An apparatus suitable for digital data transfer with a tape cassette is designed to require no movement of a magnetic transducer head to establish data transfer contact between the head and a tape cassette. The tape cassette is inserted in the apparatus in the direction of a notional line intersecting at right angles the axes of rotation of the pair of hubs of the tape cassette. Upon full insertion in the apparatus the tape cassette has its apertured front side held opposite the transducer head. A cassette shift mechanism subsequently transports the loaded tape cassette in a direction normal to the notional line, into data transfer contact with the transducer head. A tape transport shift mechanism also operates to move a pair of motor driven spindles into driving engagement with the respective hubs of the tape cassette. The insertion of the tape cassette automatically triggers the operation of both cassette shift mechanism and tape transport shift mechanism. A preferred embodiment additionally comprises an ejector mechanism including a pushbutton. Upon activation of this ejector pushbutton the tape transport shift mechanism moves the drive spindles out of engagement with the cassette hubs, and the cassette shift mechanism retracts the cassette away from the transducer head and further ejects the cassette from the apparatus.