about tapedeck
Tapedeck.org is a project of neckcns.com, built to showcase the amazing beauty and (sometimes) weirdness found in the designs of the common audio tape cassette. There's an amazing range of designs, starting from the early 60's functional cassette designs, moving through the colourful playfulness of the 70's audio tapes to amazing shape variations during the 80's and 90's. We hope you enjoy these tapes as much as we do!

about audio tapes
The compact audio cassette medium for audio storage was introduced by Philips in 1963 under the name Compact Cassette. Although there were other magnetic tape cartridge systems at the time, the Compact Cassette became dominant as a result of Philips' decision (in the face of pressure from Sony) to license the format free of charge. It went on to become a popular (and re-recordable) alternative to the vinyl record deck during the 1970s. During the 1980s, its popularity grew further as a result of the Sony Walkman, with cassette sales overtaking those of LPs. (Vinyl overall remained ahead due to greater sales of singles, although cassette singles achieved popularity for a period in the 1990s).

The mass production of compact audio cassettes began in 1965 in Hannover, Germany, as did commercial sales of prerecorded music cassettes (also known as musicassettes; MC for short). The system had been initially designed for dictation and portable use, thus the audio quality of early recorders was not well suited for music. Some early models also had unreliable mechanical design. As time went on, various improvements (in particular, the introduction of Dolby noise reduction) resulted in the format being taken seriously for musical use.

Although its use in the West has declined as a result of more advanced technologies, it remains widespread, and is still the dominant medium for listening to music in many third world countries.

In essence, the audio cassette is simply a cassette-based (and smaller) version of the older reel-to-reel tape format. It consists of two miniature reels, between which an oxide-coated plastic tape, or magnetic tape, is passed and wound. These reels (along with some other mechanical parts) are held inside a protective plastic shell.

Four single audio tracks are available on the tape. These are paired to produce two stereophonic tracks – one played when the cassette is inserted with its 'A' side facing up, and the other when it is turned over (with the 'B' side up), thus mimicking gramophone records.

(Source: Wikipedia, right here. Wikipedia Copyright stipulations apply.)

send us your tapes
Have you got some cool audio tapes lying around? Send us a picture then, we'd love to get e-mail from you!

Please take a picture of your tape on white background from straight above without using a flash. The tape should measure about 800x600 pixels on the image. Please try to use as little JPG compression as possible (quality 10 or better when saving from Photoshop) and send the files to tapes@tapedeck.org

Thanks you all so much for the contributions tapedeck.org has already received - without your input this site would be impossible. Thank you very much: Alexandru, Diego, Ahmed, George, Dominik, Marcello, Jouse, Pascal, Niko, Jaromir, Tim, Paul, Luciano, Marc, Andreas, Colin, Alexander, Roland, Maurice, Sven, Radu, Daniel, Scott, Reinhard and Ronny!



orig_0030_fisher_c-90_cr audio cassette tape

orig_0021_daimon_chromdioxid_90 audio cassette tape

generic_transparent audio cassette tape

basf_ferro_super_lh_i_120_071126 audio cassette tape

tdk_le_black_ar90_080417 audio cassette tape

orig_0028_philips_c90_standard_quality audio cassette tape

orig_0037_pdm_cd_x_60 audio cassette tape

orig_0043_no_name_red_reels audio cassette tape

itt_ln_1 audio cassette tape

tdk_dj2_90 audio cassette tape

orig_0001_fliptape_fl_60 audio cassette tape

goldstar_hp60_081022 audio cassette tape

basf_ferro_extra_i_100_071126 audio cassette tape

BASF Limited Ed. Coca Cola 90 B Side_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

