#tap3

[maddrhythms]

@itskelseybelle @embroeks @brilbarrett from tonight's #Tap3 @arcchicago #area #magnusthemagnus (at American Rhythm Center)

[commodorez]

Back in 2010, I stumbled upon something special.  Some DJ by the name of 'dadahack' had created a special custom run of mp3 players that he called the TAP3.  They are the exact same size as your typical audio cassette tape too.  This was from the original run of 500, and it has a few cool features:

Micro USB port for charging & accessing the SD card to load and unload mp3's

SD card slot for easy playlist replacement if you have multiple SD cards

Standard stereo 1/8" headphone jack

Play/pause, next track, previous track, volume up, volume down, distort audio button (I don't bother with that one)

Indicator lights to know when the device is on or off, and what mode it is based on the color and flashing pattern

But the best part about the whole thing is that you can put it into a cassette player, and when the reels begin spinning, the TAP3 will begin playing. 

If you decide to advance a track, you stop the tape player, fast forward for a second or two, stop the player, then hit play again.  It also works the other way around to go back a track. It isn't perfect though and doesn't want to work sometimes, so I find myself resorting to pulling the TAP3 out and pressing the buttons, then putting it back in.

Due to the lack of a display, it typically works best with pre-made cohesive playlists.  It tends to play tracks in whatever order they were added to the SD card.  And it comes pre-loaded with dadahack's album simply called "TAP3".  Only a track or two really suit my tastes, but that's typical of most artists I listen to.

I seem to remember hearing about him making another run of these, but I may be mistaken.  Either way, this thing is pretty amusing.