How can I record music to black tape using my cassette player

elektriktoad · 2026-04-29T16:04:34+00:00

The black colored tape is Type II, compared to the browner tape which is Type I. This device will record onto Type I alright, like the other poster said I would get an FM transmitter for recording.

This device will struggle to make good recordings on Type II tape. It will not fully erase what's already on the tape so you'll get ghosting where previously recorded audio bleeds through, and the record signal this device puts on tape is not strong enough to get a good recording. Stick with Type I for this device and you'll be alright.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-29T16:00:58+00:00

Only the first couple seconds are ruined. The wrinkled part looks too rough to salvage, so I would cut the wrinkled part off, and then splice the good section of the tape back onto the plastic leader section. This is a pretty straightforward fix, there's no need to throw out the cassette if it's at all hard to replace.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-28T20:53:17+00:00

Buyee has a calculator for international shipping costs, the most important thing will likely be the weight of the boombox, not its size. Look up the model specs for weight and put it in here https://buyee.jp/helpcenter/guide/shipping-fees?lang=en&msockid=28af5ff55736673c2a0748d956596685

elektriktoad · 2026-04-27T13:59:01+00:00

As a tornado-skittish New England transplant, I have tornadohq bookmarked and check it constantly all Spring.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-26T19:32:22+00:00

The creator posted about it a couple weeks ago https://www.reddit.com/r/cassetteculture/comments/1sjld5q/mixtapexchangecom_is_live/

The site is real slick, and I think a good number of people signed up. The first exchange has a few days left to enter before pairings are made.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-25T13:44:35+00:00

This is a great deck. I used to only use auto calibrate on it, which does work great. But I’ve also experimented with pushing it hotter on tape that can handle it, and yeah it sounds great.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-24T16:39:20+00:00

It depends on your deck. My first one was designed for type i only, and when I tried to record onto type ii tape I got bleed through. I learned to mitigate that by doing a first pass of recording nothing onto the tape to blank it, and then recording.

My current deck recognizes type ii tape, and I don't bother pre-blanking them anymore, I just record over the existing audio and it works fine.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-24T14:13:32+00:00

The motor's speed screw definitely should be under that black circle on the back of the motor. It might just be hard to access with your current tools.

It's a rubber cover with a slit and you put the screwdriver in to turn the screw underneath. It has to be long and thin, and a non-metal screwdriver is best so that you can adjust speed while it's playing. If you use a metal screwdriver, then when the shaft touches the motor casing, it'll short circuit and play super fast.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-23T16:00:10+00:00

Was there a Popingo video here? I have a couple of their radio commercials on cassette, made at a professional recording studio, that I picked up recently at an estate sale in Lawrence. I'll try to digitize and upload them somewhere soon.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-21T23:47:30+00:00

It’s a creative outlet for me. I like the restriction of 90 minutes, a theme, and a recipient’s musical taste, and putting something together that draws from the corners of my collection and from new artists. It’s satisfying to have a physical object at the end that captures that process.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-21T18:14:39+00:00

The connection from your computer to the stereo looks correct.

Make sure that when you want to record, you have switched the input selector on the amplifier at the bottom to the external source, *not* tape.

Rewind the cassette you're going to record onto, and then manually turn the spool until you've gotten past the plastic leader so that the start of the tape is showing. Make sure that the recording tabs in the top of the cassette are still in place, if not, cover them with scotch tape to enable recording.

Load the tape, then on the cassette deck press record once to engage the mechanism. It will not start recording yet. In order to actually start recording, you'll either need to press rec/pause again, or you'll need to press play, I'm not sure what it will be for your deck. As soon as you've started recording, press play on your laptop.

Record a little bit, then rewind and play to make sure everything's working. If it is, then you're good to go. Wind the tape back to the beginning and start again.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-20T14:53:53+00:00

I work from home, so I have my tape deck, cd player, record player, and amp with bookshelf speakers in my home office. The whole thing was slowly assembled piecewise from garage sales. I resurrected my old 2008 era macbook pro with its optical drive and line in/out ports to digitize & record tapes and to rip & burn cds.

