Recording from cassette onto pc?

Question

Thanks to the help I got from Yahoo answers I'm ready to get started - have the double jack lead, software set up, did a trial and it works like a dream....BUT! I cannot hear what I'm recording as i record. Does this mean I have to dub each track separately, record it , save it or just record each side of the cassette and it will be just one file? Is there any way I can get to hear what Im recording as I do it? God , I sound like a moan, but I'm not really. It's worth asking this because so many people are so clever about computers and are willing to share their knowledge. It might not be able to be done and thats fair enough, but it also might be just an adjustment to a certain setting. If I dont ask, how will I know! Thanks again for all your help.

Re Karljt's comment. I have some brilliant music on cassettes and they sound ok on the pc. However, if it was only music I would probably just buy the cds. It isn't just music, though. I have recordings of all sorts of occasions going back over the years. Family parties where we'd all be singing and I'd hide the mic and just let it tape everything. I taped everyones kids when they were little, maybe singing a song or saying a poem or whatever. These things are priceless now and on the pc I can break each part down into a file. Instant access to what you want instead of having to run a tape to get to it. So, that's really why I wanted to transfer my stuff from the cassettes to the pc!

Answer 1

1)First of all you need a good software....
I recommend Cool edit pro. you can get a trial of it.
2)After this you hook up your stereo system with a cable into your souncard (line in).
3)just push the play button on your tape and you should be able to listen through your pc speakers...if not that means there is some problem so check the settings by going to start>programs>accessories>entertainment>volume control
out there in the options click properties.After this check all the boxes under recording and playback.
walla problem solved.

Answer 2

nope you wont be able to listen as you do the task because the head thats reading the cassette tape can only either read or record not both at the same time. so no you will have to wait till its done and its up to you if you want to make separate files for each side or track.

Answer 3

ok, so you got the whole lot into your pc....so, PC is listening...
I use Nero 7.0 Premium, a bit called "Wave Editor" with this, you can simply put the whole into the PC (Wave Editor Monitors for level, etc) Then split the continuous track into a set of tracks representing the whole (on Wave Ed. you can see where they start/end) You may also 'clean' your recording, get the hisses etc off, and 'normalise' the volume levels for each track, stops one track being 'loud' and the next 'soft'. Then...being Nero, you can run the whole lot to CD, with neat little gaps if you like....

Answer 4

Are you playing the music into pc via the headphone jack? this would explain why there is no sound from the source, as for hearing it from the pc as you record it, check that on your volume setting taskbar that line in is not set to mute. this may help if it is the case.

Answer 5

use the line in or mic jack to record or both
connect your speckers to the output jack
you should then here sound while you record
dont know how you were told
this way works

Answer 6

What is the point

Cassette (Can't believe I just typed that word) sounds rubbish

Answer 7

Have you tried plugging headphones into the headphone socket on your sound card?

Answer 8

sorry have no idea