WORLD'S FIRST: Pico-Cassette Recorder made in 1984

In 1984 Dictaphone wanted to market a mini voice recorder and approached JVC who had the precision engineering skills in design & manufacturing. JVC had been making the most advanced latest video recorders after inventing the VHS system. They did not take long to agree to create the smallest cassette tape recorder possible. JVC created the smallest conventional cassette tape, the picocassette. The recorder used conventional means to drive the cassette but in miniature. The new development was the servo system to control the functions, taking away the push buttons, levers and linkages from the user end. Functions would be controlled electronically by the user using the key pad. The servo-system would control the functions including moving the play head assembly.
The mechanics and electronics of the most advanced audio and video systems were to be found in this tiny voice recorder.
It was marketed in the USA in 1984, and worldwide in 1985. Sales dwindled after 1988 due to another change in technology from analog to digital, from tape to compact disc, from the computer data disk to the hard drive, and memory chip.
Very soon voice recorders were incorporated into MP3 Players, totally electronic and digital, without mechanics.

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• WORLD'S
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• by
• JVC
• in
• 1984
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[RetroPCDOS]

I would love to find one of those, to add to my collection.

[mkkiani]

@RetroPCDOS it depends on what you collect! Best of luck!

[CassetteMaster]

Very neat recorder. It is amazing how small they made it, and the audio recording was loud and clear, from only 0.3IPS!!

[mkkiani]

@CassetteMaster I was surprised too. And the accuracy of the tiny mechanical system is astounding. The very narrow tape is wound and played with absolute precision.

[mkkiani]

You are very welcome. Best Regards MKK

[1walkgirl]

I thought the smallest cassette was the sony NT?? :-)

[shesnailie]

If they could've added Dolby stereo this coulda been the iPod Nano of the 80s...

[douro20]

That was $350 in 1984; quite remarkable considering the level of precision and full servo control including a quartz-locked servo tape drive.

[angelpichu1]

if the pico cassette could talk i imagine it would say "i wanna be a big cassete when i grow up!" lol!