Why it is worth attention

It offers a practical, open-source way to apply authentic analog cassette tape characteristics to digital audio, with multiple tape models and streaming support.

Who it is for

Audio enthusiasts and lo-fi music producers
Podcasters seeking vintage sound effects
Retro computing hobbyists
Sound designers for nostalgia-driven projects

Use cases

Adding tape-like warmth and imperfections to digital recordings
Creating vintage-sounding audio for podcasts or videos
Simulating specific cassette tape models (e.g., Soviet MK-60) for artistic effect
Recording live internet streams with cassette simulation in real time

Strengths

Multiple distinct tape profiles (BASF, Maxell, Sony, TDK, Soviet MK-60) with documented sound characteristics
Uses widely available ffmpeg, making it easy to integrate into existing workflows
Simple bash scripts with clear instructions for converting local files or recording streams
MIT license allows free use and modification

Considerations

Requires a Unix-like environment with bash and ffmpeg compiled with libmp3lame
Limited to predefined tape models—no user-customizable parameters exposed
No graphical interface; command-line only

README quick start

Cassette Simulation

This project simulates cassette tape audio profiles using ffmpeg.

It applies tape noise, wow and flutter pitch modulation, bandwidth limits, and equalizer adjustments.

Prerequisites

bash
ffmpeg (compiled with libmp3lame)

Repository Structure

BASF LH Extra C90: German ferric tape. Moderate hiss and mild flutter.
Maxell UD C90: Higher-grade ferric tape. Lower hiss, wider frequency range.
Sony CHF60 Type I Normal (1978): Vintage 60-minute normal tape. Warm mid-range.
Sony CHF90 (1978): Vintage 90-minute normal tape. Slightly higher tape speed drift.
TDK D90 (1995-1997): Late-era Type I tape. Clean sound, subtle analog character.
mk60: Soviet MK-60 tape. High tape hiss, heavy wow and flutter, aggressive frequency cut.

How to Use

Navigate to any cassette folder and run the scripts:

# Convert local audio files (mp3, ogg, m4a, aac)
./convert_cassette_*.sh

# Record a live web stream into segment files
./record_stream_cassette_*.sh [STREAM_URL]

Processed output files will be saved in the ./out folder.

License

MIT.

Description

This project simulates cassette tape audio profiles using ffmpeg

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