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America is Running Out of Cassette Tape

posted by cmn32480 on Monday November 13 2017, @06:51PM   Printer-friendly
from the what's-old-is-still-old-but-they-are-making-more dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard

National Audio Co. is the only company in the U.S. that produces cassette tape. Now, as cassette tapes enjoy a resurgence in popularity, National Audio has less than a year's supply left of the stuff, The Wall Street Journal reports.

For the last 15 years, National Audio's co-owner and president Steve Stepp has been clinging to his company's dwindling supply of music-quality magnetic tape. In 2014, National Audio's South Korean supplier stopped making the material, so Stepp bought out their remaining stock before they shuttered — and has been left with a shrinking stockpile ever since.

Although the demand for tape has increased in recent years, the quality and supply has not; National Audio has long relied on outdated gear that Stepp jokes is "the finest equipment the 1960s has to offer." That's why the company — which makes cassettes for everyone from indie bands to Metallica — is planning to build the U.S.'s first high-grade tape manufacturing line in decades.

Crap! Where am I going to store my TRS-80 programs now?

Source: https://theweek.com/speedreads/735269/america-running-cassette-tape

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Tuesday November 14 2017, @07:14PM (2 children)

    by urza9814 (3954) on Tuesday November 14 2017, @07:14PM (#596924) Journal

    http://www.atozaudio.com/html/azezcass-J.html [atozaudio.com]

    Search better next time. 100 60-minute tapes with full colour j-cards, wrapped, $180.95. From the same site, comparable packaging, $2.50 each for CDs at the same volume, and that's a damn good price.

    You don't want to get all techie, you buy professionally packaged CDs with artwork for just under a buck apiece.

    You're right! ... if you're buying at least a thousand. Realistic prices for small run (a couple of hundred) is nowhere near tape levels of pricing.

    https://duplication.cdbaby.com/quoter/default.aspx [cdbaby.com]

    100 CDs, full color printed and packaged in jewel cases, for $139. Pretty close to a buck a piece, and significantly less than what you quoted for tapes. Higher capacity too.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 15 2017, @02:59AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 15 2017, @02:59AM (#597117)

    I just took like-for-like from a given vendor that does both. I didn't say it was best in market - and cdbaby isn't the best choice for a lot of people (look at their T&Cs).

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 20 2017, @06:40PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 20 2017, @06:40PM (#599326)

    Dude, just followed your link to CDBABY.

    What I'm seeing isn't anywhere near what you're posting. I went to basic, CDs in Jewel Cases, 100 count ...

    $418.00 before shipping.

    I couldn't get anywhere near $200 (or $2/each, the tape ballpark) until I went for slim jewel cases.

    Where's the secret button to get the $1/CD jewel case packed and wrapped 100 count small run quote?