BASF Limited Ed. Coca Cola 90 A Side_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_maxima_ii_mit_logo audio cassette tape

basf_lh_sm_90_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_ferro_super_lh_i_120_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_gruen_c_90 audio cassette tape

tdkod audio cassette tape

itt_ln_1 audio cassette tape

sony_cdit_90 audio cassette tape

SILVER SOUND C90show_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

goldstar_hp60_081022 audio cassette tape

EXCLUSIV-C60-RED-Black-2_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

compact_cassette_c90 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_c_90_2_1972_090322 audio cassette tape

tdk_sa_60 audio cassette tape

tdk_ma-xg_60_071126 audio cassette tape

tdk_ma-x_90 audio cassette tape

tdk_ma_c90_080417 audio cassette tape

tdk_fe_90_080417 audio cassette tape

EXCLUSIV-C90-Brown_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

tdk_d_46_071126 audio cassette tape

sony_metalmaster_60_111214 audio cassette tape

basf_lh_super_120_080417 audio cassette tape

tdk_black_limited_sa60_080417 audio cassette tape

maxell_mx_90 audio cassette tape

fuji_dr_ix_90_081001 audio cassette tape

cc_gelb_60 audio cassette tape

HIFIFERRO C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

tdk_sf90_080417 audio cassette tape

basf_record_90_111214 audio cassette tape

magnex_studio_pc_12 audio cassette tape

Super audio cassette tape

sony_cditii_74 audio cassette tape

maxell_ud_46 audio cassette tape

fuji_fxi_60 audio cassette tape

lanier_c_60 audio cassette tape

tdk_ad90_080417 audio cassette tape

basf_lh_extra_120_v2_080417 audio cassette tape

gemini_mp_60 audio cassette tape

memorex_90 audio cassette tape

SONY-UCX-S-60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

tdk_d-c90_071126 audio cassette tape

tdk_ma-r90_080417 audio cassette tape

tdk_chrome_sa-x_c-90_071126 audio cassette tape

goldstar_bf60_081022 audio cassette tape

tdk_metal_ref_081001 audio cassette tape

tdk_head_demagnetizer_080417 audio cassette tape

basf_chrome_maxima_ii_071126 audio cassette tape

tdk_cding2_90_080417 audio cassette tape

SONY-WALKMAN-60-ferro_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

sony_ucx-s_90_1 audio cassette tape

tdkhxs audio cassette tape

SONY-WALKMAN-100_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

tdk_optima audio cassette tape

tdk_d-c90_080417 audio cassette tape

tdk_ma-r audio cassette tape

socimag_ferro_ls_x_90_081001 audio cassette tape

snc audio cassette tape

scotch_dynarange_60_welded_shell audio cassette tape

scotch_bx_c60 audio cassette tape

radio_shack_concertape_90 audio cassette tape

quantegy_472_90 audio cassette tape

philips audio cassette tape

memorexchromeii audio cassette tape

kmart_blue_cassette audio cassette tape

kennex_exd_90 audio cassette tape

k_mart audio cassette tape

hitachi_dl_60 audio cassette tape

goldstar_hd90old audio cassette tape

goldstar_bf60_2_081022 audio cassette tape

gold_international_c_60 audio cassette tape

fuji_frmetall_90 audio cassette tape

fuji_fl90_090802 audio cassette tape

dx_record_081113 audio cassette tape

cycles_c60_111214 audio cassette tape

basf_lh-e-i_90_080417 audio cassette tape

basf_ferro_standard_i_90_071201 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_c_60_2_1972_090322 audio cassette tape

agfa_superferro_90+6 audio cassette tape

orwo_audio_cr_e_ii_hifi_60_2_1989 audio cassette tape

maxell_udi90_080417 audio cassette tape

hitachiud audio cassette tape

ilford_hf60 audio cassette tape

maxell-b-90 audio cassette tape

mazda_super_cobalt_c90 audio cassette tape

memorex audio cassette tape

sanyo_ln_60__year_1977_aprox audio cassette tape

Svema audio cassette tape

tdkmetal_071126 audio cassette tape

tdk_d60_fals_071201 audio cassette tape

superpila_chord-x_sf90 audio cassette tape

sound_2000_chrom_60 audio cassette tape

scotch_bx audio cassette tape

orwo_k_60_1_1975 audio cassette tape

memorex_dbs_60 audio cassette tape

magna_hc10 audio cassette tape

konicakxhr audio cassette tape

JESKO-C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

hitachi_dl_blau_60 audio cassette tape

goldstar_hp60_3_081022 audio cassette tape

goldstar_hd90 audio cassette tape

denon_dx1_90_080429 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_super_90 audio cassette tape

