How Much Does Your Old Cassette Bands Work? Pay Attention to Storage For Long Life
At the beginning of the digital era the tapes left behind, many people still have this vintage audio record environments. How long does these tapes last? The answer depends on a single factor: extension conditions. Tapes stored in the right environment can protect the quality for decades.
The main elements affecting the life of tape tapes are:
- Temperature fluctuations cause the deterioration of magnetic coating on cassettes
- High humidity can lead to swelling and adhesive of tape material
- Solar light and UV radiation damage the chemical structure of plastic case and coating
- Low humidity environments can cause the tape to break by making it brittle
- Tapes can withstand 30 to 40 years in proper storage conditions
It is critical to storing your tapes in a constant, cool environment for long-lasting. Ideal conditions are humidity between 16-24 degrees Celsius and 30-40 percent. A basement or air-conditioned room of your home is suitable for this purpose; but direct sunlight can be a killer for radiators’ proximity or humid baths tapes.
If you want to permanently protect the sound of your favorite tapes, it is recommended to transfer them to digital format. In this way, your music will remain safe regardless of storage errors.