How Cassette Tapes Edited REALITY (Mixtape Ep. 2)
Welcome back to Mixtape, my 4 part series about how cassette tapes changed the world. I’ve been listening to music exclusively on cassettes, and collecting stories about tapes, trying to figure out why they’re seeing a comeback. What I’ve found is mind blowing.
New technologies are just first drafts – what we actually DO with them is the real story.
Today I have two stories that push this idea in opposite directions. One shows how an art form built on cassettes settled into something simpler. The other shows how the same magnetic particles that captured “reality” ended up breaking it.
Cassette sales are at a 20 year high, but don’t call it a comeback – we live in a world reshaped by how we chose to use magnetic tape.
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PATREON
This series is made possible by the direct support of viewers like you through Patreon. Get behind the scenes videos, extended edits, and more by becoming a member at http://www.patreon.com/diggingthegreats
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CREDITS
Written and Produced by Brandon Shaw
Cinematography by Ace Barro
Animation by Jeriah Dunk
Illustration by Ace Barro
Story Editing by Simon Adler
Music by Andrew Reyes and Brandon Shaw
You can listen to “Jack and Bing”, Simon Adler’s full Radiolab story that helped inspire this piece here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXd-KaYrpWU&pp=ygUWamFjayBhbmQgYmluZyByYWRpb2xhYg%3D%3D
To learn more about Simon’s work, check out http://www.windstarsolutions.com or my video where he sent me a very strange package: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfRSBEqueL8&t=1115s
NOTE: The Reel to Reel player shown here is not a real Magnetophon, as those belong in museums!
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THANKS TO
DJ Green Lantern, Zack Taylor, Kendon Shaw
We Are Rewind for making a great cassette player (not sponsored): https://www.wearerewind.com/
Everyone who supports Digging The Greats on Patreon, especially Josh Nelson and Sam Deka in the Executive Producer Tier
http://www.patreon.com/diggingthegreats
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FURTHER READING
Two books that were an incredible resource during the making of this series were:
“High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape” by Marc Masters
“Do Remember!: The Golden Era of NYC Hip-Hop Mixtapes” by Evan Auerbach and Daniel Isenberg
#mixtape #cassette #musichistory
@diggingthegreats
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
If you liked this video, leave a comment, hit like, hit the hype button, but most importantly: share it with someone who you think would enjoy it 🔥
See you next week for Episode 3. Let’s just say things are going to get personal 🤐
@robintayler6157
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
This episode was incredibly interesting. Being born in '84 I was kind of just too young to use tape for more than anything other than recording the songs I liked from radio and cutting out the stuff I didn't…. It was a mixtape… I wonder if I'd have gotten into hip hop and turntablism if I didn't get that experience in my formative years.
Thankyou thankyou so much for this video… Incredible.
@daywizzle
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
This has become my favorite series / channel at the moment!
@ironpenmusic
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
Big up to the brother I discovered, Green Lantern. And this was a great episode!
@phranzSPENCER
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
you, my friend have a funny walk 😂
@treesoftampa
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
Ok, that's a deep one.
@doderiolarkisso4038
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
>buncha shit being mixed together
damn right..
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
I will try to find you somewhere later on the internet bat man
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
Sorry my eldest son has been sick all night and is awake and now all 3 are. Fuuuuc thisss
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
If anyone is ROTHSCHILD
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
Like out there talking about being you know Aristotleeeeee
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
You must think people are such fucking clowns
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
You’re not even like the regular superficial narcissist talk only about themselves etc etc you’re a real person. !??? HOWWWWWW
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
And the most cool like normal aas decent person I’ve come across in like 25 years wwhaaaat ??!!!
@MariamField-k7g
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
No one would even believe this but out of all the people I’ve met you’re for sure well I never met you but TOP of the bill
@zaza321
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
What is the track playing at the end of this video? I love it!
@soundshape6496
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
I love that DTG (who already had great production values on his videos) has taken some of his patreon dough and put it back into his art.
@dervwfahrer
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
14:38 It was the AEG Magnetofon K4 (Mono). The Ancestor of the so-called "3-Head" Tape Recorders. It was practically the first Device able to "PreErase"-"Bias" (Arrangement of the Magnetic Particles), "Monitored Recording" – and "Liveadjustment". Interestingly, not so long ago, everyone knew how to Record Tapes, but not how to erase them. Furthermore, due to "Magnetic untidy Tapes," the Tapes lost their Magnetism prematurely, which meant that the Tapes were not able to hold the stored data well. The K4 was the first Commercial Device that could "Erase the existing Record/ReArrange Magnetic Particles (bias), New Record, and Adjust during Recording — but only in Mono. Stereo didn't come until the K7.
@avgvwr2342
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
21:57 Brandon groove walkin’ through …
@soundshape6496
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
Wow – Green Lantern is skinny.
@donovandelaney3171
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
Our music came from Native Americans and the Ancient Egyptians. They wrote them down on stone tablets and scrolls.
@wi11503
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
This series just keeps getting better
@ThatWhiteMoreno
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
8:17 we really need to give love again to the djs & producers
@shlearp
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 pm
what is that end beat? did you make it, and whats it called
Comments are closed.