How to make a cassette mixtape online — Tapedeck guide

Tapedeck turns a tracklist into a photoreal cassette you can download and share — here is how it works and how to make yours look great.

What is Tapedeck?

Tapedeck is a free, browser-based mixtape maker and cassette generator. You type a tape name and a two-sided tracklist, choose a decade aesthetic and a shell colour, and Tapedeck draws a realistic cassette sitting in its case — twin reels, screw dimples, a hand-written label, the works. When it looks right you download it as a high-resolution PNG or share it straight from your phone.

It is made for anyone who wants the look of a real mixtape without the tape deck: people sharing a playlist with a friend, marking a road trip or a summer, or just chasing that 80s / 90s / Y2K aesthetic for a post. There is no account, no app to install and nothing to pay.

How to make a cassette mixtape

1. Name your tape. Type a title like “summer ’09”. When you press Enter or click away, the title settles onto the label with a quick ink-dry animation.
2. Pick a decade. Choose 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Y2K or 2010s — the 60s Mod look leads with pop-art target rings and marigold-and-poppy shells. Each preset restyles everything at once — palette, shell finish, label handwriting and the J-card behind the cassette.
3. Type your tracklists. Put one track per line in the Side A and Side B boxes. A live counter shows how many tracks are on each side.
4. Choose the shell and handwriting. Tap a shell colour, switch between matte and glossy plastic, and pick one of three handwriting styles for the label.
5. Download or share. Export a Story-sized (1080×1920) or square (1080×1080) PNG, or use your device’s share sheet to send it directly. Every image carries a small Tapedeck watermark.

Tips for a better-looking tape

• Keep the title short — two or three words fill the label best and stay readable at a glance.
• Match the decade to the vibe: neon 80s and frosted Y2K read very differently, so try a couple before you commit.
• Aim for roughly six to ten tracks a side. The label shows the first several and adds a “+N more” line, so very long lists still look tidy.
• Translucent shells (amber, ice, smoke) show the reels through the plastic; opaque shells look bolder. Pair a glossy finish with darker shells for a wet-plastic sheen.
• The Permanent Marker handwriting suits grunge 90s tapes; the fine Shadows Into Light hand fits neat 2010s pastels.
• Export the square size for a feed post and the Story size for vertical stories.

FAQ

Is Tapedeck free? Yes, completely. It is supported by ads and needs no account.

Does it play music? No. Tapedeck makes the image of a cassette from the track names you type. It does not play audio and is not connected to Spotify or any music service — the song titles are just text you write onto the label.

Where is my tape saved? Your most recent tape is stored only in your own browser (localStorage) so it is still there when you come back. Nothing you type is sent to us or to any server; the image is generated on your device.

Can I remove the watermark? Not in this version — the small Tapedeck mark is part of every exported image.

Do I have to install anything? No. Tapedeck runs in any modern browser on phone, tablet or desktop.