basf_record_90_080417 audio cassette tape

dynasound_c-120_2001-05-04 audio cassette tape

EXCLUSIV-C60-RED-RED_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

fuji_dr_i_90 audio cassette tape

SOUND C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

sony_metal_master_60_1 audio cassette tape

SILVERSOUND C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

teac_cassette audio cassette tape

teac_cassette11 audio cassette tape

teac_mdx90 audio cassette tape

that`s_phii_74 audio cassette tape

thats_mrx_46pro audio cassette tape

thorens_081001 audio cassette tape

time_ton_c_60_081001 audio cassette tape

toshiba_c-60ax audio cassette tape

toyota audio cassette tape

TRANSYLVANIA-LH90ferro_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

ts_c_60 audio cassette tape

VISONIK C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

maxell_ud90_080417 audio cassette tape

maxell_xlii_90_080417 audio cassette tape

SamsungXM-5-90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

maxell_-_udii_60_080417 audio cassette tape

maxell_ln90 audio cassette tape

maxell_udxlii-c90_090802 audio cassette tape

maxell_ul60_080417 audio cassette tape

maxell_ur_90_071126 audio cassette tape

no_name_black_090811 audio cassette tape

PROFI C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

QHF-C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

reel_cleer_rc60_red_081001 audio cassette tape

Yashimi audio cassette tape

zettler_081001 audio cassette tape

maxell_LN60_080417 audio cassette tape

neo_tec_i_45_081001 audio cassette tape

orwo_cre_ii_60_090811 audio cassette tape

Memorex-MRX3-Oxide-90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

NIKKO C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

OLYMPIC C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

permachrom_c60_090802 audio cassette tape

Philips-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

SANWA-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

SHAPE C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

bib_head_cleaner_080417 audio cassette tape

Master audio cassette tape

sony_hf90_080417 audio cassette tape

HORTEN-HIFI-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

Kontak audio cassette tape

International_90 audio cassette tape

BASF_LH_extra_I_90_071201 audio cassette tape

basf_lh_extra_120_v1_080417 audio cassette tape

basf_lh_60_080417 audio cassette tape

basf_ferro_sxuper_lh_120_071126 audio cassette tape

congress_60_081001 audio cassette tape

hgs_cro2_60_081001 audio cassette tape

sony_hd_f90_080417 audio cassette tape

phonola_c60_081001 audio cassette tape

orwo_60_schwarzweiss_hell_071126 audio cassette tape

maxell_ul60_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_mp4_120_080417 audio cassette tape

ilford_pf60_i_081001 audio cassette tape

orwo_cr_e_ii_60 audio cassette tape

philips_fs_46_081001 audio cassette tape

sony_walkman_60_081001 audio cassette tape

AGFA-STEREOCHROM-60+6_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

ampex_370_60_111214 audio cassette tape

ARGENTINA-78-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

AUDIOSERVICE-90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

EXCLUSIV-C60-RED-Black_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

HGS-C60ferro_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

HIFIFERRO-C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

HIGH-ENERGY-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

acme_ms800_c90_081001 audio cassette tape

sony_fecr_90_080417 audio cassette tape

sony_-_ux60_080417 audio cassette tape

tokaido_ferro_lownoise_c90_oge_120922 audio cassette tape

tokaido_chromdioxide_super_c60_2_oge_120922 audio cassette tape

sound_tape_super_ferro_60_b_oge_120922 audio cassette tape

orwo_k60_2_oge_120922 audio cassette tape

Kamichi-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

JESKO-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

hitachi_lownoise_c60_b_oge_120922 audio cassette tape

EXCLUSIV-C60-Black_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

EUROCHROM-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxidii_60_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_super_ii_90_081001 audio cassette tape

