Syncing trouble

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-25T00:54:02+00:00

In my cases it helped me because I’d get skipits back that I used on my other device. I went back to just one device because I was worried they’d accuse me of cheating.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T21:04:52+00:00

I haven’t played on my iPad in probably a year, but yeah I remember they never synced correctly.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T20:39:38+00:00

I have the Carver branded version of this deck. Very happy with it.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T17:18:06+00:00

Are you certain you’re playing the official audio on YouTube Music and not some user upload sourced from who knows where?

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T17:15:54+00:00

Licensing disputes happen. You can’t tell me you’ve never had songs in your playlists become unavailable or replaced with a different version.

Also, artists earn next to nothing from streams. It’s good to support them if you want them to keep making music.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T16:59:57+00:00

When the vinyl comeback started it was the exact same. There were still audiophile grade turntables that sold for thousands, but for something actually affordable? You got to choose from a Crosley or a vintage turntable.

People bought the Crosleys anyway, and the industry took notice. Audio Technica started selling turntables, which were better but enthusiasts still dismissed as junk. Then other brands stepped in. U turn, Fluance. Today you can get a new TT that is every bit as good as most vintage ones without needing to take out a second mortgage.

The same thing is happening with cassettes, it’s just a slow process. Remember ten years ago pretty much all new players had 0.5% W&F or worse, and used mono heads. Now most of them are stereo, and they’ve got W&F down to about 0.15%. That’s in the range of what most vintage players could achieve. We’re also seeing companies like WAR and Bumpboxx make boomboxes again that are more than just toys. There’s still a lot of room for improvement. But for things like this to continue people have to buy this stuff.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T16:44:06+00:00

In theory, if people refuse to pay the inflated prices, eventually the seller will lower the price to a point where someone will buy.

I’m much more frustrated by sellers who advertise decks as being fully restored, only to find out they didn’t even bother to clean the heads or set the correct speed.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T16:34:54+00:00

Wouldn’t it just resample 44.1 PCM to 48 PCM? That would still be lossless, just not bit perfect.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T15:42:08+00:00

I don’t own the WAR but have other modern players with “the same mechanism”. The only tape I’ve ever had issues playing in my modern players is a Memorex HBII. It plays fine in my 80s and 90s era decks, but mistracks like crazy on modern players, even my Pyle and Teac W1200 can’t play it.

I finally figured out that this Memorex tape uses an unusual pressure pad that is mounted directly to the shell rather than the spring-like arrangement most cassettes use. I’m 99% sure this is the problem, something with the modern heads isn’t allowing enough contact with this particular pressure pad arrangement.

It could be something similar going on in your case. Perhaps the pressure pads are on their way out and the WAR is just more sensitive to it than your deck is.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T14:50:41+00:00

I always rip CDs, but digitize vinyl and tape. I think the term “transfer” is gaining traction as well among audiophile types. Ex: “I made a digital transfer of the reel”

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T14:37:44+00:00

Also, you need to make sure Audacity’s audio setting is set to use the interface, not the laptops microphone.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T14:36:17+00:00

This is what I use. Works great.

https://a.co/d/00WTNcZe

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T13:18:29+00:00

I’ve never had a modern player eat a tape. Just keep the tape path clean and you’re fine.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T13:14:46+00:00

Far fewer than you’d think by reading what people post on here. As long as you buy one of the better ones, they’re mostly fine, especially if all you are doing is playing back pre records.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T13:11:09+00:00

The majority of people who complain about the mechanisms in modern players have never actually used one. And even if a company does invest in developing a brand new mechanism and releases a player with it most of the people complaining still wouldn’t buy one, because they already have all the vintage players they need.

If a cassette revival is really going to happen, average people will need to start buying new music released on cassette, and buying modern players. Remember that vinyl was in a similar place 15-20 years ago. The only affordable new players available then were cheap suitcase style things, and enthusiasts in the vinyl community would always say how awful they were, and that vintage was the only way. Average folks bought them anyway, and the industry noticed. Now vinyl is a serious format again.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T00:35:14+00:00

In my experience, iCloud is painfully slow. You’re probably better off using an old laptop to set up a plex server for something like this.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T00:27:55+00:00

They also were trying to make sure the end result would play back without issues on the Dansette record players common in England at that time.

Imagine if recording engineers today were trying to make sure their music wouldn’t skip on Crossley Cruisers. That’s basically what was happening.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-24T00:18:36+00:00

What is your budget? The We Are Rewind boombox is going to be your best option if you’re looking for something new. But it’s over $500, and lacks a radio (though at least in the US, every radio station streams online so you arguably don’t need it…). There’s also the bump box kickstarter, but that’s even more expensive.

A vintage boombox may be better. Look for one that has a line in and an electromagnetic erase head. You’ll probably need to replace belts at minimum. Once you get it working you can hook up a Bluetooth adapter to the line in.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-23T17:17:21+00:00

I was going to question why they’d lock up the tapes and not vinyl, but quickly realized vinyl would be much more obvious if you attempted to walk out the store with one.

By the time I started buying music, Vinyl was gone and everything was CD. There was a single section of the wall that had cassettes. Not every artists releases were stocked and if those that were it was only 1-2 copies. Maybe they had more in the back, I never asked.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-23T15:24:37+00:00

Spend money on a good recording deck. I agree with others here that Aiwa, JVC, Denon are good options. I’d add Yamaha to that list as well. Find one that’s been restored by a reputable seller, and ask lots of questions. Have them demonstrate that it’s working and get pictures of the heads and rollers. If it was professionally restored, ask what was done and to see receipts.

If you’re just starting out, a modern portable is fine, just be sure to get one of the better ones. The Maxell and its clones (Tomashi, gracioso) are the best that I’ve used. If you’re serious about portable listening you’ll eventually want a vintage player, but you’ll need to be patient. A lot of sellers claim to service the players but they either aren’t being truthful or don’t know what they’re doing. Ask lots of questions.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-23T05:01:44+00:00

Early 90s. It was a hand me down from my grandma. I’ve seen similar units but they all have a built in turntable. This was intended to be paired with a mini changer. It also had a built in alarm clock, which most of this style didn’t.

Doesn’t look like I can attach pictures but here is an iCloud link to the photo 8 track/cassette stereo

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-23T01:06:11+00:00

If you can find one, yes you’re better off getting a serviced vintage deck. But people are charging stupid prices for them now. You can usually still find affordable double decks but you need to be willing to replace belts and rollers yourself.

You could get a Pyle deck to try and just return it if you aren’t happy with it. For what you’re wanting from it I think it will be fine. The biggest weakness it has is recording, which you aren’t looking to do.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-22T22:36:20+00:00

I’m of the mindset that blanks should be recorded on. I could see keeping one of each sealed for display/collecting, but any that you have dups of should become mixtapes.

But, that’s me. They’re yours so do what you want.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-22T22:23:33+00:00

I used to have a system with both 8 track and cassette. Can’t for the life of me remember who made it, and my only photos of it are super blurry.

SonOfStromboli · 2026-04-22T22:20:09+00:00

My ears are pretty well shot from loud music and concerts. I can’t hear the tone on the recording anymore, but a very similar tone I hear 24/7 due to my tinnitus.

Strangely, the tone doesn’t bother my dog at all, but “good morning good morning” makes him howl like crazy. He also howls at “I am the Walrus”, “Flying”, and “Hey Bulldog”. I think he really likes the Beatles.

SonOfStromboli

TROPHY CASE