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DESCRIPTION

TapeDeck is a new audio recorder exclusively for Mac OS X 10.5, designed with a quick-capture workflow in mind. You're never more than a single mouse click (or keystroke) away from making a new recording, which are called, unsurprisingly, “tapes.” TapeDeck records directly to compressed MP4-AAC audio, making it equally useful for quick high-fidelity samples or hours and hours of lecture.

As you can see, TapeDeck was designed to emulate a real cassette tape recorder (perhaps you have a similar model in your basement), but with a few key differences:

  • Every recording you ever make is immediately saved in the box of Tapes.
  • You cannot record over an existing tape; clicking Record automatically starts a new tape for you.

Of course, TapeDeck improves on the traditional tape recorder in a number of ways:

  • In much the same way that digital cameras made film “free,” TapeDeck makes tapes “free”: you'll never run out of tape (until you run out of disk space).
  • TapeDeck's recording quality is far better than that of an audiocassette. You can adjust the recording quality to trade file size for recording length.
  • An audiocassette has a label (where you can write a little bit) and a case liner (where you can write a lot). TapeDeck has these too, but they're full-text searchable.
  • Tapes are standard .m4a audio files, so you can copy them into iTunes and synchronize them with your iPod, or email tapes to others.

To record with TapeDeck, you must have a built-in microphone, use device plugged into your Mac's line-in port (such as a microphone, record player, etc.), or another audio input device (USB input, Bluetooth headset, etc.).

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WHAT'S NEW
Initial release
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.5 or later.


SCREENSHOT

Developer:SuperMegaUltraGroovy
Downloads:246
  - Version d/l:246
Multimedia & Design:Audio
License:Demo
Date:09 May 2008
Platform:PPC/Intel
Price:$25.00
RATING
*****
TapeDeck User Reviews (2 posts)Write A Review
May 14 2008
*****

DENNISG  I downloaded the demo version of TapeDeck, and was immediately stunned by its interface which exactly mimics a portable cassette recorder. This, of course, means there's absolutely no learning curve in using TapeDeck, since virtually everyone has experience using cassette recorders. Congrats to the developers for this inspired interface.

My one beef with the software has been resolved by a video they posted on their web site. Like the previous reviewer, my main objective with TapeDeck is to capture a stream of internet radio content. The video showed me how to do that. And as I write this, I'm recording Radio Paradise to one of the "tapes." Just drag the tape to iTunes, plop it onto your iPod, hop on an airplane, and you've got hours of entertainment to distract you from the pathetic lack of legroom, absence of food, and the 3-year-old kicking the back of your seat.

I gave TapeDeck a rating of 5 because it does its job perfectly. For a version 1.0 product, it's well-conceived, intelligently executed, and rock solid. The only thing that could be improved is the necessity to download an ancillary system utility called Soundflower that directs the sound to the TapeDeck application. It would be nice if this capability were built in to TapeDeck instead of requiring a separate download and setup. But it's a very, very small quibble, and takes nothing away from the fact that this program's capability is the answer to my prayers.  (Version 1.0)

[ Reply ]
May 9 2008

CHAS_M  This is a very clever idea and an interesting UI. The only real flaw I can find with this is that it appears to be unable to record streams (as, say, Audio Hijack or Wiretap can).

As-is, this is a great easy tool for musicians and vocal recording, voiceovers, practicing and podcasting, so if they add the ability to record audio off the net I think they've got a really solid product here.  (Version 1.0)

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