AUDIO-SONIC-C90_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

AIWA-C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

AGFA-CARAT-48_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

wegert_superferric_60_071126 audio cassette tape

waltham_ferro_lh_60_071126 audio cassette tape

tokaido_super_chrome_071126 audio cassette tape

TDK-SAX90brown_111227 audio cassette tape

TDK-SAX90_111227 audio cassette tape

sunflower audio cassette tape

stilon_iec_i_c_60_081001 audio cassette tape

sony_super_metal_master_60 audio cassette tape

SilverSound_C60_111227 audio cassette tape

siemens_c60_hifi audio cassette tape

Philips_UltraChrome_C60_111227 audio cassette tape

Mart_Chroomdioxide_C60_111227 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_sm_cassette_120_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_120_2_071126 audio cassette tape

BASF_C90_green_111227 audio cassette tape

Audio_plus audio cassette tape

Acme audio cassette tape

TEAC_mdx1_100_yellow_111227 audio cassette tape

sony_cdit_ii_74_081001 audio cassette tape

yoko_c60_081001 audio cassette tape

MARK II C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

maxell_ln60-1_071201 audio cassette tape

maxell_udii90_080417 audio cassette tape

tdk_cding2_60_111227 audio cassette tape

OLYMPIC C60_MCiPjH_121006 audio cassette tape

BASF_SM_60_111227 audio cassette tape

sony_bhf60_071126 audio cassette tape

sony_ef_90_081001 audio cassette tape

sony_c_90fecr_081001 audio cassette tape

Scotch-C-60-Extended-Range audio cassette tape

scotch_xs_i_90_081001 audio cassette tape

sony_ahf_080417 audio cassette tape

Reel-Cleer-Optics-I-60 audio cassette tape

Philips_StudioQuality_C90_111227 audio cassette tape

Magna_Chromdioxid_60_111227 audio cassette tape

KLAUS_c90_111227 audio cassette tape

FUJI_CDFan1_111227 audio cassette tape

Europa_C60_111227 audio cassette tape

denon_dx_60_111227 audio cassette tape

BASF_goforit_90_111227 audio cassette tape

BASF_C90_111227 audio cassette tape

AXIA_ps1_74_111227 audio cassette tape

UNION-1000-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

TELEFUNKEN-C60-1-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

SEIKO-C60_2-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

STAR-PARTY-C30-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

UNIVERSUM-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

PHILIPS-SUPER-QUALITY-C90-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

PHILIPS-STANDARD-QUALITY-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

PHILIPS-MOVING-SOUND-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

PHILIPS-C120-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

NO-NAME-C30-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

MSC-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

MAXELL-UR-F-60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

jvc_dt_715 audio cassette tape

IMG_0230-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

IMG_0011-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

IMG_0010-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

DAK_C60_23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

crown_silver_fantasy_i_60_081001 audio cassette tape

BASF-C120-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

AUDIO-MAGNETICS-XHE-60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

toshiba_c90_t_071126 audio cassette tape

tdk_ma-xg90_071126 audio cassette tape

super_ferro_071126 audio cassette tape

studio_c60_071201 audio cassette tape

stilon_c60-bild02_080417 audio cassette tape

srt_he5s_071126 audio cassette tape

sony_ef60_071201 audio cassette tape

sony_bhf60_071126 audio cassette tape

sanyo_c60_ln_071126 audio cassette tape

ross_66_c30_080417 audio cassette tape

Raks60_High_Dynamic audio cassette tape

pinnacle_60_080417 audio cassette tape

panasonic_endlos_30sec_080417 audio cassette tape

COMBO-HIFI-C90-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

COMBO-HIFI-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

