[Dixielandjazz] FW: Hearing the music

[Bob Smith]

Dear Pat,

I'm glad you are satisfied with cassettes as I was until fairly recently. My 
problem arose when the double tape deck that I use for making digital backup 
copies to keep on the PC went on strike such that the recording deck doesn't 
work, only the playing deck. Unfortunately the counter is coupled to the 
recording deck, so that it has become a tiresome process to find the record 
I'm looking for. I have two other stereo rigs with counters, but neither of 
these have the same numbering system. I've already renumbered quite a few of 
my earlier cassettes that were recorded on the tape deck I bought in 1976, 
and I don't feel like repeating this time-consuming operation.

I've now gone over to using minidiscs that have nearly twice the capacity of 
a cassette, and are very convenient to use and store (two minidiscs take the 
same amount of shelf space as one cassette). However, I fear that minidiscs 
are being phased out. I have a good stock of minidiscs, but what use will 
these be when my recorder gives up the ghost, and no replacement can be 
obtained?

I think PC's are here to stay, and there is room for about 280 000 
recordings (mp3) on a 1GB hard disk, but this will have to have a separate 
hard disk backup. Even so, two 1GB hard disks are no dearer that a minidisc 
recorder. So I'm gradually transferring my cassettes, reel-to-reel 
recordings, CD's, and minidiscs to external hard disks. Eventually my 78's, 
vinyls, and acetates will also be so treated.

Kind Regards

Bob Smith