TAPE BLAB BLOG
New Content Every #TapeLabTuesday
Mixing & Mastering on Cassette Release Playbook for 2026
Mastering for cassette? This guide covers cassette production timelines, Side A/B prep, proof QC, duplication options, shell quality, packaging, and practical tips for a better-sounding tape release.
The Fabric of Flatness, Entry 001
An Envoy from the Edge of the Flat Earth, Entry 001
You’re Not Well: A Dark Comedy Short Film About Podcast Obsession and Isolation
You’re Not Well is a darkly funny short film about job loss, loneliness, and a podcast obsession that spirals. Support the Seed&Spark campaign.
Cassette Tape Cover Templates: A Simple DIY Guide
Cassette tape cover templates made easy: standard J-card dimensions (mm + inches), fold lines, label sticker sizing, and DIY print tips for indie labels and home mixtapes. Make your mixtape standout with custom art!
Why Underground Labels Still Use Cassette Tapes in 2026
Why do underground labels still release cassette tapes in 2026? Limited-run cassettes are cheap to duplicate, fast to produce, great merch, and perfect for building micro-communities with tape-only exclusives.
“He Left with the Tapes”
He left with tapes, a short narrative about losing it all to the tapes.
Newly Translated Scroll Claims Duke Has a Fourth Plumlee in Cold Storage
Multiple reports claim an ancient prophecy has been newly translated—one that appears to point to the existence of a Fourth Plumblee, born of science and occultism and grown under 10x gravity, shielded from the world until the day he is mature enough to attend Duke.
Is SoundCloud Mastering Any Good?
Is SoundCloud Mastering any good? SoundCloud’s Dolby-managed mastering tool is fast, affordable, and included with Artist Pro credits—but it won’t fix a bad mix. Here’s our honest take.
The Best Tape Players of All Time
A ranked, opinionated guide to the best tape players of all time—iconic Walkmans, legendary Nakamichi and Revox decks, studio standards like the TASCAM 122mkIII, plus Tape Lab’s pick: the Sony TCM-200DV for lo-fi texture and quick captures.
How Streaming Hurts Music in 2026
Spotify is killing music in 2026
If you are one of Spotify’s 281 million paid users, you just got hit with a price increase in 2026. If each of those people is now paying just $2 more a month, that's over half a billion dollars in new monthly revenue — more than $6 billion a year — on top of what they were already making. And yet, somehow, the people actually making the music are still being paid fractions of a penny per stream.
Best Cassette Players to Buy in 2026
From vintage Walkmans to modern tape decks, here are the best cassette players to buy in 2025. Tape Lab shares its picks.
RADICAL NEW REVERSE ROYALTY PROGRAM
Tape Lab launches the Reverse Royalty Program — a radical initiative paying listeners for every stream. Defy Big Streaming. Get paid to listen. Ever wondered how much artists actually make from streaming platforms? You would be disgusted - nobody, especially not artists who help imbue our lives with meaning, should be making this kind of money from their effort. Shameful.
How to Release Your First Cassette Tape (Without a Label)
Step-by-step guide to releasing your first cassette tape without a label: planning, duplication, artwork, pricing, and DIY tips for underground artists.
Why Cassette Tapes Refuse to Die: 2026 Edition
That dusty Walkman in your drawer might be more alive than you think. In 2025, people aren’t just collecting cassettes as retro trophies — they’re actively hunting them, pressing new runs, and treating them as cultural artifacts.
Cassette tape sales jumped 204.7% in Q1 2025, reaching 63,288 units in the U.S. — while CD sales simultaneously dipped. Headphonesty This kind of spike is impossible to chalk up to idle nostalgia alone. No — this is a cultural, economic, and symbolic revival.
Why Cassette Tapes Still Matter in 2025 for Underground Artists
Why cassette tapes still matter in 2025 for underground and independent artists: physical releases, scarcity, sound, and why tapes still beat pure digital.
EXCLUSIVE REMIX: Gungan Celebration
GUNGAN CELEBRATION EXCLUSIVE RELEASE ON TAPE BLAB BLOG
Why Tape Lab Loves SoundCloud in 2025
Tape Lab breaks down why SoundCloud in 2025 is still the best platform for underground producers and independent artists—unlimited uploads, track replacements, CarPlay testing, and more.
Is It Worth Fixing Your Old Cassette Player in 2025?
Got an old cassette player lying around? Learn when it's worth fixing, how to diagnose common issues, DIY repair tips, and when to call a pro. A practical guide for tape lovers in 2025.
DURTY BOUNCE Video Out Now
We just dropped a short for an unreleased track called DURTY BOUNCE—a crusty little number built live on a Kaossilator, laced with harmonies from the Omnichord. No edits, no overdubs. Just raw bounce, straight to tape.
How to Store Cassette Tapes Safely
Keep your cassette tapes from warping or degrading with these simple storage tips. Tape Lab shares best practices.
ABOUT TAPE BLAB BLOG
The Tape Blab Blog is an up-to-the-minute feed for all things Tape Lab. We’ve got DIY and How-To Guides, Tape Lab Lore, Official Merch Drops, and Updates on our latest music.