IMEA-EURO-TAPE-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

TEXATON-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

AGFA-C60-4-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

AGFA-C60-2-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

3M-C60-23-04-2011 audio cassette tape

universum_super_low_noise_c90_071201 audio cassette tape

universum_hifi_super_c60_071201 audio cassette tape

thats_mr-x60_080417 audio cassette tape

thats_cdiif_60_080417 audio cassette tape

scotch_master_ii_90_071126 audio cassette tape

scotch_dynarange_90_080417 audio cassette tape

scotch_cx90_080417 audio cassette tape

philips_testb_080417 audio cassette tape

philips_ferro_c90_071126 audio cassette tape

philips_fe_i_c90_071126 audio cassette tape

orwo_k60 audio cassette tape

orwo_60_gruen_080417 audio cassette tape

music_to_please_071201 audio cassette tape

memorex_nb_90_071201 audio cassette tape

memorex_mrx_is_60_080417 audio cassette tape

memorex_hbii_90_080417 audio cassette tape

memorex_dbs90_080417 audio cassette tape

memorex_db90_080417 audio cassette tape

memorex_60_071126 audio cassette tape

memorex_-_chrome_biasii_super_premium_cassette_080417 audio cassette tape

maxim_ln_60_071126 audio cassette tape

maxell_ln60_071201 audio cassette tape

magna_chromdioxid_ii_s_90_080417 audio cassette tape

laser_90_071126 audio cassette tape

komat_i_90_080417 audio cassette tape

jvc__gi-60_071201 audio cassette tape

iplas_-_superfero_60_080417 audio cassette tape

international_low_noise_hi_fi_c60ln_071126 audio cassette tape

hmc_90_071201 audio cassette tape

fuji_fx-i_90_080417 audio cassette tape

fuji_fr_metal_90_080417 audio cassette tape

fuji_dr_ix_100_080417 audio cassette tape

euroaudio_ex_ii_90_071201 audio cassette tape

dupont_c_90_071126 audio cassette tape

denon_spankingnew_i_60 audio cassette tape

denon_dxm_60_080417 audio cassette tape

denon_dx_160_071126 audio cassette tape

coronet_ln_c90_071201 audio cassette tape

compact_cassette_c90_071201 audio cassette tape

basf_maxima_design_edition_90_071126 audio cassette tape

BASF_LH_extra_I_90_071201 audio cassette tape

basf_lh_extra_i_90_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_lh_120_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_lh_90_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_ferrochrom_90_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_ferrochrom_90_2_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_ferro_sxuper_lh_120_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_sm_cassette_120_071126 audio cassette tape

basf_chromdioxid_120_2_071126 audio cassette tape

ampex_071201 audio cassette tape

allsop3_head_cleaner_080417 audio cassette tape

agfa_stereochrom_60+6_080417 audio cassette tape

agfa_lnx90_080417 audio cassette tape

agfa_ferrocolor_90+6_oliv_080417 audio cassette tape

agfa_crii_60_080417 audio cassette tape

agfa_c90_orange_080417 audio cassette tape

agfa_c60plus6_grey_080417 audio cassette tape

Agfa_Ferrocolor_60%2B6_Albastra audio cassette tape

Agfa_Ferro_C-60 audio cassette tape

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tapedeck.org responsive layout

after changing the ad layout (which only supports the site and does NOT make me rich, by the way) on tapedeck to inline, tape-sized ads i was finally able to make tapedeck even more responsive: sizing your browser now gives you 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6 columns of tapes, depending on the space available. go ahead and try it! a few pics are on facebook

Isolating Tapes 101

[photo album] http://on.fb.me/MX2BHS — isolating this denon tape was a real piece of work. Still, properly isolated tapes make better tees! Remember that. New Stuff coming soon to Tapewear!

Updates first on Facebook

to stay up to date with the tapes we post, be a fan of tapedeck on Facebook — all updates are posted there first, sometimes days before officially appearing on the site! on Facebook, you'll also get updates on the tapes we're going to post in the future: the shape of tapes to come.