From: tjw+@pitt.edu (TJ Wood)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing,rec.music.folk,pgh.general,pitt.general
Subject: Cassette Tape Prices?  (Our Record Player Has Died)
Date: 23 Nov 92 16:06:57 GMT
Followup-To: rec.folk-dancing
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

I suppose it had to happen, sooner or later.  Tuesday night our "backup"
record player bit the dust.  The other bad news is that our "regular" record
player that died during our September folk dance camp has been judged as
"unrepairable" by the repair person.  These 2 record players are 1960s (?)
vintage school-type indestructable types.  But if even SUPERMAN can die,
then I guess it comes as no surprise that our record players are mortal too.

We can borrow or buy a new record player, but we've been moving towards
converting to cassette tape.  This latest development has finally gotten us
to do it just a wee bit faster than we might have otherwise!

We have a cassette player, but it is not a variable speed model.  If anyone
has some ideas on modifying players to be variable speed I am (like Ross
Perot) all ears!

My club had 100, 4 minute blank cassettes on hand.  So this past week I've
been sifting through our record cases and converting the records we
regularly use cassettes.  To make life easy for the "record runner", I've
recorded only 1 song per cassette (i.e.: I've recorded the same song on both
sides of each cassette).  

This has lead me to some observations which may be of use to other clubs in
the same situation.

One thing I've notices is how many records we have.  I've gone though about
300 "45s" this weekend.  We actually regularly use less than 1/3rd of the
records.  This makes me wonder about how many dances the club once "knew"
and how many have been "lost" over time.  (The club was once run by Dick
Crumb back in the 60's).  I will also have to look at the albums and the
78s.

Another thing I've noticed is that most of the records are NOT "protected"
via ASCAP or BMI.  If the "people" from ASCAP come knocking on our door we
can effectively tell them to take a hike.

Many of the "45s" are reproductions of earlier 78s.  Most of the recordings
are older than I am.

But I digress...

What I've come to you today for is information on cassette tapes.  I need
to know what the best prices are today for short duration tapes.  Also,
prices on cassette boxes and carrying cases/storage boxes would be helpful
as well.

Also, if anyone has some thoughts on the new Compact Digital Cassette and
players, I'd like to hear from them.  I see that Radio Shack is going to
be selling these new recorders this Christmas (for about $799).  I see this
as a good sign, for when the "shack" starts selling something, it's probably
come into the mainstream of consumer electronics and the price should
substantially come down in the near future!

Given my experiments with the "Sound Blaster" card and digitizing sounds on
my own PC, I know that it is possible to digitally slow or speed up
recordings, so there is some hope that a variable speed digital
recorder/player is looming in my folk dance clubs future.  I just wish that
our record players had lasted another year before going belly-up!

Terry

PS: Sorry if this posting is somewhat "choppy".  I had no less than a dozen
phone calls while putting it together.  The never of some people to expect
that just because I'm at work, I'm here to work! ;=)

-- 
        INTERNET: tjw+@pitt.edu         BITNET: TJW@PITTVMS
"Laugh while you can, Monkey Boy!"                        - Lord "John" Warfin
"There can be only one!"                                  - The Highlander
"There should have been only one. I want my money back!"  - Terry
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing