Iulius Curt's Custom Cassette Player Transforms Digital Streams into Lo-Fi Tape Recordings
Iulius Curt, a designer, has developed a unique portable retro player that captures lo-fi music wirelessly from smartphones and streaming services onto a continuous loop of cassette tape. He began with a Privileg TC 183 cassette deck, preserving its original recording circuitry to eliminate the need for redesign. A Bluetooth receiver transforms digital audio into analog signals for recording on the moving tape loop, complemented by a second read head for instant playback. The oxide coating on the magnetic tape introduces playback speed variations, contributing to a warm, lo-fi aesthetic. Curt addressed wiring issues by implementing an isolating converter for distinct power supplies. The device is equipped with 3D-printed brackets, a stainless steel exterior, and a transparent acrylic panel that displays the tape loop.
Key facts
- Iulius Curt designed a custom portable retro player that records lo-fi songs from smartphones onto cassette tape.
- The device is based on a Privileg TC 183 Japanese cassette deck.
- Music is sent wirelessly via Bluetooth, converted to analog, and recorded on a continuous tape loop.
- A second read head plays back the sound almost immediately through a speaker.
- The magnetic tape's oxide coating creates playback speed instability, yielding warm lo-fi audio.
- Curt solved a wiring issue by adding an isolating converter to separate power supplies.
- External audio equipment can be plugged in to process tracks through the tape.
- The player uses a chip from car stereos to amplify and correct tape recording imbalances.
Entities
Artists
- Iulius Curt
Institutions
- designboom
Locations
- Japan