audiotapes
Reels of sound
Audiotapes are magnetic tapes used to record and play back sound, or the cassettes containing them.
The term covers both the physical medium and recordings made on it: The journalist transcribed hours of audiotapes.
Once ubiquitous for music and spoken-word recording, audiotapes have been largely displaced by digital formats but remain important in archival contexts.
Magnetic audio cartridges
- reelsCylindrical winding devices
- analogComparable equivalent
- reel-to-reelTape threading between spools
- compact cassetteEnclosed magnetic audio tape
microcassette · eight-track · spools · bias · Dolby · hiss · splice
Stored audio or video
- albumsBound music collections
- mixtapesHomemade song collections
- tracksMarks showing passage
- demosPromotional trial versions
bootlegs · masters · stereo · mono · hi-fi · soundtracks · compilations · playlists
Portable personal cassette player
- boomboxPortable stereo with speakers
- cassette playerMachine for playing tapes
- rewindReturn to beginning
- fast-forwardAccelerated playback mode
pause button · record button · car stereo · portable player · childhood · eighties · seventies · vintage
Formal evaluative conversations
- testimoniesSworn statements by witnesses
- memoirsWritten personal history
- archivesStored historical documents
- recollectionsRetrieved past experiences
narratives · documentation · transcripts · field recordings · witness accounts · life stories · spoken word · firsthand accounts
Storing for long-term keeping
- digitizationAnalog-to-electronic transformation
- degradationDecline in condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- climate-controlledArtificially maintained environment
storage · restoration · humidity control · transfer · backup copies · cataloging · metadata · acid-free
Formal instructional talks
- language learningGaining fluency in another tongue
- tutorialsInstructional guides for beginners
- audiobooksNarrated literary recordings
- instructionalIntended to educate
courses · lessons · self-help · pronunciation · vocabulary · study guides · listening comprehension · dictation
cassettes
Magnetic audio cartridges
- reelsCylindrical winding devices
- analogComparable equivalent
- reel-to-reelTape threading between spools
compact cassette · microcassette · eight-track · spools · bias · Dolby · hiss · splice
recordings
Stored audio or video
demos · bootlegs · masters · stereo · mono · hi-fi · soundtracks · compilations · playlists · singles
Walkman
Portable personal cassette player
- boomboxPortable stereo with speakers
- cassette playerMachine for playing tapes
- rewindReturn to beginning
fast-forward · pause button · record button · car stereo · portable player · childhood · eighties · seventies · vintage
interviews
Formal evaluative conversations
- testimoniesSworn statements by witnesses
- memoirsWritten personal history
- archivesStored historical documents
recollections · narratives · documentation · transcripts · field recordings · witness accounts · life stories · spoken word · firsthand accounts · survivor testimonies
archiving
Storing for long-term keeping
- digitizationAnalog-to-electronic transformation
- degradationDecline in condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
climate-controlled · storage · restoration · humidity control · transfer · backup copies · cataloging · metadata · acid-free · handling
lectures
Formal instructional talks
- language learningGaining fluency in another tongue
- tutorialsInstructional guides for beginners
- audiobooksNarrated literary recordings
instructional · courses · lessons · self-help · pronunciation · vocabulary · study guides · listening comprehension · dictation · speech therapy
audiotapesvinyl records
Analog audio discs
CDs · streaming audio · MP3s · compact discs · digital downloads