Converting cassette tapes

[authenticate]

I would like to convert my cassette music tapes to a digital format so that I can trash the tapes. I don't want to convert directly to mp3 because of the irreversible loss in quality. What format should I convert them to and which free software should I use?

 

[bruincal]

If you don't want loss in quality, then the way to go is simply WAV or PCM. There's no quality loss from the recording like mp3. Then you can just burn them to an audio cd. However, if you are just storing them on your hard drive, WAV's tend to take up a lot of space. I know that you said you didn't like mp3's, but why not record at a rate of 256 kbps or higher? Supposedly at those rates, the normal unaided human ear is unable to tell the difference. There are numerous free mp3 recording/encoding programs.. do a search at www.download.com

If you are looking to record to a digital sound format, you should try GoldWave. It has awesome features and can save to practically any sound format. Its not free, but shareware, but you can use it in shareware mode for as long as you like, i think. I am not sure, but be sure to read the licensing agreement. You can find GoldWave by going to www.download.com and searching for goldwave.

Good luck!

 

[authenticate]

Thanks for the suggestions. The other reason for not going with mp3 is that I may find it difficult converting from mp3 to newer formats as they emerge whereas this may not be the case with wav or pcm. I may be completely wrong though.

 

[RadioactiveMagpies]

Mp3 long term prospects are bad.

The holders of the mp3 patent are also starting to charge money for mp3 decoders now.

 

[mooo]

authenticate,

I am also planning on doing the same thing viz. cassette to hard drive then burn on a CD. I am curious as to how you are going to handle the hardware aspect. Would you mind sharing your setup? Are you using a sound card (which one) or integrated audio controller on the motherboard?

For best quality are you going to have signals output directly from your cassette player into the computer or first send it through the amp/receiver and then to the computer?

Suggestions from anybody else on this will be appreciated.

 

[KenGr]

This is really easy to do as long as your casettes are in good shape. I've done it using a Walkman player although if you are picky you may want to use a real deck. I just use a male to male patch cord (pin to pin) to go from the headphone jack on the player to the input jack (Line In, not Microphone) on your sound card or motherboard (integrated sound). Just make sure the input is really input - if you have a multimedia surround sound system the jack can be assigned as rear speakers out. You have to change to two speaker in setup. (I had a false start until I figured that one out.)

Max out the input volume in the mixer (Windows, C-Media, etc - whatever you are using).

If you have a CD recorder, you almost certainly got a recording program like Roxio CD Creator, Nero, etc. I'm using something called B's Recorder that came with my DVD recorder. I never heard of it before but it's a great program. I like it better than CD Creator. Mine has the option of recording CD format WAV files and then creating the CD later or directly burning the input to CD. If you record a WAV file for each track (song), then you can move them around or dump the clunkers on your final CD burn.

 

[wiin]

KenGr,
Where can I get the program you are using? I use Easy CD Creator Platinum but have not been successful in doing a transfer from cassette to hd to cd. thanks for your help.

 

[KenGr]

The company is at www.bhacorp.com (the US site). They apparently are a Japanese company which may be why it was bundled with my Pioneer writer. They offer the Recorder Gold package, which I have, for $20 for download. The direct function allows you to record analog input directly to a CD-R (not RW) or to save it as a WAV file which can be converted or recorded later to CD-R or CD-RW.

They also offer upgrade versions which have enhanced MP3 functions or DVD functions. The basic version seems fully functional to me.

 

[authenticate]

I have downloaded goldwave as suggested and the website details are promising. However, I did come across another shareware program called Rosoft Audio Recorder which I have installed. You are permitted to run it 30 times though I am not sure what happens on the 31st. I am using it now and it it works fine producing wav files from my lp collections on cassette. It detects track gaps and writes a new track when it does. It has other settings too. I may not need to install goldwave at this point.

I have a further question that I would like to pose: should I play my cassette with Dolby C on or off? When I used to make tape to tape dubs I used to play back with Dolby C off to get the best headroom to the sound whilst recording with Dolby C on to get rid of the hiss. As I am producing wav files now what should I do?

 

[olds]

I have a question here. I don't want to sit here while downloading my cassettes to the HDD. I have a double deck player that will play both sides of each cassette. I could start 2 cassettes and walk away. What program would I use to delete the dead spaces between side changes and cassette changes? Will Goldwave do it? TIA

 

[authenticate]

The Rosoft Audio Recorder can be set to auto start which means it will listen for audio before recording. It does this as soon as you start recording and after each track break so a tape switch would not be recorded. I can't say whether goldwave does this as I have not installed it yet.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: wiin
KenGr, Where can I get the program you are using? I use Easy CD Creator Platinum but have not been successful in doing a transfer from cassette to hd to cd. thanks for your help.

I do it regularly with no problems. I have two decks - cassette and reel-to-reel. I use ECDC5's Soundstream and SpinDoctor and record the tape selections as WAV files on my hard drive. When I have enough of them, I then burn the CDR from those files. In the Record line up, I can drag and drop all WAV files into any arrangement I choose. I have just about converted all my collection of jazz tapes onto CDRs this way. LP records are processed the same way, but that requires a turntable and a stereo amp or at least preamp. Done that too - but it is more work.

