set the bias for the type of tape by reading notches on the cassette.
  • "C" indicates the total number of minutes on the tape.
  • Type II tapes can record higher frequencies than Type I tapes and have a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Type IV tapes are even better.
  • C-120s use thinner tape, which is more prone to jamming and breaking.

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eHow Article:  How to Buy Blank Cassettes

eHow Electronics Editor

eHow Electronics Editor

Category: Electronics

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