How Do I transfer cassette recordings onto CD?

[bj]

G'Day from Oz. I'm no computer whiz but I do have access to both Apple and windows machines. Is there a simple way or some user-friendly software to transfer my precious live recordings from 1977 (which are on cassette) onto CD. I am pretty comfortable with using cassettes and I'd also like to keep using them for recording at home. Thanks in advance to everyone who responds.
Regards - bj :D

[ashtray]

There's a couple things you can try:

If your computer has a microphone input, and your tape player has a headphones out - try to hook the 2 together with a cable - most likely 1/8", though your tape player could have 1/4" plug. They make adaptors to go from one to the other too. You'll have to play with the volume output level of the tape player, but it'll transfer to your computer. Then manually hit the record button on the computer's program (windows has a recorder program), and play the tape. This is a really backwards way of doing it - but it will probably work. Set the windows recorder to the proper quality so that you don't run out of memory!

Another method - similar to the one above is to use a microphone into your computer, and play the cassette on a stereo, and have the microphone in front of the speaker. Saves you trying to get the wires and signal strenth correct. Still not the best way to do this though.

Another way would be to get a digital recording mixer, hook the tape player into that, and use a usb out to your computer to receive the file. This is probably the best way to get what you want - but costs you money to get the equipment. Also, I've never done this, so I can't say it will work without problems.


Quickest way to do it would be to take the tape to a studio, and get them to tranfer it onto CD. They have all the equipment there- and if they're not digitally remastering it (adjusting eq, etc etc?) - then it might not cost too much. Guess you'd have to ask.


I'd try the computer option first and see where that takes you.

Good luck - and let us know how it works out.

[moonshiner]

Originally Posted by ashtray

If your computer has a microphone input, and your tape player has a headphones out - try to hook the 2 together with a cable - most likely 1/8", though your tape player could have 1/4" plug. They make adaptors to go from one to the other too. You'll have to play with the volume output level of the tape player, but it'll transfer to your computer. Then manually hit the record button on the computer's program (windows has a recorder program), and play the tape. This is a really backwards way of doing it - but it will probably work. Set the windows recorder to the proper quality so that you don't run out of memory!

A really good way... there are lots of programs that can help out with this... Harddisk Recorder is my choice... but there are others...

Originally Posted by ashtray

Quickest way to do it would be to take the tape to a studio, and get them to tranfer it onto CD. They have all the equipment there- and if they're not digitally remastering it (adjusting eq, etc etc?) - then it might not cost too much. Guess you'd have to ask.

This is probably the most expensive way... but still good none the less... You have more options with this route...

If it were me, I'd do it myself as was suggested...

Best of luck... Hopefully the recordings are still viable... there is a "shelf life" to cassettes of around 7 years... After that, they begin to de-magnatize...

[Big Tony]

Here's a link to a useful bit of software that I've been using myself (no money, relations, or other BS involved):

http://www.polderbits.com/

Even if you don't use the software, you can probably learn some useful things from their website.