DIY Cassettes: the process
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2024
- So here's a huge one. In this video, ill be going over my general process of creating D.I.Y. cassettes. I mainly create them to have physicals of my own music but also as an art pieces I can showcase, play, and present at shows.
cassette companies:
www.duplication.ca/
www.cultlovesoundtapes.com/
www.distantether.com/
J-Card & Cassette Sticker Templates:
www.dropbox.com/sh/isyuxw73yu...
My Socials:
WEBSITE: distantether.com
BANDCAMP: exmaxhina.bandcamp.com
INSTAGRAM: / exmaxhina
INSTAGRAM: / distantether
TIKTOK: / exmaxhina
SOUNDCLOUD: soundcloud.app.goo.gl/629fxCD...
SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/artist/0k81y...
ETSY SHOP: www.etsy.com/shop/distantether
#diy #cassettes #diyart AUDIUS: AUDIUS:
audius.co/exmaxhina
SOUND.XYZ:
www.sound.xyz/exmaxhina - Hudba
YO heres a quick peek behind the scenes on my process on creating some SICK cassettes!
Thanks for the informative video! I was thinking of putting out my own music but never knew how to put it on tape.
Youre welcome!! Im glad i was able to give you a little insight and confidence in creating your own unique cassettes ☺️
Awesome video, I was actually super curious about this
Glad I was able to share the knowledge! ❤️
for recording onto tape, you need to consider the bias. Bias on a cassette tape can vary between each tape or groups of tapes and can affect the loudness of the tape, and will need to calibrate the recorder (specifically a tape deck) before recording. As far as I know it doesn't matter the age of the tape, and only stock from the 80s or 90s can work and its just a matter of calibrating everything yourself before hand. So its more likely that for those older tapes, you need to calibrate the bias to record onto them.
Especially the formulation used for the magnetic tape is likely different between the old and new tapes which can affect the bias needed to record onto them accurately. Not to mention as a testament to their reliability of how cassette tape work is that you can find some the first tapes made in the early 60s and play them just as fine as they where when they were made (granted the casing itself may need to servicing before hand as thats more likely to break from age than the tape itself)
oh wow this is actually a very good explanation! thank you for this!
@@exmaxhina your welcome def would recommend vwestlife as they got some videos on more in-depth demonstration and tips for cassette recording as well.
Whats also important to note is. Sometimes if the speed isnt accurate from the deck that you recorded, the playback to different Deck or Walkman can sound either slower or fast. What i would recommend is to ordern an Calibration Tape test, it exist several home made Calibration test tapes on online.
Then you need a software using NAK T-100, its only 15 bucks on Windows Store and App Store (MacOs), and you can check the Speed and Wow & Flutter playing it with the calibration tape. if its already in the middle to the speed, its totally fine, but if its like shifting way back or forward. you have to screw of the top case of the deck and adjust the hole on the motor, i would recommend to see a manual or YT Videos how to adjust it.
just make sure if the speed is accurate.
Love this. Thank you for your contribution!
@@exmaxhina no prob
Also. possibly the most frustrating part is, to replace the rubber belt depending how the deck is built.
Finding an replacement belt online is maybe not that hard but to replace the belt can be very hardwork.
@@MisterYeko ooh i know that pain and its definitely not fun without the proper tools. I still dont have the proper tools lmao. just many broken decks xDDD
Great! Cassettes forever!
Thank you so much!!! Its such an amazing feeling to hold your music in your hands.
Valuable information. Thank 💯
You’re very welcome! ❤️
how do you use venmo? is it a business account?
Nah i just created a personal account and then hyperlinked it on a QR code.
Thank you for all the useful info man! Quick question: do you have to do any kind of processing in audacity to get it to sound right when it's on the cassette?
Most definitely!! To answer your question, I usually dont do any additional processing unless the levels vastly differing from track to track. Always keep in mind your levels. You want to make sure all tracks have a similar dB level so they don’t surprise the listener. This is typically done in the mastering process but if you have a mixtape just keep an eye on the meter and adjust accordingly
@exmaxhina Cool that's good to know! I'm making an album and I'm still in the creative process. I've been researching ways to put it on cassette when it's done and this video helped a ton. I'll keep your tips in mind, thank you!!
@@djbash914 always happy to help! ❤️
Thanks, @exmaxhina, for sharing this process! Since putting out this video, would you continue to make the cassettes and all the accessory parts yourself or would you outsource any of the work to companies like the ones you mentioned, or would it be a mix of both methods depending on each situation? Also, have you worked with getting music on other media, e.g. CDs, mini-discs, or vinyls?
these are some great questions! ive put a great deal of thought into it. When doing runs of 25 or less ill do them myself to keep it special, but will do a more commercial run after an exclusive period on the initial 25. the commercial run will probably be 100+ cassettes which ill be able to distribute to record shops and curators. the limited run will be sold exclusively at the art gallery I'm a part of but also sold as merch at any show i perform. I may even add it to my website for a limited time.
as for CDs or other forms of media, id love to work on getting my music on other formats. I want to find a CD format that could do 48khz/24bit audio. Vinyl is something i thought about , but it sure get pricey. The plan is to eventually have my music on all forms of physical media for personal preservation. We all know streaming platforms will cease to exist sometime or another. be ahead of the curve and save your music to timeless formats!
thank you for your wonderful questions!
