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Cassette (format)

What is cassette (format)? A clear definition from the recording section of our glossary, with 14 related terms and further reading.

Definition of Cassette (format)

A cassette is a small plastic unit containing a length of magnetic tape on two reels. The design was created to replicate the way a reel-to-reel machine works with tape moving from one reel to another while being read by a tape head. The design was first made for audio formats but then expanded into video and data storage.

As of 2025, although the cassette format is no longer used for video or data storage, it is still used as an audio format with many consumers still purchasing new album releases on cassette.

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What is Cassette (format)?

A cassette is a small plastic unit containing a length of magnetic tape on two reels. The design was created to replicate the way a reel-to-reel machine works with tape moving from one reel to another while being read by a tape head.

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