Want to convert microcassette to DVD or CD

[louhall]

With my Olympus Pearlcorder J500 recorder which has one hole, "mis/ear", I wish to convert audio to CD or DVD [I have both burners on a Dell with XP, WinFast TV2000 XP.RoxioEasy CD Creator, DVD Shrink, DVDX copy, Sonic(my DVD), TMPGENC plus I have just downloaded Audicity. I have hooked up a regular size cassettee player in the past and converted tapes to a CD. I have a bunch of RCA type wires on the back of the cassette recorder with a connection that spliced the left and right into the single plug on the computer, but I have forgotten where
I plugged it into the computer.

I am a newbie and stuck on even how to make the connection of the microcassette to the computer. I will appreciate any direction which includes tutorial sites.

[junkmalle]

The back of your computer has a 1/8 inch stereo pin plug for audio in -- probably labeled "line in" or some such. It looks like the Pearlcorder has a miniature (3/32 inch?) mono pin plug. It will be difficult to find a single cable to convert those two connectors so you'll probably end up buying a cable with 1/8 inch stereo pin plugs at both ends, and a small adaptor to go from miniature pin plug to 1/8 inch pin plug. Don't worry about the mono to stereo conversion, you can do that with software on the computer.

Take your recorder to your electronics supplier of choice and they'll set you up. Should cost less than US$10 or so.

[louhall]

Hey, Thanks,

I have a wire coming from Audio Out (green) of my WinFast TV card
going to Line In of my sound card, at present. Earlier, I removed
the end of this wire from the Audio Out (green) of my WinFasst TV
card. The plug on this wire is 1/4 " long with a 1/8 tip, black circle,
1/8 " band, black circle. This, I assume means it is stereo. I have an
adapter with a hole in the back. I can insert that stereo plug into it.
The other end of this adapter with a point that only has one black circle on it and it fits into the "mic/ear" hole of the micro cassette recorder. In effect, I uncoupled the path from the Audio Out of my TV card, then used that end of the wire inserted into my cassette recorder in trying to get something to Line In of my sound card.

Earlier I played the tape, but I used the Sonic My DVD software in an attempt to get the sound to my hard disk. This, I am sure, doesn't make sense.

Am I on the right track with the connection? If so, do you have a suggestion of where I should go from here?

[louhall]

Addendum,

I have been reading around this great site. I have a disc, "Nero, Burning ROM" It came with some of the hardware that I have added. It is installed. The disk says PowerDVD b.0 S/N.

[junkmalle]

It sounds like you have the parts you need. A mono pinplug has two sections on the metal shaft (one ground, one signal), a stereo pinplug has three (one ground, two signal), sometimes four (two grounds, two signals):



And it sounds like you've made the connections properly.

I don't know if the video programs you mentioned will record audio without a video signal. BUt you can use the Sound Recorder that comes with windows to verify that your connections are working properly. Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Sound Recorder. It's limited to one minute recordings but will work for the test.

You'll probably need to use the System Mixer to select your sound source. You can get this by via Start, Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, Audio tab, Volume button in the Sound Recording box. From there you can select the input source and recording volume. Use Line In, Audio Mix, What You Hear", -- the name varies depending on your sound card.

[louhall]

Junkmalle,

You have been right there, thanks.

I will print what you just posted. It will take me bit to walk through it.
The path you suggested is one that I have not trod. I did do the larger,
or regular cassette tapes, to CD, but as I said, I think I can do the connections, but I forget what software I used before. This was when I only had the CD without the recently added DVD burner.

Is there that much of a difference in bringing in the cassette tapes that I have done before as compared to bringing in the microcassette tapes to the PC? You are jogging my mind. The little cassette recorder has stereo out and in, the Olympus hand held gadget only has the "mic/rec".

[louhall]

I followed the instructions to see if I was connected correctly. I reached the sound recorder and I could hear the tape. There were no vibrations, up and down on the visula scale to indicate anything was being recorded. I did create a .wav file. When I went through explore, clicked on the file, I was defaulted to music match, but could not get a sound from the file that I created which was in the music match list.

You have helped me get connected. Your instructions, or path, you sent me on were on the mark. I think that I now need to do a little bit of thinking in regards to:

1: My connection is okay.

2. But, I have to get it recorded in the correct format, whatever .wav, mp2, etc.. . . . just go through the learning process.

Thanks,

Lou

[junkmalle]

Olympus hand held gadget only has the "mic/rec"

mic/rec would be for an external microphone. You need a headphone or earplug out. In your first message you said it had "mis/ear". Not sure what "mis" is, maybe you meant "mic". The device could use the same port for both a mic input and a earphone output. I saw a description at the at the Olympus site indicating "External jacks provide easy connection for earphone, microphone". If you have headphones or earplugs try plugging that in and listening. Then you'll know for sure where the audio signal comes out.

Once you have identified the correct output on the recorder plug it into the computer. Open the System Mixer and the Sound Recorder. Start recording. Then use the System mixer to switch between inputs until you see the wave form graph going up and down. Then you'll know you have the right input.

Oh, I fixed the earlier message with the missing picture of the plugs.

[junkmalle]

I forgot to mention that you want to record in WAV format to make an audio CD. You should use 44100 Hz, 16 bit, stereo for the recording. Then you make an audio CD from the WAV files.

I just noticed that the Sound Recorder can bring up the System Mixer -- use Edit, Audio Properites, then Volume in the Sound Recording section.

I see that Nero has an nice audio recording/editing program too. Nero SoundTrax. I've never used it but you can play around with that.

[louhall]

mic/rec would be for an external microphone. You need a headphone or earplug out. In your first message you said it had "mis/ear". [YOUR RIGHT, MISTYPE] Not sure what "mis" is, maybe you meant "mic". The device could use the same port for both a mic input and a earphone output. I saw a description at the at the Olympus site indicating "External jacks provide easy connection for earphone, microphone". If you have headphones or earplugs try plugging that in and listening. Then you'll know for sure where the audio signal comes out. [I COULD HEAR THE AUDIO WITH EARPHONES AS I WAS "SUPPOSIDLY RECORDING", BUT THE WINDOW SHOWED NONE OF THE LINES GOING UP AND DOWN]

Once you have identified the correct output on the recorder plug it into the computer. [I ASSUME THIS WOULD BE THE .WAV FILE THAT I FOUND ON THE HARD DISK] Open the System Mixer and the Sound Recorder. Start recording. Then use the System mixer to switch between inputs until you see the wave form graph going up and down. Then you'll know you have the right input.
[I'LL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH WHILE GOING THROUGH YOUR PREVIOUS POSTS. YOU CERTAINLY KNOW HOW TO "KEEP IT SIMPLE" FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.. I THINK EITHER OF US HAS MADE A POST WHERE THE TIME LINE IS SO CLOSE, NEITHER OF US HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE LATEST POST----THANKS.]

****JUST CAUGHT SIGHT OF YOUR POST, "I FORGOT TO MENTION, ETC" I'LL GO TO IT.*********************

[louhall]

I'd better sign off for today, pick up on this the first thing in the morning, but I do thank you for getting me on the "path".

Lou