This was suggested by a work colleague of mine who used to be a physics teacher. But even he wasn't sure if it was right. Will music cassettes slowly lose their magnetism and delete themselves? If so how long are we talking? Some gramphone records still play just fine after 100 years. Will cassettes reach their centenary?
Will magnetic music cassettes slowly delete themselves?
- Thread starter Slo-mo
- Start date
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Will there be anything to play them on then? It's years since I saw a tape player
Point taken, but cassette players are still being made and could potentially be repaired over the years .Thats slightly different to the media actually deleting itself.
Throbbing Angel
this is no longer a place of honour
Same for VHS too I suppose?
Yes, if he's right. That's what I'm wondering.
Throbbing Angel
this is no longer a place of honour
Ooooh, here we go:
Q & A: Magnetism wearing off | Department of Physics | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"2) Magnetic recording media, including cassette tapes, videotapes, and floppy disks. These items’ magnetism most certainly wears off, all by itself, over time, "
Q & A: Magnetism wearing off | Department of Physics | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"2) Magnetic recording media, including cassette tapes, videotapes, and floppy disks. These items’ magnetism most certainly wears off, all by itself, over time, "
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
well I've long known that it degrades, presumably to the point of no use. this was me google:
How Long Do Audio Cassette Tapes Last?
but it reminded me of something from earlier this year about a breakthrough that can potentially store and for a long time big quantities of data:
IBM breathes life into magnetic tape with storage breakthrough
which also reminded me of the mind blowing idea that you can use DNA for storage, incredible potential amounts. But currently the read/write process is ridiculous in time factor so it remains a tech waiting for the next leap:
Harvard scientists pioneer storage of video inside DNA
I say we go back to microfiche in case there is a solar flare and all the clever machines stop working
How Long Do Audio Cassette Tapes Last?
but it reminded me of something from earlier this year about a breakthrough that can potentially store and for a long time big quantities of data:
IBM breathes life into magnetic tape with storage breakthrough
which also reminded me of the mind blowing idea that you can use DNA for storage, incredible potential amounts. But currently the read/write process is ridiculous in time factor so it remains a tech waiting for the next leap:
Harvard scientists pioneer storage of video inside DNA
I say we go back to microfiche in case there is a solar flare and all the clever machines stop working
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Microfiche bloody awkward, microfilm much better.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
joustmaster
offcumdun
.
sealion
Conformity is the last refuge of the unimaginitive
Yes. Only yesterday i saw some gadget (in tk maxx) that plugs into a speaker/mic port. It looked similar to an old walkman.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
There's where I'm going wrong, not shopping in tkm
sealion
Conformity is the last refuge of the unimaginitive
I only went in to warm upThere's where I'm going wrong, not shopping in tkm
Bloody nippy by the sea right now.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Yeh. Surely there's a pub or fish restaurant nearby?I only went in to warm up
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
Saul Goodman
It's all good, man
I have 'mix tapes' here from the early 90s. They still play just fine. Although they do seem to have developed an annoyingly repetitive beat 
sealion
Conformity is the last refuge of the unimaginitive
Plenty but at a cost
They don't sell cassette players though.
Argos also sell a collection, although the quality is suspect. You are probably better off going second hand.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Yeh. Get rock salmon instead of your normal Dover sole.Plenty but at a cost
sealion
Conformity is the last refuge of the unimaginitive
I prefer the funkfish
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Thought you'd prefer a skateI prefer the funkfish
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
You've haddock enoughSkate rattel and sole
sealion
Conformity is the last refuge of the unimaginitive
Yeah. Thrown my chips in and save a battering.You've haddock enough
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
In the first instance you get print+through .,.. I would get those tapes digitised ASAP.,..
Sent from the bog using Crapatalk
Sent from the bog using Crapatalk
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
I saw an actual tape machine for computers of the old school not three months ago. Spectrum probably. Not being used at that time but part of a blokes 'old machines' collection. He dismissed all talk of emulators with 'its not the same'. He's even got a betamax camera and player. Convincing line is 'most of this stuff is peanuts prices now but I love working with em and one day this'll be antiques in working order' Failed to sell me a knackered old wind up record player because I didn't want one.
marty21
One on one? You're crazy.
I have a tape player in my car (14 years old tbf) but I got rid of my tapes years ago.
sealion
Conformity is the last refuge of the unimaginitive
My son found a load of old tapes that i had kept in shoe boxes. Some of the stuff was from trance and acid house parties me and mates had played at. I put one on for him, he grimaced gave me a smile and said " So dad what drugs did you and mum take then"
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
This brings back memories of my early pirate radio days in the late 70s & 80s, muddy fields, aerial strung between trees, homemade transmitters, car battery for power, and cassettes players for prerecorded shows, a typical site...
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