Have you encountered VHS or Cassette piracy in the 80s? (piefed.social)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by Shadow79@piefed.social to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

55 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Like that infamous "ET" torrent in 1982 where it involved a "pirate" sneaking a huge JVC camcorder (with a VHS reel) recording the entire movie in theaters, given this was before DVD's existed (don't even ask about pirate bay, those weren't available yet). The same applies to "torrented" music, one would have a spare tape cassette recording the song played via the radio, that's how they torrented content back then if they can't afford an official copy.

Only millennials or Gen X who were kids back then would've encountered or witnessed VHS or Cassette "torrents" from either friends or family and often or not, piracy in the pre internet days was rife even before torrent sites were a thing. There are VHS "torrents" of TV shows or series (placing a camcorder which faces the TV screen with a spare reel recording the entire show (ads included), then used to fast forward upon replay.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] reallyzen@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

One thing in "my" time was bootleg concert tapes ; I guess that hasn't changed, concerts are unique and fanatics would just buy it.

Quality was horrible.

[-] myrrh@ttrpg.network 4 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

...ohmigosh, yeah, smuggling in the equipment, surreptitiously-recording, and cleaning up tapes afterward is a lost art in these days of ubiquitous phones and console recordings...

...i had a specially-modified trenchcoat i could break down my rig and hide parts in various seams and pockets to make it through venue-entry security patdowns, always a high-adrenaline moment!..

[-] reallyzen@lemmy.ml 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

So cool, thanks for sharing! I believe it was sufficiently long ago that you shouldn't risk this or that body part over it: what did you bring? Nagra? Condenser mikes? i tried this once (it was otherwise my everyday carry) and it was shit. Top of the line at the time. Still shit recording.

[-] myrrh@ttrpg.network 4 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

...just cheap dynamics and a cassette recorder, disassembled and reassembled in the field: signal's so hot in live venues that the mic pretty much clips anyway, so i never lost too much sleep over it until cleaning things up back home with radio shack gear (when they sold respectable equipment)...

this post was submitted on 23 May 2026

41 points (83.6% liked)

Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ

69237 readers

220 users here now

⚓ Dedicated to the discussion of digital piracy, including ethical problems and legal advancements.

Rules • Full Version

1. Posts must be related to the discussion of digital piracy

2. Don't request invites, trade, sell, or self-promote

3. Don't request or link to specific pirated titles, including DMs

4. Don't submit low-quality posts, be entitled, or harass others

Loot, Pillage, & Plunder

We heartily recommend visiting the free port of freemediaheckyeah (aka FMHY) while you sail the high seas, for all the freshest links the ocean has to offer.