Music is an art form in which different types of sounds with the lament of rhythm, melody, timbre, and harmony are made into the composition.
Music involves different things, ranging from pitch, texture, tempo, meter, articulation, and texture. Different types of music use different styles using these factors or maybe removing them.
Music is performed mainly using instruments and vocal techniques, from rapping to singing. Music is a cultural activity. In music, mixtapes and albums play very important roles.
Key Takeaways
- An album is a collection of original songs released by an artist, while a mixtape is a collection of songs created by an artist or DJ.
- Albums are released for sale, while mixtapes are released for free.
- Albums are more polished and cohesive than mixtapes, which can have a looser, more experimental feel.
Mixtape vs Album
A mixtape is a group of songs compiled by an artist or a DJ, consisting of tracks from various artists or different genres, and distributed either for free or for a low cost. An album is a collection of recorded music tracks that are released for sale by an artist or a group of artists.
A mixtape is something where music or songs are taken from multiple sources and then it is compiled and recorded in the medium.
Compilation of music is done in audio cassettes, CD, or digital format. Songs are arranged sequentially or are programmed in such a way that the beatmatching of the song is there.
While changing, it has a seamless transition at the beginning and ending of the songs.
A mixtape was released free of cost that is self-produced, independently to gain publicity and avoid any copyright infringement.
An album is a collection of various tracks that are compiled in vinyl discs, audiotapes, or a CD. Albums gained popularity in the mid-1960s, and that period is also referred to as the album era.
In the 21st century, also it is popular. But now it is issued in MP3 and compact disc format. Recording of most of the albums takes place in a studio.
The time frame for recording an album can vary from months to years. Because it requires several takes, and then tracks may be recorded at different times and then mixed.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Mixtape | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Originally audio cassettes | Vinyl discs and compact discs. |
| Transitions | No transitions | Few seconds |
| Music styles | Artist’s own style. | Different styles |
| Recording | In-studio or anywhere else. | Live or in studio |
| Number of Tracks | One track | More than one track |
| Examples | Main Attrakionz, French Montana & Max B, King Louie, etc. | The Beatles Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) |
What is a Mixtape?
Mixtapes became common in the 1980s. Although audio cassettes by Philips were available in 1963, the quality was not very good.
The word ‘mixtape’ became homemade when music was compiled from different sources into audio cassettes and compact discs.
Songs were programmed in such a way that they could play continuously with beatmatching. The beginning and end of the song will be distinguishable with abrupt or fade edits.
According to Geoffery O’Brien, mixtapes are a very popular cultural art form in America.
A mixtape consists of hip-hop and contemporary music related to R&B culture. It is produced by an artist self-independently with his/her style to make it popular, gain publicity and save from copyright.
It is released free of cost. There are two types of mixtapes, i.e., public and private. Public mixtapes can be used publicly and are intended for sale to multiple individuals.
It can be called a party tape where a recording of music can be prepared by the DJ of the club. A private mixtape is for specific listeners.
A mixtape is very popular among the youth. From audio cassettes, it has now come in CD and MP3 formats. Because of the availability of CDs and the disappearance of audio cassettes, it has happened.
Because CDs can have more songs, they are durable and very easy to prepare. Hip-hop mixtapes first appeared in the 1970s in New York City with artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Kool Herc.
Then, in the 1980s, DJs began to record live music and sell them. Then, blend tapes in the 1990s consisting of hip-hop beats. It was also used for promoting upcoming official albums.
What is an Album?
The term Album is a Latin word in ancient Rome. It meant a whiteboard where public notices and edicts were written. From this, in the medieval ages, it meant a book that consisted of verses and songs collected together.
Thus, an album meant a collection of songs or audio recordings in one item. Till the 19th century, albums were used occasionally.
Till the 1920s, the practice of issuing records was not taken seriously by American companies.
Earlier albums used to come in 10-inch and 12-inch sizes. Then, in the 1930s, record companies started issuing albums in 78 rpm that consisted of one type of music by one artist.
It was assembled, especially with the artwork in the front. Most of the albums consisted of six to eight compositions or three to four records on both sides of a cover.
The standard format of recording an album has always remained vinyl albums. If an album becomes so long that it can’t fit in vinyl discs, then it is released as a double album.
An album era existed from the 1960s to the 2000s. With the advent of the digital age, recording an album is now done in various recording devices ranging from Compact audio cassettes, compact discs, 8-track tapes, MiniDisc, and digital albums.
Because of shifting trends in the music industry, many listeners feel that in the 21st century, there has been a death of an album.
To be an album, it should consist of at least four to five tracks with a total playing time of 25 to 30 minutes. Shorter albums are referred to as mini-albums.
Main Differences Between a Mixtape and an Album
- A mixtape originally came in audio cassette format. An album standard format was vinyl discs and compact discs.
- In the mixtape, there are no transitions between the two songs. In an album, there is a transition of a few seconds between two songs.
- The music style of a mixtape is specific and is completely dependent on the artist’s style. The music style of an album may vary from different music to different styles.
- Recording of a mixtape can take place anywhere from home to garden or in-studio. Recording of an album takes place in a studio or is recorded live by DJs.
- A mixtape contains only one track, with various songs mixed. An album consists of more than one track. Normally, it contains 12 tracks at a time.
- Examples of famous mixtapes include Main Attrakionz, French Montana & Max B, King Louie, etc. Examples of famous albums include The Beatles ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ (1967)
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/americanmusic.36.4.0487
- http://www.forumjournal.org/article/view/2778
Last Updated : 29 August, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Exquisite article, incredible detail on the history and origins of mixtapes and albums.
An exceptional read, provided a wealth of knowledge on what constitutes a mixtape and an album.
Enlightening, it’s a joy to discover the extensive history behind mixtapes and albums.
What a comprehensive article. It’s intriguing to learn how mixtapes were initially put together and highlights the evolution of albums throughout the years.
The elaborate insight in this article is commendable. It’s very rare to find write-ups this detailed in today’s times.
Great article! I’ve always loved music and this really enhanced my understanding of the difference between a mixtape and an album. Very informative.
What an eye-opener, I truly enjoyed learning about the comparisons between mixtapes and albums, especially the aspects of transitions and recording.
I think the article reflects the true essence of musical collections. It has a depth that is hard to come by these days.