Cassette

• When were cassettes developed as an evolution from tapes used in recording technology?


  In the 1930s
• Who launched the cassette as a consumer product?

  Phillips
• Why did cassettes take a while to catch on as a popular medium for music?


  Because vinyl was still the most popular format at that time
• How do cassettes work in relation to audio signals?


  They transfer an analogue representation of the audio signal onto the tape
• What material is used on the surface of the tape in cassettes?

  Ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃)
• What does the polarisation of ferric oxide particles represent?


  The audio signal transferred to the tape
• In which decade did cassettes begin to become more popular?

  The 1970s
• Why did cassettes overtake vinyl in popularity?

  They suffered from fewer physical problems than vinyl
• What physical advantage did cassettes have over vinyl?


  They had no physical groove for dust to get stuck in
• What was a significant use of cassettes in the context of music devices?

  They became the media of choice for car stereos and portable music devices
• What was the original portable cassette player called?

  The Walkman
• What problem could occur if a cassette was placed close to a large magnet?

  It could cause damage to the information stored on it
• What type of noise were cassettes prone to?

  Background noise and hiss
• What technology was developed to remove hiss from cassettes?

  Dolby Noise Reduction
• What happens to cassettes when they are left for long periods?

  The sticky material degrades and the magnetic representation is lost
• What is 'wow and flutter' in the context of cassettes?

  Variations in pitch due to uneven capstan turning
• What is tape saturation?

  When a magnetic tape is overloaded, affecting sound quality
• How is slight tape saturation used in audio production?

  As a form of compression to create a 'warm, rich sound'
• When did cassettes become less popular?

  During the 1990s
• Why did cassettes become largely obsolete in the early 2000s?

  Because CDs became cheaper and more reliable
• For what purposes are cassettes now primarily used?

  For personal recording and in older cars