 

[TheCorm]

I have a question here. I don't want to sit here while downloading my cassettes to the HDD. I have a double deck player that will play both sides of each cassette. I could start 2 cassettes and walk away. What program would I use to delete the dead spaces between side changes and cassette changes? Will Goldwave do it? TIA

Almost any wave editing program should be able to do it (Creative Wave Stuido, Nero Wave Editor, Sonic Foundry etc) but you will need a large amount of free memory and a powerful system when you are talking about editing a wave file that is 3 hours in length at 44khz Stereo.

Corm

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: TheCorm

I have a question here. I don't want to sit here while downloading my cassettes to the HDD. I have a double deck player that will play both sides of each cassette. I could start 2 cassettes and walk away. What program would I use to delete the dead spaces between side changes and cassette changes? Will Goldwave do it? TIA

Almost any wave editing program should be able to do it (Creative Wave Stuido, Nero Wave Editor, Sonic Foundry etc) but you will need a large amount of free memory and a powerful system when you are talking about editing a wave file that is 3 hours in length at 44khz Stereo.

Corm

I have the 120 GB WD hdd with the 8MB cache, Soundblaster Gamer 5.1 with Live!Drive IR, 1.33 T Bird and 768 MB PC 2100. Will that do it?

 

[olds]

I installed Rosoft Audio Recorder but it installed spyware to my machine.

 

[authenticate]

Should I play my cassette with Dolby C on or off? When I used to make tape to tape dubs I used to play back with Dolby C off to get the best headroom to the sound whilst recording with Dolby C on to get rid of the hiss. As I am producing wav files now what should I do?

 

[pons00]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I installed Rosoft Audio Recorder but it installed spyware to my machine.

 

[pons00]

Just to mention Cool Edit Pro is a great proggie to use for the recording of any standalone console such as cassettes and minidisc's. It takes up almost no space and very minimal resources with more then enough editing options.

 

[wiin]

corky-g
Diamond Member

Posts: 3578
Joined: Mar 2000
09/05/2002 10:27 AM




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I do it regularly with no problems. I have two decks - cassette and reel-to-reel. I use ECDC5's Soundstream and SpinDoctor and record the tape selections as WAV files on my hard drive. When I have enough of them, I then burn the CDR from those files. In the Record line up, I can drag and drop all WAV files into any arrangement I choose. I have just about converted all my collection of jazz tapes onto CDRs this way. LP records are processed the same way, but that requires a turntable and a stereo amp or at least preamp. Done that too - but it is more work.

-------------------------

Could you tell me exactly how you did this bcause I am not having any luck at all. TIA

 

[authenticate]

Should I play my cassette with Dolby C on or off? When I used to make tape to tape dubs I used to play back with Dolby C off to get the best headroom to the sound whilst recording with Dolby C on to get rid of the hiss. As I am producing wav files now what should I do?

 

[olds]

authenticate
How's it going for you? Did you go with dolby on or off?
I am trying Rosoft but something is wrong. My recordings have some type of interference over the top of them. Thr recording bars are moving as if something is being recorded when I am not recording.

 

[millsy]

i do a lot of recording tapes to PC and then onto CD because of the type of music i listen too, most comes on tapes.

I use a program called Sonic Foundry Sound Forge 6.0 but it aint free. You could try and download from one of these P2P programs.
This is a very good music editor and all I have done is got my PC amp and speakers that i use and connected the amp to the Sound Card and the Tape deck to sound card aswell.

you have to set the Line-in level to the correct amount from Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices - Advanced, select Options, properties, choose recording and make sure Line-in is ticked.
You should then play the tape and adjust the line-in level according to how loud the tape is. You can judge this by the level bars on right hand side. You want it to get as high as possible but not too high that it clips. You then press play and hit record. Easy.

It is an excellant software program and once you have the wav you can adjust it till your hearts content.

 

[authenticate]

Hi oldsmoboat,
I haven't been able to solicit any advice on the issue of Dolby on or off. From my tests off sounds clearer so I will go with that unless someone can say otherwise.
Rosoft Audio Recorder (RAR) is free for 30 uses (I leave it running and am still on its 1st!!!). My cassette deck has an output level knob which allows me to attenuate the level being fed into RAR and so avoid it clipping.
If someone has experience of running with Dolby on please let me know.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: wiin
corky-g Diamond Member Posts: 3578 Joined: Mar 2000 09/05/2002 10:27 AM Quote Could you tell me exactly how you did this bcause I am not having any luck at all. TIA

1. Connect your tabe deck to you sound car with a patch cable from Tape Out (usually RCA plugs, L & R) to the LINE IN port.
2. Open ECDC5
3. Open "Make a Music CD"
4. Open Sound Stream
5. Open bottom center blue button w/down arrow
6. Click on Spin Doctor Tab
7. Hit the record button
8. Now type in the name of the song, and any parameters, and tell it where to record to FILE. Set volume etc.
9. Simultaneously hit the START RECORDING button and start the tape playing. You can edit out dead space later.

When the song finishes - stop the recording - pause the tape and check it out. That is one song. Keep repeating that until you have a snoot full.

Once all the WAV files are on the HDD, it is then easy to create a music CD from them by dragging and dropping the songs you want.

 

[wiin]

corky-g,

That's how I did it but not getting the result you got. Anyway, thanks. have a good day.