RCA cassette

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Size comparison of the RCA cassette (right) to the
compact cassette (left)

The RCA cassette , also RCA tape cartridge or magazines Loading Cartridge ( magazine loading cassette called), is a magnetic tape cassette , which on ¼ inch magnetic tape reel technology in quality and Stereofonie offered for the consumer market. After four years of technical development, RCA launched it in the USA in 1958. In 1964 it disappeared from retail. This point in time coincided with the introduction of the stereophonic record .

description

The advantage of the RCA cassette compared to reel tapes was the convenience of not having to thread the tape or to get the take-up reel empty again by rewinding to change the tape. The same design concept was used in the 1962 compact cassette of Philips used. The RCA cassette can also be recorded on both sides. Some RCA cassette tape recorders have an auto-reverse mechanism and can play the tape continuously.

The standard tape speed of 9.525 cm / s (3¾ in / s) is identical to the 8-track cassette . It is twice the compact cassette and half the highest speed of tape recorders for the private customer market at that time, which for reasons of sound quality drive tape speeds of up to 19 cm / s and can also drive ½ and sometimes ¼ and ⅛.

The tape of the RCA cassette is divided into four individual sound tracks, which offer a typical playing time of 30 minutes of stereo sound per side. In mono mode, a cassette holds twice the playing time. Some devices can be switched to half the tape speed of 4.7625 cm / s (= 1⅞ inch / s) and thereby double the playing time at the expense of the sound quality. With the tape materials of the time, this speed was only suitable for recording speech.

The position of the audio tracks, the width of the tape and the speed of the RCA cassette are compatible with reel audio tapes. It is possible to remove the tape from the RCA cassette and play it back on a tape recorder. RCA offered an adapter for smaller roll sizes.

Unlike the compact cassette, the RCA cassette contains a roller brake that prevents the tape from unwinding when the cassette is removed from the drive. It is released at a gap between the rollers on the side opposite the tape head. Despite the convenience of the RCA cassette, it was not a success. In addition, RCA was slow to respond to domestic market demand. A cassette cost US $ 4.50 in 1960 (with today's purchasing power: US $ 39), a 1200- foot long magnetic tape on reel cost US $ 3.50 at the same time, according to today's purchasing power: US $ 30. In 1964 the RCA cassette disappeared from retail.

In 1976 Sony introduced a similar system with the Elcaset , which also did not last long on the market.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Restoration Tips & Notes »0.25" cartridges.
  2. ↑ RCA Victor Announces Major Break-Through in Recorded Sound
  3. ↑ a b Stereo Goes Back On Tape. In: Popular Mechanics. September 1960, p. 205.
  4. ↑ Cartridges and Cassettes on Vintage Cassettes, accessed September 22, 2016.