REWINDThe ’88 WM170: tiny keys on top, silver hubs inside
The WM170 is a free 1988 cassette machine in REWIND. A black cassette with a dark window and small silver hubs sits under a chrome guide strip, with a row of tiny keys on top of the cassette. It plays your own files offline and winds when you swipe.
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What was a 1988 pocket tape player?
In the late 1980s the personal cassette player was a fashion item as much as a gadget. Cases got thinner, keys got smaller and some models put the controls along the top edge to keep the front clean. Battery life of a day or two was normal. The bus, the school corridor and the gym all had their own soundtrack leaking out of foam headphones.
What do you see and touch on the WM170?
The cassette is black, with a dark smoky window and small silver hubs. A chrome guide strip runs across it and a silver rail with springs sits below. The distinctive part is the small row of keys placed above the cassette instead of below it.
As the song plays, the hubs turn and the tape shifts between packs. The plate carries the printed year ’88.
- Keys along the top edge
- Silver hubs behind a dark window
- Swipe to scrub the tape
- Real tape-stop on pause
What sound settings does the WM170 want?
This compact machine suits a tight, slightly dull sound. Raise saturation a little, keep wobble gentle and let hiss sit low. In the equalizer, Vocal or Warm keeps bright modern mixes pleasant. A small cut at 12 kHz mimics the shy top end of a worn head.
Is the 1988 Cassette Player free or PRO?
The WM170 is a fine pick when you want a small, dark machine. It is one of the 8 free machines, so you can install REWIND, import your files and play on it without buying anything. Analog sound and the equalizer are free on every machine, including this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is the WM170 free?
Yes. It is one of the free machines.
Why are the keys on top?
That is how this machine is drawn, with its row of small keys above the cassette.
Does it work on a locked iPhone?
Yes. Playback continues in the background, and the lock screen, Control Center and headphone controls work.
Keep exploring
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1996 Pocket Cassette Player for iPhoneBlack cassette, cream label stripe, white toothed hubs. A free 1996 pocket tape machine for your own files.
Analog Sound on iPhoneFour sliders (saturation, wobble, hiss, crackle), automatic machine sound and a lo-fi radio filter, live on your own files. Free.Tactile Retro ControlsSwipe to wind, finger to scratch, buttons that click, a real tape stop. Sounds are synthesized on device.