Cassette Artwork and Audio Guidelines

Art Guidelines

Using NAC Templates

To ensure proper printing for cassette shells and for J-Cards, and O-Cards to fit properly, use NAC’s provided templates. Remove or hide template lines before submitting.

Accepted File Formats

  • AI, EPS, PDF, PSD, JPEG, TIFF (CS6 or lower)
  • Recommended Software: Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop
  • Font Preparation: Convert all fonts to outlines (Illustrator) or shapes (Photoshop) to prevent any issues. InDesign users should place the Illustrator PDF as a base layer and build art on top.

Printing & Resolution Requirements

Our graphics department prints all artwork and inserts on a high-end laser printer.

  • J-Cards/U-Cards: CMYK, double-sided
  • O-Cards/Outer Sleeves: CMYK, outer side only
  • Large orders (2,000+ units) or orders with specific Pantone colors may require outsourced offset printing, which will increase turnaround time.
  • Resolution: 300 ppi (minimum) – 600 ppi (recommended) for J-Cards & O-Cards; keep text as vector for best print quality.
  • Keep artwork within template safety margins to ensure important text or images are not cut off during production.
  • Bleed: Extend background colors/images to bleed lines for clean trimming.

Cassette Imprints (Ink printed directly on cassette shell)

  • Single-Color Only: Solid black design on a white background
  • Vector preferred for sharpness
  • Resolution: 1200 ppi minimum for fine details
  • Convert all fonts to outlines (Illustrator) or shapes (Photoshop).
  • Font Size: Minimum 6 pt; line thickness ≥0.5 pt (0.2 mm) for visibility
    • Artwork that is thinner than the minimum line thickness may have to be thickened by the graphic artist to ensure the design will print. Gaps in the art smaller than this minimum may fill in with ink during printing.
  • Avoid large solid color areas (40% ink coverage max) for consistent printing.
    • For full-coverage designs, we recommend printed paper labels instead.

Laser-Printed Paper Labels (Full-Color)

  • Best for multi-color, detailed, or high ink coverage designs.
  • Ensure background images extend to the bleed line beyond the cut edges.

For best results, follow these guidelines carefully to ensure high-quality printing and proper fit.

Audio Guidelines

Optimize Your Audio for Cassette

National Audio Company remasters your audio to enhance sound quality and maximize performance for the tape type you choose. We also insert inaudible tones and any gap timing you specify. To ensure smooth processing, follow these guidelines:

Master Formats (Preferred Order)

  • Program-Ready digital audio files (.wav, .aif, .aiff, .flac)
  • CD-DA
  • Data CD/DVD (44.1kHz 16-bit WAV)
  • R-DAT, Cassette, 1/4″ & 1/2″ Reel-to-Reel (Call us to check compatibility)

Preparing a Program-Ready Master

  • Each cassette has two sides (Program A = Side A, Program B = Side B).
  • Combine all tracks for each side into a single audio file with tracks in the correct order and desired gaps (typically 2 seconds between tracks).
  • Use 44.1kHz/16-bit format.
  • Since the audio department creates the cassette master in-house, the customer should submit their master at whatever volume they prefer. CD or streaming levels are acceptable; the audio department will adjust it to their reference level when producing the cassette master.

Digital Format Notes

  • Other formats will be converted to 44.1kHz/16-bit.
  • Check compressed audio for quality loss before sending.
  • Upload your files via personal webspace, NAC’s WeTransfer, or a file-sharing service of your choice, along with any other files for your order (art files, order forms, etc).

Final Checks Before Submission

  • Include a track list detailing all tracks on Side A & B.
  • Verify the playback quality, track sequence, and track gaps of your audio file.
  • Pay close attention to the pre-track pause times and any tracks that have audio extending across the next track marker.
  • Ensure embedded track numbers are correct (especially for iTunes users).
  • Check for unwanted “pops” in compressed formats.

Additional Notes

  • De-essing may be applied if needed to reduce high-frequency distortion if the master provided is overly sibilant or bright . This allows the program volume level to be optimized for cassette tape
  • Copyrighted Material requires proof of licensing. Even small samples of recognizable copyrighted material of any origin will be rejected unless it is accounted for in your Intellectual Property Rights Form and you have provided proof of licensing/permission from the IPR owner. Please respect the rights of other artists.

For Cassette Duplication: Complete your forms online and email to jkemna@nactape.com. Or save the order form to your computer to fill out and email.
For a Quote Request: Click here.

IMPORTANT – Copyright Facts

NOTE: National Audio Company Inc. respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects its customers to do the same. It is very important to remember that reproduction of copyrighted material, without prior permission of the copyright owner, is illegal according to  17 U.S.C. Section 501. “Reproduction of copyright materials” applies not only to music, but also to any media that has been previously published including audio samples from video. It also includes visual design and photos not originated by the submitting designer. If you want your order to be completed with no delays please make sure that your project does not contain any copyrighted audio or imagery before you fill out our order forms. The Intellectual Property Rights form is your word that you have the full right to have your project duplicated.


Service Policies and Loss/Damage Liability Statement

By submitting material to National Audio Company Inc., the customer requests the processing services described and agrees to pay any standard charges.

Customer declares that all materials submitted to National Audio Company Inc. for transfer or other reproduction, are not in violation of any copyright laws.

The materials submitted were either created by the customer or the customer has the permission of the copyright owner to duplicate them.

If the customer does not own the copyright, it is illegal to make copies and the orders will be returned to the customer unprocessed.

For copyrighted material where the customer has the permission of the copyright holder, the customer needs to include the copyright release with the order in order to reproduce copyrighted material.

Customer will indemnify and hold National Audio Company Inc. harmless in respect to any claim of violation of such laws.

This is a transfer service only whereby National Audio Company Inc. warrants that the material submitted will be transferred to cassette tapes, or any media that was agreed up on, and National Audio Company Inc. does not warrant that the material will be enhanced or improved during the transfer.

If a customer is not satisfied with the transfer, National Audio Company Inc. will attempt to reproduce it and attain a quality level as close as possible to the original source quality.

Loss/Damage Liability Statement

By submitting a cassette tape, open reel to reel or other material to National Audio Company Inc. for transfer, the customer acknowledges that this material will be processed by multiple people that are trained to maximize the security of these materials.

In the extremely rare event of loss or damage of any kind to the customer’s cassette tape, open reel to reel or other material, the customer agrees that the liability to National Audio Company Inc. and its employees (including third party) is limited to the cost of replacing such materials with blank media of similar type. Customer also agrees that National Audio Company Inc. and its employees and agents shall not be otherwise liable to the Customer for any loss or damage of any kind or nature, whether direct incidental, consequential, or otherwise.