Re: Akai blank cassette question

"CLM in ND"  wrote ...
> Thanks for all the replies.  I'm going to buy some Akai tape, but also
> a box or two of TDK as well.
>
> I have a lot of music on hard drive, but I want a backup on a format
> in case something should ever happen to my computer.  With CD-R's,
> you're too reliant on the computer, not nearly as interesting to make
> a disc as it is a tape, & I'm still not convinced of their long-term
> durability.  I've heard too many stories of people not being able to
> play CD-R's just a year or two after having burned them.

That is true if you use trash (or unknown) discs. But people
who care about reliability and longevity pay a few extra
pennies (literally) and use the good stuff (Taiyo-Yuden, etc.)
I have found this information helpful...
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
There are other sources of similar info for CDR discs, etc.

> Everything I'm dubbing onto cassette I'm also going to put on Minidisc
> as well.

Of course MiniDisc is exactly the same as CDR or any other
home-writable optical disc.  But you have the added feature
that you are using a lossy codec, and you are dependent on
hardware which is already dead.  Seems like the worst of all
choices for backup or archive.

 Cassettes & Minidisc are much better for recording than
> burning CD's,

I guess it depends on what you consider "better". I can't
think of any area in which either is "better" than CDR.

> and are a lot more fun IMHO.  Both formats I like a lot
> & have never had an issue with either of them.  I listened to a
> cassette the other day I recorded back in 1993 on a Maxell UR Type I
> cassette & it sounded like the day I recorded it.  Until the
> reliability issues with CD-R's are resolved, I'm going with cassettes
> & Minidisc.

Good luck.  If "fun" is your major consideration, go for it.
But don't confuse it with any kind of legitimate "backup".