coverting cassette tapes

[bayview]

I have cassette tapes with music which I would like to upload on the computer, and convert to wav files for use as backround music when producing an avi still picture vcd. I would also like to burn those files to an audio cd and get rid of the tapes. I have used Cdex, very successfully, to convert audio files to wav, but this only works when the audio is on cd.

Any suggestions on how to proceed or what encoding programs to use to convert the tapes. Thanks.

[Tommyknocker]

Gold Wave. Have your cassette player line out cord plugged into your computer line in. Have Gold Wave record the the input and save it as a wave file.

[tompika]

I used MusicMatch to convert some tapes to MP3/WAV last month.

[kisrum]

What tommyknocker said.

Also be aware that you may want to use the "Cue" feature in Goldwave to separate different songs on your tapes so that they show up as separate tracks on your CD. Otherwise you'll get one long track. Figure 10 MB per minute.

[bayview]

Thanks for the response. I know you suggested Gold Wave, but how about Audacity? It reads like it does the same but I was wondering about this as I tried to record from the tape player to the line in on the computer and all I get is 'noise'. I installed 'Lame', but I still get the problem.

Actually, I'm getting noise with Gold Wave, Lame installed. I can hear the tape through the speakers but it's not recording. Thanks for the help.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Did you select line-in in Volume Control->Properties->Recording?
Another good free app. is at www.cdwave.com
BTW... CDex can record analog by going to Tools->Record from Analog Input.

[thefox149]

I convert tapes all the time to CD

I highly recommend Cool edit what kind of noise are you talking about?

there are some really smart tips on cleaning up audio tapes

eg removing electrical hum hiss and other such nasties that come with cassestte tapes I have convert well over 100 tapes in the last 6 mths and the best advice I can give is to normalise the source then clean up the hiss and then using and amplification prest in cool edit make the file sounds bright and punchy

here is a good link for cool edit and it's neat tricks

http://www.a-reny.com/iexplorer/restauration.html

the info here is invaulable. I have made average tape recording sound alive...I won't lie just like video encoding crap in crap out but you will find audio is more forgiving then video and alot more dramtic changes can be done

[bayview]

Thanks for the advice. I will try it all and see what comes out on top.