What made it special
Compact, recordable and easy to share, the cassette made mixtapes and portable listening possible for millions.
FORMAT FIELD GUIDE
Audio Cassette
Introduced by Philips in 1963, the Compact Cassette grew from a convenient voice-recording medium into a global music format. Portable players, car stereos and home decks helped turn recorded audio into something deeply personal.
GET TO KNOW THE FORMAT
How it works
A narrow magnetic tape moves between two spools inside a protective plastic shell. A compatible deck records or reads magnetic patterns.
Collecting & playback
Look for intact shells and pressure pads, avoid heat, and use a clean, properly adjusted cassette deck for valuable recordings.