audio-cassette copy-protection?

[J]

The library at school has several instructional audio cassettes they
lend out. Several of these tapes have become somewhat garbled, fading
in and out and echo-ing. The library staff claims that this is
because someone has attempted to copy the cassettes. I say this is
hogwash, as I am unaware of any schemes for copy-protecting audio
cassettes -especially that would destroy the source recording! I'm an
electrical engineer and a recording hobbyist. Am I simply ignorant of
the methods? If I'm right, what is the most likely explanation for
this type of damage? Heat? Magnetic destruction? Wear?

[New Geoff]

"J" told us...
> The library at school has several instructional audio cassettes they
> lend out. Several of these tapes have become somewhat garbled, fading
> in and out and echo-ing. The library staff claims that this is
> because someone has attempted to copy the cassettes. I say this is
> hogwash, as I am unaware of any schemes for copy-protecting audio
> cassettes -especially that would destroy the source recording! I'm an
> electrical engineer and a recording hobbyist. Am I simply ignorant of
> the methods? If I'm right, what is the most likely explanation for
> this type of damage? Heat? Magnetic destruction? Wear?

Methinks your library staff should be given a basic lesson in the mechanics
of cassette replay.

It sounds as though the tapes may have faced all three of the hazards you
mention.
Given that they are being loaned out, they are probably being played on old,
worn-headed machines that may never have been treated to a cleaning.
Did you notice any creasing along the tape edges? That's a sure sign of
them having been used in poor equipment.

They've probably been left partially played through and allowed to slacken
off, then repeatedly tugged when someone hits the ff / rw buttons.

So many possible causes . . . But definitely not a copy protect (although
who'd want to copy them now??)

________
Geoff B

[Carl Valle]

"New Geoff" <m.gjb SPHERICAL > wrote in message
...
>
> "J" told us...
> > The library at school has several instructional audio cassettes they
> > lend out. Several of these tapes have become somewhat garbled, fading
> > in and out and echo-ing. The library staff claims that this is
> > because someone has attempted to copy the cassettes. I say this is
> > hogwash, as I am unaware of any schemes for copy-protecting audio
> > cassettes -especially that would destroy the source recording! I'm an
> > electrical engineer and a recording hobbyist. Am I simply ignorant of
> > the methods? If I'm right, what is the most likely explanation for
> > this type of damage? Heat? Magnetic destruction? Wear?
>
> Methinks your library staff should be given a basic lesson in the
mechanics
> of cassette replay.
>
> It sounds as though the tapes may have faced all three of the hazards you
> mention.
> Given that they are being loaned out, they are probably being played on
old,
> worn-headed machines that may never have been treated to a cleaning.
> Did you notice any creasing along the tape edges? That's a sure sign of
> them having been used in poor equipment.
>
> They've probably been left partially played through and allowed to slacken
> off, then repeatedly tugged when someone hits the ff / rw buttons.
>
> So many possible causes . . . But definitely not a copy protect (although
> who'd want to copy them now??)
>
> ________
> Geoff B
>
>

Sony is working on a dual cassette copy deck that will suck the sound from a
source tape and stick it directly to a copy tape without all the hassle of
electronics of their older designs.
So far they have it half built, I have a Sony deck that sucks fairly well.
Perhaps the library has some of these machines also.
Carl

[Lucas Tam]

(J) wrote in
om:

> The library at school has several instructional audio cassettes they
> lend out. Several of these tapes have become somewhat garbled, fading
> in and out and echo-ing. The library staff claims that this is
> because someone has attempted to copy the cassettes.

The tapes are just getting old.

Time to convert the tapes to a digital format : )

--
Lucas Tam )
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