Simulate cassette tape audio profiles using FFmpeg

Hacker News Top Tools
ffmpeg cassette-simulation audio-processing open-source github audio-tool

Summary

A GitHub project that uses FFmpeg to simulate cassette tape audio profiles including tape noise, wow/flutter, bandwidth limits, and equalizer adjustments. Provides scripts for different cassette types.

No content available
Original Article
View Cached Full Text

Cached at: 07/27/26, 01:40 AM

AARomanov1985/Audio-Cassette-Simulation

Source: https://github.com/AARomanov1985/Audio-Cassette-Simulation

Cassette Simulation

Cassette Tapes Collection

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.

Similar Articles

OTape

Hacker News Top

oTAPE is an open, self-contained file format for digital cassettes, packaging two fixed-length sides of continuous audio plus labels and artwork into a single .otape file, complete with a browser-based Web Deck player and tape-sound emulation.

Creating the Aetheryte Radio

Hacker News Top

A tutorial on creating a randomized audio component using the Web Audio API and JavaScript to simulate a radio from the game FFXIV, with randomized whirs and hums for a lifelike effect.

How I reverse engineered a commercial spatial audio effect

Hacker News Top

作者讲述了如何通过黑盒测试与信号分析，逆向工程一款商业空间音频处理程序，并在 Linux 上使用 PipeWire 复现其效果，涵盖了 HRTF、房间响应与心理声学的实践探索。

Text-to-meowdio models

Lobsters Hottest

This article applies a novel methodology for analyzing the expressive range of text-to-audio models, focusing on cat vocalizations, and presents interactive comparisons of models like Stable Audio Open 1.0, EzAudio, and TangoFlux.