Definition of Dakou
In the recording industry, a dakou (Chinese: 打口) was a type of cut-out used in China to gain access to mostly rock music recordings that would otherwise be banned due to Chinese censorship.
These recordings, which were mainly shipped from the United States and Canada, were exported to China to be used as raw materials; however, they were instead sold through semi-legal markets to be listened to. Although they were cut, due to how tape recorders read the reels of tape loaded in a cassette from the centre to the margin, only the last parts of recordings were lost.
Related terms
Single (music)
In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an…
Music piracy
Music piracy is the copying and distribution of musical compositions and their…
Pumping (audio)
In sound recording and reproduction, and music, pumping or gain pumping is a creative…
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In sound recording and reproduction, audio mixing is the process of optimizing and…
British Library Sounds
British Library Sounds (previously named Archival Sound Recordings) is a British Library…
Bristol sessions
The Bristol Sessions were a series of recording sessions held in 1927 in Bristol…
Tonmeister
Tonmeister is a job description in the music and recording industries that describes a…
A-side and B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms…
Fast forward
To fast-forward is to move forwards through a recording at a speed faster than that at…
Frequently asked questions
What is Dakou?
In the recording industry, a dakou (Chinese: 打口) was a type of cut-out used in China to gain access to mostly rock music recordings that would otherwise be banned due to Chinese censorship.
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Dakou – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by J.P.Lon – CC BY-SA 3.0