You have a Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette is an analogue audio format. Inside the cassette, there is a magnetic strip of about 0.16-inch-wide (4 mm). You can record sound on both sides.
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50+ years
In the early sixties, the Compact Cassette was invented at the Philips holding in Hasselt. After more than 50 years, this cassette is still in use. Currently, different lengths are in circulation, including C46 (23 min/side), C60 (30 min/side), C90 (45 min/side) and C120 (60 min/side). Do you want to record a longer audio segment? You can extend the capacity by adapting the recording speed.
Roman numerals
You might have noticed a Roman numeral on the cassette. It indicates the chemical composition of the magnetic tape:
- Type I: ferric oxide
- Type II: chromium dioxide
- Type III: ferro-chrome
- Type IV: metal particles
Did you know …
… the Compact Cassette became very popular, partly because Philips decided to license the design freely after 1965?*
Want to know more? These websites reveal everything about Compact Cassettes:
- Wikipedia – Muziekcassette
- Scart – Handleiding voor het identificeren van analoge audiotapeformaten
- Museum of Obsolete Media – Compact cassette
- Museum of Obsolete Media – Compact cassette type II
- Museum of Obsolete Media – Compact cassette type III
- Museum of Obsolete Media – Compact cassette type IV
About this website
This website is an initiative set up by meemoo, the Flemish Institute for Archives, supported by the Flemish Government and ERDF. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your comments, questions or recommendations. For more information about meemoo, visit www.meemoo.be/en.
The project won an Archive Achievement Award in October 2019, presented by FIAT/IFTA, within the ‘Excellence in Media Preservation’ category.
