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Converting old cassette tapes

Last post Jul 17, 2008, 11:42 AM by HDNumpty. (20 replies)
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Posted on Jul 07, 2008, 10:12 AM

Converting old cassette tapes

As a real novice i am considering tryoing to convert about 100 old ( 1980s) music cassettes onto a computer with the idea of downloading some of them on to my creative zen MP3 .


this USB cassette deck ion tape2pc   gets mixed reviews at best  and i have now sen an advert for a vinyl2pc.co.uk  on wwwtape-2-pc.co.uk  which just supplies some cabling and software and uses the headphone socket.


Doesthis much cheaper system work   and will it load onto a hard drive not a computer 


 

Posted on Jul 07, 2008, 10:48 AM

100637

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

I wouldn't bother with those USB cassette or vinyl decks as the quality will probably be average at best.


If you have a half decent tape desk of record player then it would be cheaper to invest in a decent sound-card for your PC (Creative to some cheapish external ones) that accepts their line-in.


Most cards will come with the basic software that you need to convert the resulting sound file into individual tracks and then convert them to Mp3.


James

Posted on Jul 07, 2008, 1:53 PM

100655

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

All you need is to make sure your computer has a line-in, as James says above. You could then run a walkman into it using a 3.5mm cable from the headphone of the walkman to your line-in, and record the music as a wav file using sound recorder.

It's dead easy, I did this a good few years ago as a mess around and I remember it worked a treat.

Posted on Jul 07, 2008, 8:32 PM

100736

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

What Andy said, but in addition I would download a copy of Audacity - it's a free sound editor, and is really easy to use. You can split the file into tracks, and (should you want to) remove tape hiss etc...

I use it all the time to "archive" my vinyl to CD.


We're on the last freedom moped out of nowhere city and we haven't even told our parents what time we'll be back.

Posted on Jul 15, 2008, 6:39 PM

100881

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

Thanks  guys

Posted on Jul 15, 2008, 6:42 PM

103746

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

And for those feeling nostalgic about cassettes - mix-tapes in particular - you might want to catch this radio show, which i've contributed to, later this week...
Clare Newsome is Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision

Posted on Jul 15, 2008, 8:27 PM

103748

Re: Converting old cassette tapes


oooOOOooo.

Contributed how? Did you give them a mix tape?

Actually, you've prompted a thread.......



But instead it just kept on raining

My useful posts:

Posted on Jul 15, 2008, 11:28 PM

103806

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

Maybe controversial reply. But I simply downloaded some of the tape and vinyl albums I own, in decent MP3 format. I have since replaced most with CD, but not all. Could get in trouble too, as I threw a very large binbag of tapes away not long ago.
“Social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex” - Karl Marx
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Posted on Jul 15, 2008, 11:38 PM

103885

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

IIRC out here they could do you.
Not a Hifi nut, but...has a whole bunch of Nads.

Posted on Jul 15, 2008, 11:57 PM

103890

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

nads:
IIRC out here they could do you.



;) They went in the plastic recycling bit...


“Social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex” - Karl Marx
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Posted on Jul 16, 2008, 2:49 AM

103895

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

How about converting MD to MP3? And subsequently to upload into iPod? Is there a way to connect my MD deck to a laptop?


I also have on of those SOny MD walkman that can be connected to a laptop via USB but hw do I convert ATRACC to MP3?

Hifi: Marantz CD6002, SONY MDSJA20ES, MF X-A1,X-A50,X-DAC, Epos M12.2, ATS stands
AV: Samsung LA40N81B, SONY BDP-S1E, Pioneer DV-400V, Yamaha RX-V795aRDS,Philips DVDR 7300H, Infinity Primus Center, Wharfedale WH2 Rear, SW15 Sub, Mission M34i Front

Posted on Jul 16, 2008, 12:47 PM

103806

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

JohnDuncan:
oooOOOooo.

Contributed how? Did you give them a mix tape?

Actually, you've prompted a thread.......

I am one of the interviewees - and get this, i'm not the only woman interviewed Surprise 

Clare Newsome is Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision

Posted on Jul 17, 2008, 10:43 AM

103922

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

If you have Sony Sonicstage on your computer, you need to download the music from your MD player into the library, then follow the instructions, it will take quite some time and some tracks will not be able to be transfared or changed due to copyright laws.  If you have a problem, log onto the Sony Connect site and there you will find the information on how to carry out the conversion much better than I have given you.  I had to transfare from one to the other and it worked.  Good luck, lets know how you get on.

Posted on Jul 17, 2008, 11:13 AM

104056

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

Clare Newsome:

JohnDuncan:
oooOOOooo.

Contributed how? Did you give them a mix tape?

Actually, you've prompted a thread.......

I am one of the interviewees - and get this, i'm not the only woman interviewed Surprise 



Women like music too? Wow.

But instead it just kept on raining

My useful posts:

Posted on Jul 17, 2008, 11:18 AM

104412

Re: Converting old cassette tapes

Hard to believe, I know Wink

Anyhow, get your radios tuned in: show starts at 11.30am. Accompanying blog here, too....
 

Clare Newsome is Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision
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