Capturing a cassette tape using AudaCity

[Litaiff]

I need help on how to capture in the best way using AudaCity, this tape deck and this capture card. I left an example of a tape capture from 1991. So, did I something wrong?

I know that over the years the tape loses magnetism, there are also problems with fungus that damage the tape, so I want the best suggestion on how to capture in the best way using AudaCity. Thanks




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[davexnet]

The analog to digital converter passes the uncompressed frames to Audacity and you can either save it lossless or high bitrate mp3.
The mp3 shows that the samples are all above the line, when they really should be centered.

You can fix it with Normalize/remove DC offset

[timtape]

The right channel sounds OK but the left channel is weak and muffled. Are the heads in your cassette deck clean? Do you know how to clean the heads? The capstan and pinch roller should also be clean.

[Litaiff]

The right channel sounds OK but the left channel is weak and muffled. Are the heads in your cassette deck clean? Do you know how to clean the heads? The capstan and pinch roller should also be clean.

Thanks man. Yes, before I noticed that the sound was very muffled, I cleaned the head using a paper towel and isopropyl, did I do it right? After that a certain amount of fungi, dirty came off, and the sound became clearer. I'll take a closer look and see what needs cleaning more. What are your suggestions?

NOTE: I had already done the cleaning when I sent this little bit of the audio here

This tape has a damaged part, perhaps the left one, fungi have degraded it over the years. I also don't know if it is a copy but I suspect it is.

[timtape]

The right channel sounds OK but the left channel is weak and muffled. Are the heads in your cassette deck clean? Do you know how to clean the heads? The capstan and pinch roller should also be clean.

Thanks man. Yes, before I noticed that the sound was very muffled, I cleaned the head using a paper towel and isopropyl, did I do it right? After that a certain amount of fungi, dirty came off, and the sound became clearer. I'll take a closer look and see what needs cleaning more. What are your suggestions?

NOTE: I had already done the cleaning when I sent this little bit of the audio here

This tape has a damaged part, perhaps the left one, fungi have degraded it over the years. I also don't know if it is a copy but I suspect it is.

Isopropyl is fine. A cotton bud, also known as a Q Tip, is easier than a paper towel. Take your time. Dont press too hard on the head while cleaning or it may become misaligned.

If the central head is worn it's easier for dirt to collect in the part where the left channel is read. Unless you have very good close eyesight, I'd use strong reading glasses or a magnifier to see the head and the dirt clearly.

Fungus can be cleaned from tapes but it can be a little tricky to do.

[pandy]

I hear nonlinear distortions - sounds like source was distorted (radio recording?) also seem it is heavily compressed... I would try to demagnetize PB head and other parts of transport.
I'm quite surprised with overall low amount of noise and spectral characteristic - seem there no noise over 10kHz - it looks like some dehiss/denoise algorithm was applied - it can be responsible for muffled sound too.
Not sure how you captured recording attached but i recommend using sound/audio card with Line input - it should provide better results than dedicated video capture solution.
If your goal is further sound processing then i recommend recording to PCM not lossy compressed audio format.

[cholla]

Like pandy I just use a Y adapter.
The red & white RCA audio on one end.
A stereo jack on the other end that will plug into a PC Microphone jack or BETTER the Line_In using sound/audio card.
No capture device required.
Just record the cassette with Audacity.
The cleaning is a good suggestion.
I also use a couple of different Cassette cleaning cartridges.
One is a wet cartridge & one is a dry cartridge.
The cotton swabbs also work well & can be used for general cleaning the whole area where the cassette goes.

[Litaiff]

Hello. So, I did new tests capturing with the computer's ''line in audio'' and comparing it with the previous USB. I no longer have the same tape as before, but I have this one with this song.

I think I did something wrong when capturing via line in, maybe because I left the line in audio input at 80%?? What would be ideal? But in AudaCity I left the microphone level at 80% for both captures.

Looking for the best configuration with your help. Thanks.


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[pandy]

Line in should deliver best quality (USB audio card with line in input perhaps even better) , MP3 is lossy compression format, audio signal level should be set to point when there is no clipping (analog signal can't be higher than so called 0dBFS - in practice you should provide some headroom for unexpected high signal levels - 6..12 dB is fine).

[Litaiff]

Line in should deliver best quality (USB audio card with line in input perhaps even better) , MP3 is lossy compression format, audio signal level should be set to point when there is no clipping (analog signal can't be higher than so called 0dBFS - in practice you should provide some headroom for unexpected high signal levels - 6..12 dB is fine).

Thanks. What would be better than MP3? I think I have this USB audio card, I'll do some tests.

[cholla]

I like a good .mp3. If made from a .wav file & variable close to 320 kb.
FLAC is a good lossless format & some smaller that .wav.

If you use FLAC or .wav make sure your player will play it.
Your PC media players should no problem but other devices may not.

[pandy]

Thanks. What would be better than MP3? I think I have this USB audio card, I'll do some tests.

WAV PCM - uncompressed "raw" audio - codec selection step is made usually after all processing (your source achieve satisfactory stage - after all processing) - mp3 compression is fine but as a last step in your signal chain (lossy codec compression perform various non linear operations so it is impossible to improve audio quality after lossy compression).

[Litaiff]

Thanks guys. I think I understand everything, just one more thing... What should I select or not select in these parts?



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[pandy]

I would not change anything - personally i would spent some time to find loudest part and set level to maximize signal with some safe headroom (6dB headroom should be fine) - if possible try to record 24..32 bit audio (not sure what are capabilities of your HW). Probably there is no sense to go over 48kHz sampling.

[JVRaines]

So, I did new tests capturing with the computer's ''line in audio'' and comparing it with the previous USB. I no longer have the same tape as before, but I have this one with this song.

Your image shows clipping, which is distortion you added by setting the record level too high. Turn it down. You should never see chopped-off peaks in the waveform.

The cassette program in the first file you posted is monaural even though you are playing and capturing in stereo. The player is not tracking the left channel very well, so I would keep only the right channel and turn it into a mono audio file.