Cassette to CD process recommendations

[jbenj01]

I don't have a cassette player and am trying to convert some old cassettes to CD (low quality home made and foreign music). Should I buy a decent midrange cassette player (used Nakamichi, Pioneer, etc.) or this creature, the Plusdeck2:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PLUSDECK2-N&cm_mmc=geekmail-_-daily_html-_-04o...EEKBELLproduct

Also, if I want to reduce hiss on these old cassettes, which process is better--using a good cassette player with noise reduction/DD or the Plusdeck2 with software.. ?? Thanks..

[davideck]

Some NAD Cassette Decks (the 6325 for one) have a Play Trim control.
It provides high frequency compensation (boost or cut) before the Dolby NR,
functioning like an electronic azymuth control; very handy for old tapes.

[Cole]

I would say, if you already have a separate soundcard (not on-board), then you can just use the decent mid range cassette player attached to the line in and even use free software like Audacity to record.

I have a hi-fi by my PC: Denon Amp and a Aiwa tape deck for any of my tape conversions; haven't done any for a while though. Should get back to it soon as I have a small pile of tapes to convert.

Looking at the Plusdeck, I suppose it is a nice idea, but it reminds me of an old cassette player for a car's dashboard.

[ozymango]

I don't have a cassette player and am trying to convert some old cassettes to CD ... Also, if I want to reduce hiss on these old cassettes, which process is better--using a good cassette player with noise reduction/DD or the Plusdeck2 with software.. ??

I've converted a few cassette (audio) tapes in my time and I'm guessing the biggest issue will be software, not hardware, namely how is the sound quality to begin with and is your hope just to archive these, or see if you can tune 'em up in the process? Things like Dolby noise reduction (built into decks) is pretty much only aimed at reducing noise on tapes that were also encoded with the same process (Dolby B or C), so hitting the "Dolby" button on the deck during playback may just cut out your highs more than reduce any hiss. That is, if your tape wasn't recorded using Dolby noise reduction, you're better of using software and not hardware noise reduction to reduce hiss.

A quick look at the Plusdeck and unfortunately there's not much info on the software that comes with it, other than it can record to WAV or mp3. You'll definitely want to do WAV if you're serious about quality and/or want to edit them in any way. At the very least a quick run through Goldwave's hiss filter would probably do a world of good.

If you're really pressed for space, the Plusdeck apparently installs inside your computer so there's that, but frankly I'd recommend going for an extermal cassette deck and feed that into your sound card (I assume you already have a decent soundcard?) -- you can pick up a decent used tape deck for maybe half of the cost of the Plusdeck (even less; check out Goodwill, I'm amazed at the decks people have donated!), and then I'd get a copy of Goldwave (cheap shareware license) and use that for recording and editing, for starters. Your costs would be about the same and I'm sure you'd have much more flexible recording and editing options.

Good luck and have fun!

[festmaster]

I'll throw in a completely different alternative which I use for both old audio tapes and old video tapes, the Terapin audio and video recorder, http://www.terapintech.com/fea_cdaudio.html. When you hook it up to a cassette player is will burn an audio CD in real time. When you hook it up to a VCR is will record a VCD in real time. There is not alot of editing control but it is quick and easy.

[jbenj01]

Thank the responses/good suggestions..

One tidbit I left out is that I do NOT have a separate audio card.. However, I do have an ATI AIW 7500 video card, whose audio inputs I could use, correct?? I have two systems, one with the ATI video card and the other with onboard a/v. With the onboard, there's only one audio input jack.. which would mean I'd need an adapter of some kind.. (man, they really don't make this 'easy' to accomplish, do they..

The quality of the old cassettes is older 'stereo' quality, foreign made Gramophone official soundtrack tapes (made in India and Australia) in the mid-80's.. No Dolby.. much hiss..

I'm leaning toward buying a decent cassette deck route coupled with using software, i.e., Goldwave (though I've never used it before). I'm thinking this is the way to go because I DO want good/quality end results. Please advise further... Thank you.

Edit: Should I also get a decent audio card then?? Card recommendations?

[genki500]

I recently use "iSound WMA MP3 Recorder Professional 6.5". The vox function works quite well, which detects silence and seperates songs; all I need to do is to press "play" button. If you are content with your cassette player, I don't think why you need to buy another higher end machine; as to sound card, why not record a song and see how you like the quality, on-board sound card should be decent enough, your all-in-wonder card is certainly good - you know how your tape sounds like. .

[bobcat56458]

Does anyone know of any software that does the Dolby B, C, or S type noise reduction decoding. I have some old project studio original music that was mastered to cassettes before I started using DAT digital tapes in the early 90’s. It would be great to be able to use software Dolby noise reduction, instead of a hiss filter, or the built in Dolby noise reduction on a cassette deck. The cassette deck I have now only has the type B & C, and not the S type. The cassettes were originally encoded with all 3 types. I started with Dolby B (in the 70's), then Dolby C, and the newest ones (10~15 years old) had Dolby S type encoding. I'm so old that when I started recording we used reel to reel recorders.

[Almost Human]

Your ATI AIW 7500 does not process any sound, it just passes it through to the sound card for processing. The quality of your sound card will determine how the recorded file will sound. A Soundblaster 128 or better form eBay under $20 would be a sufficient.

[Dr_Layne]

Does anyone know of any software that does the Dolby B, C, or S type noise reduction decoding. I have some old project studio original music that was mastered to cassettes before I started using DAT digital tapes in the early 90’s. It would be great to be able to use software Dolby noise reduction, instead of a hiss filter, or the built in Dolby noise reduction on a cassette deck. The cassette deck I have now only has the type B & C, and not the S type. The cassettes were originally encoded with all 3 types. I started with Dolby B (in the 70's), then Dolby C, and the newest ones (10~15 years old) had Dolby S type encoding. I'm so old that when I started recording we used reel to reel recorders.

You could purchase a used Sony ES 3 head deck on Ebay. Most of those had all three Dolby NR's available.

Steve

[toryamos]

anybody know where the Hiss Reduction Filter is located in GOLDWAVE ? as mentioned above, there apparently is one, but i cannot locate any Hiss filter. thanx

[Disco Makberto]

Jbenj01,

If you are going to buy a cassette deck, my recommendation would be a DCC recorder. These recorders are backwards compatible with analog cassette tapes and the beauty of them is that they have digital out. I am myself looking for the Philips DCC-450 to transfer some tapes.

Good luck,

CA-Lacaye
Disco Makberto

[p_l]

anybody know where the Hiss Reduction Filter is located in GOLDWAVE ? as mentioned above, there apparently is one, but i cannot locate any Hiss filter. thanx

[jbenj01]

Disco M, thansk for the recommendation.. but I already invested in a NAD 6325 at the recommendation of Davideck.. But I will look into DCC regardless.

Does anyone have preference respects using Audacity vs. Goldwave for cassette to CD? Are they comparable apps?? Thank you.

Edit: Also, p_l, I'm guessing Noise Reduction option in Goldwave = hiss filter, yes?? Thanks.

2nd edit: Great.. no audio whatsoever from pc when I connect left and right audio FRONT ins from cassette player.. opened her up and found these two cables not connected anywhere (one is labeled TV and the other not labeled but I'm sure it's audio).. Problem is I don't know where on the mobo they connect to.. looked everywhere and .. ?? Here's pic of cables. Do I need a separate audio card--I thought they connected to onboard audio?? (I know I shouldn't be asking this question here, but thought I'd take a chance--thanks!)