The Philips DCC machines are Digital versions of Compact Cassette. IE they can record digitally onto a special DCC tape whilst also maintaining backward compatibility with the popular Compact Cassette standard. By this I mean it would play back standard analogue cassettes but would not record onto them.
It was developed by Philips and Matsushita and introduced in late 1992.
It was a competitor to MiniDisc (MD) and Digital Audio Tape (DAT), but never became popular with the general public and therfore was consigned to the tech bin forever more.
We have a Philips DCC170 which is a portable device. The specifications are as follows :
Studio Recording Quality from digital or analogue sources
Unified input jack for coaxial/optical digital, microphone and line sources
Plays analog cassettes with Dolby B
DCC text display with scroll
Track selection by title
Remote control in headphone cord
Dynamic Bass Boost
Optical digital output for connection to HiFi system
Rechargeable NiCd battery pack
Also supplied with AC/DC adapter, coaxial digital cable, HiFi cable and carrying case 