@@exmaxhina Oh, wow...Thank you for that detailed response! That brings up some other particular questions for me:
Do you usually start out with the initial batch being an exclusive edition or special limited run? That's a cool idea. How have you kept track of inventory, sales, etc. with record shops and such?
How do you find the demand goes for your physical media (tapes + any other medium, art, etc.) compared to your supply? On average, are there more requests than your stock (or an equal amount)? I'm glad to produce, or outsource, my own media but want to make sure I'm not supplying way more than what would actually sell - you know, get a good gauge on that ratio. I like how you mentioned having some media for your personal preservation - that's smart. Have you offered bundle packages of any kind so far?
@@EtherealLifeRecords I always love starting with a more intimate run. This is mainly because I perform quite a bit these days and when I do there tend to be a few people that find interest in the sound. When that happens I usually show them my tapes. It's never a guaranteed way to sell your stuff but it builds authenticity. I think this is the true metric everyone should try to build. Becoming more authentic with everything you do. Making just enough to share but not enough to waste. So sticking with an initial 25 run for me is HUGE. I do even smaller runs of 2-3 cassettes. I keep one myself, give one away, and sell the last. This builds the limited stock slowly with unique pieces. I like to imagine my cassettes as pieces of listenable wall art.
Also, understand when creating a large order you need to only stock what you think you'd sell over the year. I sell maybe 1-2 cassettes per month if I'm lucky to regular individuals, but I can sell my cassettes to local cassette distributors and curators in larger quantities. this would account for 10-15 cassettes. So knowing they get 10-15 and I sell 1-2 per month, I'd make an order of 25-30 cassettes to keep stock limited and personal. Keeping inventory is as simple as having an Excel document sharing what has been sent out and what has been sold. just keep track of every order and quantity of cassettes. Check back with the vendors occasionally. remove your stock if needed and resell on your own.
Once I do have more types of media I'd love to bundle different things together. currently, I bundle my visual artwork with the cassettes. I do a lot of digital art which I make prints for and then package with my cassettes at times. Whatever way you build value, your listeners and fans will cherish it.
@@exmaxhina Once again, what a great reply! That affirms some things I've figured and speculated over time. Those are some solid strategies and ways to gauge production, manufacturing, etc. I'll take those things into account. Plus, I definitely agree on the personal (authentic) factor - that's what I'm aiming for myself! Also, kudos on your success so far!
@@EtherealLifeRecords Thank you! I truly appreciate every one that wants to create something unique and authentic. Im glad I was able to help. The journey has just begun for us all. I hope that leaving a legacy for your future self is the first step you take. Then we create for others
I use audacity pretty regularly, and have for...wow 20+ years now!
Do you know if Audacity's playback as good or better than if you were to export as .wav, or highest quality audio file?
you should be able to set the sample rate of the project which should also reflect on the playback quality. so If you set your rate to 44khz then so will your playback be in 44khz. Their wiki goes into a little more detail but that's what ive seen.
@@exmaxhinasweet. Thanks!
Ace. I was thinking 💭 about this then your video popped up
I love how the world brings you what you need if you really want it!
Really nice video!
Thank you! ❤️
@@exmaxhina 🖤
why don't you use a reciever for a better sound?
from my understanding, you shouldn't need one for a tape deck. although I may be wrong. Please let me know if I am!
@@exmaxhinasome tape decks have a builtin amplifier but it's almost always better to use a receiver for better audio quality and more volume. I sometimes record without one just to get a more lofi sound
@@yakovd33 ive been having to turn down prelevels prior to recording. Luckily I haven't had any issues with loudness. I'm also sending audio through my pc sound card and yeti interface in this video. The track masters are also fairly loud as well. The playback quality so far has been really nice, but thank you for the insight! Ill definitely be looking into upgrading my setup eventually 🙌🏾
@@exmaxhina :)
That tape deck is a really bad quality one, get some 3 head basic deck, and it will be 10 times more reliable and audiable than this double one.
Thank you for the tip!! So far the quality has been pretty awesome but i may look into upgrading soon. :)
@@exmaxhina You'll be surprised on how good a three head deck will sound, if it's in good condition and serviced.
@@Mister-Salieri any particular models you recommend?
@REGARDS-LAND 3-heads doesn't automatically improve the recording quality, it just allows you to monitor the recording on the fly. If you have standard quality tape stock (as you should for duplication) the benefit is pretty low.
@@Ruinwyn well for better sound results the three head is the winner, for lots of tape duplications with standard sound, but nothing impressive, then the double deck should be okay. But there are double decks that records on both mechanisms at the same time, that's a better solution than dubbing from a cassette to another.