Transfer audio cassette to PC/iPod/CD

Lulu58

Thanks to googler, grahawk and lucylucky for your posts and links. Much appreciated.

Googler - I was really hoping to make cd's for my car and convert to mp3 for the iPod. Not sure re my soundcard - under Sound, Video and Game Controllers on my pc is says Realtek High Definition Audio. Is that the one?

I understand what you are saying re the time, effort etc., but a lot of the stuff is no longer available and/or only available at huge cost; or they are compilations from my old 45's (and I no longer have a record deck).

I clearly need to have a think about this!

Plarkster

Sounds like an onboard soundcard to me. I'm sure you'll get adequate results, best thing to do is try it and see if you're happy with the outcome. The adapter I linked to or the cable that lucylucky showed you will only cost your a few pounds so worth a go!

diable

I used a Griffin iMic USB unit to connect a portable tape unit to my PC and converted all my girlfriends tape came with software to edit the file then converted it to MP3 and burnt it to CD, works a treat and am impressed with it.

eamon

I use Audacity for converting tape to mp3 and I have the following hardware & cables.

1 x Denon tape deck with headphone socket
1 x stereo standard phono jack to 3.5mm adaptor
1 x stereo 3.5mm phono lead

You need to plug the lead into the Line In socket of the PC/laptop. If your deck doesn't have a headphone socket then get one of these

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31700

Audacity is straightforward to use and they have a good wiki instruction page. Be wary if you are transfering music that originally came from vinyl and you used Dolby to reduce noise. It really damped down the volume and I've yet to find an easy way round that.

As others have said all the recording is in real time so set aside plenty of time.

Eamon

googler

Lulu58 wrote: »

Googler - I was really hoping to make cd's for my car and convert to mp3 for the iPod. Not sure re my soundcard - under Sound, Video and Game Controllers on my pc is says Realtek High Definition Audio. Is that the one?

Others are posting solutions to get the tapes into mp3 format, then burn a CD from there - which is backwards.

You need/want to make a CD from the tapes, then make mp3 from the CD.

My solution doesn't use a PC - connect the cassette deck to an Alesis Masterlink, and make CDs. Using the CDs in your PC, make the mp3s. The Masterlink is a professional piece of kit, and won't let you down.

Plarkster

googler wrote: »

Others are posting solutions to get the tapes into mp3 format, then burn a CD from there - which is backwards.

You need/want to make a CD from the tapes, then make mp3 from the CD.

My solution doesn't use a PC - connect the cassette deck to an Alesis Masterlink, and make CDs. Using the CDs in your PC, make the mp3s. The Masterlink is a professional piece of kit, and won't let you down.

She can make a cd from the wavs from Audacity if preferred, and IMO you're never going to get CD quality from a tape as the source quality isn't there. However, the results of recording via the Line-In will be fine with no noticeable quality loss compared to the tapes.

The Masterlink looks awesome, but at £700 is a very expensive way of doing it and I can't see that getting slightly better recordings would be worth the expense but if she wants to spend that amount of money it would be the way to go, or take them to a shop that convert them for her.

googler

Plarkster wrote: »

She can make a cd from the wavs from Audacity if preferred, and IMO you're never going to get CD quality from a tape as the source quality isn't there. However, the results of recording via the Line-In will be fine with no noticeable quality loss compared to the tapes.

The Masterlink looks awesome, but at £700 is a very expensive way of doing it and I can't see that getting slightly better recordings would be worth the expense but if she wants to spend that amount of money it would be the way to go, or take them to a shop that convert them for her.

I didn't say that the OP would get CD quality from their tapes, merely that the best way of doing things, if he/she wants a CD of the tapes, is to make CD first, mp3 second.

The Masterlink may cost, but there's the possiblity of buying one for the project, then moving it on thru eBay after the work is done. It will also integrate with a cassette deck and HiFi system far better than a PC will.

Get a shop to do them? Have you SEEN how much even amateurs are charging for cassette transfers?

Backbiter

I've used Audacity and been happy with the results, but there's also this product. Not cheap, though!
http://www.coomber.co.uk/Products_6021.html

£$&*"($£&(

Realtek High Definition Audio is better than some inbuilt soundcards but certainly not as good as a dedicated soundcard. I would have thoight the rsults would be OK. Make sure your using the line in and not the mic in and I would mute all other inputs.

googler

grahawk wrote: »

Realtek High Definition Audio is better than some inbuilt soundcards but certainly not as good as a dedicated soundcard. I would have thoight the rsults would be OK. Make sure your using the line in and not the mic in and I would mute all other inputs.

Again, I suggest the best solution for the OP to be the Masterlink referred to above.

Too much faffing about with the software solutions - the Masterlink will connect to the cassette deck with a twin phono. Press Play on one, Record on the other. Job done after 60 or 90 mins.

The Masterlink will integrate easily with a HiFi in a living room. No need to move the PC to the living room, or the cassette deck to the study, home office, etc.

Inserting track splits, fades, etc is MUCH easier than with Audacity(I've tried it), and so is level adjustment, EQ etc.