Capturing cassette audio - convert to wavs - will this work?

[Theresa]

Hello all,
I am attempting to convert several cassette tapes. I have my tape deck linked with RCA cables to my Canopus capture card, then linked via Firewire to my computer. I'm not sure which program to use to capture with. First of all, is my lineup correct?

Thank you
Theresa

[dphirschler]

Sounds like it would work. I mean you normally capture audio and video; this would just be the audio. But why not just connect directly to your audio card? Then you could capture directly to wav and use much less disk space.


Darryl

[Theresa]

Thank you, Darryl. I'll try that For some reason, the programs I'm using- Premiere Elements 2.0 or WinDV - no signal is coming through. I'll switch over to audio card and try that.
Thanks for replying!

Theresa

[Noahtuck]

I always wished i had my ton of old cassette tapes so i could justify buying one of these to use.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Audio-Cassette-Tape-Converter-Adapter-to-iPod-MP3-CD-PC_W0QQitemZ2...d=p3286.c0.m14

Put it in an empty drive bay, just like a dvd rom/burner & slap in a casstte.

[Theresa]

I wish! Thanks for the link. Let me check the couch for lost change!!
I think I found the problem. The tape deck might be dead. When I play the tape, the light scale the displays the peak levels of the sound shows nothing. The tape is playing, but no sound is coming through. Lovely. Now I have to repair it.

Thanks to you all,

Theresa

[jagabo]

I am attempting to convert several cassette tapes. I have my tape deck linked with RCA cables to my Canopus capture card, then linked via Firewire to my computer.

You can probably just connect your tape deck directly to your computer. Almost every computer has a line-in (RCA) or microphone (mini stereo pin-plug) input. Then you can use a program like Audacity (free) to record and save as WAV, MP3, whatever.

[jimdagys]

You can also use Total Recorder (not free). I like it because you just press 1 button to record to mp3 and you can see VU meter while recording and make level adjustments if needed. Total Recorder is the first program I ever got.

[Theresa]

Thanks to you both! As soon as I know I have a working cassette deck, I'll post back with results. I already have Audacity but I'll look at Total Recorder also.

Theresa

[Noahtuck]

I am attempting to convert several cassette tapes. I have my tape deck linked with RCA cables to my Canopus capture card, then linked via Firewire to my computer.

You can probably just connect your tape deck directly to your computer. Almost every computer has a line-in (RCA) or microphone (mini stereo pin-plug) input. Then you can use a program like Audacity (free) to record and save as WAV, MP3, whatever.

Yeah way back in the day i used to transfer audio cassettes of church services to cdr for my sister in law, just used a RCA to mini stereo jack to hook my home tape deck up to my sound card input and used a program to capture it directly to wav, edit then burn to cdr for her to listen to it in her vehicle.
But i don't remember what program i used, that was many many moons ago, but i am sure it was free.
I think it was something that actually came with windows back then, maybe just the "sound recorder"

But i am sure there has to be some good free programs to capture directly in WAV from your sound card, regardless if you have onboard audio or a audio card.

It's just been a long time since i have had to do anything like that so i'm not up on it.

[Theresa]

Thank you again, Noahtuck. I'll follow through.

Theresa

[AlanHK]

I already have Audacity but I'll look at Total Recorder also.

I use Audacity, as recording from cassette usually I want to do some noise reduction, and Audacity (1.3 beta version) has some good filters for that.

But if the audio quality is good or if you're just in a hurry, MP3DirectCut can record directly to MP3, so no large wave files are created. Mp3DirectCut has some basic editing -- cut and paste, volume, fades, which it does on the encoded MP3, so no further conversion losses.

Also watch for ground loop hum, if everything is electrically grounded it should be minimised. Maybe connect an earth wire between the deck and PC.

[DarrellS]

I converted about 300 cassette tapes to CDs.

I used Goldwave but Audacity or MusicMatch Jukebox will work.

I took the long route and recorded the whole tape and then edited the tracks. It was a lot more work than letting MMJB just record the tracks but MMJB has a habit of cutting one song into two or three tracks or combining two or three tracks because it can't differentiate the song breaks correctly.

Record as Wave files to create the CDs. If you want to store the music on your HDD and are worried about disk space then you can convert to high bitrate MP3. I would not record my music collection to 128 kbps MP3.

You should not need an amp since cassette players usually have built in amps (unlike turntables). Just hook the audio out from the cassette deck to the input of your sound card. Make sure you have Line In selected to record or you won't get any sound.

You'll want a cable like this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882123073

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11684433

Tape decks are getting hard to find. Crutchfields has a Sony Dual Deck HX Pro for $150.

[vieted]

just connect the tape deck directly to the line-in of your sound card. If you are not editing the sound or not thinking of putting it to CDs then use mp3directcut to record it to mp3 files. Otherwise use audacity to record and edit the sound before putting it to the CDs. All of these are freeware.