CASSETTE TAPE LIFESPAN

[thepsychedelicdollhouse]

I understand that over time, tape degrades.
I'm also aware of the fact that heat, humidity, sunlight, quality of the tape in addition to time, are all factors that ruin tape.
My questions are to those who have first hand experience.
1) Does sealed NOS cassette tape have a better chance at surviving over a longer period of time if stored well?
2) Do any of you have 25+ year old tape that still functions properly?

The reason I ask is to have better info before buying NOS Maxell or TDK on Ebay, Reverb, etc.

Looking forward to your responses,
Chris

[kslight]

I still have a tape deck in one car, and regularly play 25-30 year old tapes in it. A couple tapes have issues but most are fine, it is largely environmental and wear.

[MoreSpaceEcho]

I transferred all my old cassette stuff a couple years ago, everything played fine, no issues at all, and all of it was at least 25 years old, closer to 30.

[trodden]

I transferred all my old cassette stuff a couple years ago, everything played fine, no issues at all, and all of it was at least 25 years old, closer to 30.

DAMN GRANDPA!!

[MoreSpaceEcho]

Yeah. I am ancient!

[vvv]

'89-'94

Just converted to digital Nov., '20:
https://vlayman.bandcamp.com/album/grind-2-e-p-s
https://vlayman.bandcamp.com/album/amanita
https://vlayman.bandcamp.com/album/scum ... -cover-e-p

[Snarl 12/8]

I've been converting old tapes recently too and I'm surprised by how well they've generally held up. No sticky shed issues so far and these have been horribly stored for decades, mostly in the basement. Some sound like complete ass, but I'm thinking they always sounded that way. (Type I cassettes for music?) But some sound really good to my ears. YMMV. Some are even older than the dates I've seen listed here.

I would think NOS would be the best way to go for fresh recordings. Honestly, this is making me think tape has way more archival merit than any hard drive I've ever used.

[thepsychedelicdollhouse]

These responses have been encouraging.

[vernier]

My cassettes from late 70s are fine. And ones from 1980s and 1990s as well. Quarter inch from late 50s to late 80s are good too. I've had some bad luck with newer stuff, mostly 1" from 90s and 2000s.

[thepsychedelicdollhouse]

My cassettes from late 70s are fine. And ones from 1980s and 1990s as well. Quarter inch from late 50s to late 80s are good too. I've had some bad luck with newer stuff, mostly 1" from 90s and 2000s.

I have a reel of 1/2" ATR tape that's a little over 10 years old. Leaving lots of residue.

[markjazzbassist]

my cache of tape is all NOS, i find it's better formulation than the new stuff. it's all over 25 years old and works/sounds wonderful. i keep it in a climate controlled closet out of the sun. i have close to 100 tapes and whenever i pull a new one to record, works like a charm. i find NOS tape cheaper than new formulations as well.

[thepsychedelicdollhouse]

my cache of tape is all NOS, i find it's better formulation than the new stuff. it's all over 25 years old and works/sounds wonderful. i keep it in a climate controlled closet out of the sun. i have close to 100 tapes and whenever i pull a new one to record, works like a charm. i find NOS tape cheaper than new formulations as well.

My understanding is that heat is definitely a factor but humidity's a killer. I don't have central AC and we get some oppressive summer humidity in New England.

[markjazzbassist]

my cache of tape is all NOS, i find it's better formulation than the new stuff. it's all over 25 years old and works/sounds wonderful. i keep it in a climate controlled closet out of the sun. i have close to 100 tapes and whenever i pull a new one to record, works like a charm. i find NOS tape cheaper than new formulations as well.

My understanding is that heat is definitely a factor but humidity's a killer. I don't have central AC and we get some oppressive summer humidity in New England.

my research is that it's the sun, direct sunlight that will warp. i have my studio in the attic/3rd floor of my house. central AC doesn't do anything up here, i have a window unit AC to keep it cool but it gets hot and humid here too. i've not had any issues.

[MoreSpaceEcho]

Yeah, we're in Rhode Island, my tapes are up in a closet in the guest bedroom, before that they spent 16 years in a huge old loft in South Boston (now history thanks to gentrification). All sorts of heat/humidity swings. They've just lived in their cases, out of the sun, no problem.

[trodden]

Yeah. I am ancient!

I turn 48 in a few weeks and I'm having a difficult time accepting that.