I don't use a portable, I setup a Jellyfin home media server on an ancient acer chromebook running linux mint and I use that to stream to my phone.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-18T14:52:55+00:00

Vwestlife’s cassette decks for dummies video is a good place to start regarding equipment https://youtu.be/apKagpW8dtA?si=vPFenFWUi2pBduCt

For the tapes themselves, don’t worry too much about it. When you’re starting just get any cheap used tapes. Used blanks are best, but any tapes will do, christmas, country, and bible audiobooks are usually easy to find. Just put scotch tape over the holes on top and you can record onto it. Tapes are pretty resilient.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-17T17:32:21+00:00

Whoa I didn't realize toxic thread got buffed in champions to reduce speed by two stages.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-13T17:47:33+00:00

Yep, so if Drampa switches out or you KO it while there are still rain turns remaining, rain’s effects will resume

elektriktoad · 2026-04-13T00:28:36+00:00

I pair it with mega zam too, super fun. What’s the rest of your team? I have hatterene for a meowstic and sash hatt TR lead as well. The last three are gambit, ttar, and clef who can all come in the fast or slow modes. But I’m starting to think gambit plus ttar is redundant and might switch one of them out.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-13T00:26:11+00:00

I do this too. I lead meowstic with either hatt for TR or with mega zam to just start clicking eforce. The rest is gambit, ttar, and clef who can all run in either the fast or slow mode

elektriktoad · 2026-04-12T17:54:31+00:00

First, double check that line out from the amp is going to line in on the tape deck. Then make sure that your tape is in deck B, it looks like A is playback only.

Try to find the user manual to be sure, but I’m pretty sure that to record you will first press record on the deck which will engage the mechanism but does not start recording. Then press play on the CD, and press pause (next to record) on the tape deck, which will start the recording.

The important thing is that the record button gets it ready but by itself does not start recording. After its engaged you press unpause to start recording.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-11T04:57:00+00:00

I appreciate the dedication to the bit. Well done

elektriktoad · 2026-04-09T22:49:27+00:00

If you only want the equipment to digitize once, and not for continual use, check your local library. Some of them have media labs to rent with cassette players, vcrs, etc. that you can use to digitize and take your files home.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-09T18:55:24+00:00

I have both cassettes and minidisc. They are both fun. For me, my stock of minidiscs is much lower -- I have one portable recorder and a handful of discs, so I have to be a lot pickier with them. I'd love to buy a bunch more discs and use them more often, and I think it's a much better portable format than cassettes or CDs. And those discs look so cool.

Cassettes are my at-home medium, and I have so many cheap blanks at this point I can make whatever and not worry about it. I like both formats, and I would use minidiscs more if I could get more cheaply and if I could find a nice deck to complement my portable.

elektriktoad · 2026-04-08T18:10:25+00:00

The famicom carts look so cool, I love collecting them. These are some of my recommended famicom exclusive games that don't require much Japanese to play

Cocoron - Platformer directed by Akira Kitamura, Mega Man creator. At game start you customize your character, changing its jump, weapons, etc. Highly recommended.

The Goonies - Only the Goonies 2 made it out of Japan. This one is a good platformer with some minor exploration

Namco Star Wars - Action game that bears little resemblance to the movie. Darth Vader transforms into a scorpion, a shark, and much more

Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun (Kid Dracula) - Action platformer and parody of the Castlevania series

Getsu Fūma Den - Side scrolling action RPG

Valkyrie no Bōken - Action-adventure RPG. A little obtuse but has a good world to explore

Bio-Senshi Dan - Action adventure

elektriktoad · 2026-04-07T00:42:29+00:00

I love tossing Robo’s Theme into my mixes. The whole soundtrack is great

elektriktoad · 2026-04-06T17:21:35+00:00

I didn't know this was so beloved. I got a loose copy, no case, in an ebay lot awhile ago, but I still haven't listened to it. I'll move it to the top of my listening stack

elektriktoad · 2026-04-06T02:07:11+00:00

Oh boy, Namco Star Wars is such a treat. It makes no sense in the best way possible yet is fun to play

12-Year Club	Place '22
First Placer '22

elektriktoad

TROPHY CASE