Is there a way to take a song that was recorded originally on a cassette tape and have it recorded onto a cd?

Question

I have a cassette tape that is getting old, and I would like to know if it is possible to have the contents recorded onto a cd. And if it is possible, where would someone go to have that done.

Answer 1

Well, it is possible. I have done it several times. The technique I am using is play&record. I connect my tape player's headphone output to my computer's 'line in'. Then all you need is a music production or editing software (I'm using Cubase SX). Then when you press play on the tape, also press record on the computer. By doing this, you will output the sound of the tape and record it on your harddrive. Let whole of the tape to finish then you may divide the recorded album into tracks using the program. However, depending on your computer's RAM, you may not be able to run any programs during the process or you may encouter with slow responses from the computer. This is normal because recording something uses a lot of RAM (usually, not running any other programs solves the problem).

After you have done this, you may use a CD-burner program to burn your audio cd. Just transfer the files you have recorded to your CD. That's it. However, I need to warn you about sound quality. Some tapes (especially, if they are too old) may have a 'hum' noise at the background. This noise will also be recorded on the files. If you understand from sound a little, you may want to use some filters on your program while recording the album. By doing this, you may get 'CD-quality' recordings from tapes. As you can see, this is done in home conditions. However, I'm sure that there are professional studios that work on these kind of things.

On the other hand, if you can download all of the songs from the internet, then you can burn your album this way, too. And this one will be less painful.

Answer 2

You can actually do it at home off your Mac or PC.

All you will need is a cassette deck, the right cables, and the right software.

There are several software options, depending on whether your OS is Windows or Mac OSX (sorry, I don't know which you use). Do some Google work with key words: 'Analog conversion to digital', 'old vinyl', 'old cassettes to digital', 'old cassettes to mp3', etc. There are at least 6-7 programs out there. PlusDeck2C is not too bad. Some are free, some are not.

The basic process is the same: you play the tape, and your PC converts it (in real time) into an AIFF or WAV file (a pretty big file). Then you drag this into e.g. iTunes, and convert it into an mp3 (if you're an iPod person) OR burn the AIFF/WAV straight to disc with, e.g. Toast or Nero, to make a playable CD.

TIPS FROM EXPERIENCE:

a. Your first few attempts may be disappointing. There may be audible tape hiss in the background; or the recording, even after being EQed, may still sound 'tinny'. Just play around with various threshold settings in the software - the more you experiment, the better the results get.

b. Some apps deliver an audible 'click' at the top of the AIFF or WAV file generated; any good sound editor can remove that at the mp3 stage (I use MP3 Trimmer, very precise.)

c. If there is significant 'tape warp' manifested by 'whistling' on the finished files, it's almost a lost cause to generate 'clear' mp3s. Save yourself the hassle and just buy the album on CD. Like you, I own some cassettes that are old - 10 years plus, and some can't be saved.

But (good news) I once converted a track off a tape that was 21 years old - without a hitch!

If you don't want the hassle of doing it yourself, your Google search (above) will turn up a lot of services (if you are UK / US-based) which will do this for a fee. I think, for just a handful of cassettes, it's not worth it - have a go at doing it yourself; the most you need to buy is the cable and the jack.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

I´m not sure wher you should go, since I asume you live in US, and I´m not... but it´s really easy to get it on a CD as long as you have a cassette player with audio output, and a PC/Mac with a sound card... and a CD burner. There are loads of freeware applications out there that will do it for you. It´s hard to recomend something, since I dont know if you are on a Mac or PC

http://discovernorwegianmusic.blogspot.com/

Answer 4

If you purchase a Soundblaster Audigy sound card for your PC it has an input on the back that allows you to plug in an audio source via a 1/8" audio cable. you plug one end into the output of a cassette deck, the other to the sound card. the software allows you to record audio right into the computer through the sound card. It turns them into .wav files, or mp3's. you can then drag them into your CD burning software and burn them to disc.
The card is inexpensive and easy to install.

Answer 5

Yes it is possible, all you need is to connect your ca sett to the sound-card with a cable , an audio recording software , a burner to Burn the recorded file to the CD .
audio recording free software can be found at www.download.com
Good Luck

Answer 6

Its easy of your have a microphone to hook up to your computer (might need windows XP). Then, keep your surroundings quiet. GO to All programs, acessories, ENtertainment, Sound recorder, Fool arond with it a bit and you'll have it transfered to your computer. AFter that, burn it to a CD. Hope this helps.

Or you can hear the songs and look up their names by typing the words in quotations and adding the word Lyric. For example "I need a hero" Lyrics. You can look up their names in limewire.com (free downloads)

Answer 7

I don't think it is possible to transfer that. If your computer has a cd burner you could go to a site like bearshare or limewire and download the song and then burn it on the cd

Answer 8

I'm sure that there is a way. You probably just have to have the right equipment. Go to an electronics store .... or just download the song you want from the internet and then burn it. That would probably be the easiest (and least expensive) thing to do.

Answer 9

Well, I did that by sending my cassette to this place in Oklahoma. They did it for free. I dont have the address now but if you want it u can e-mail me at [e-mail]!

Answer 10

im not sure if u can get it done professionally but u can buy the thing and do it urself or use a friend that has one. it transfer video cassette and audio cassette to cd. find it on ebay or any major electronic store i think. but profeesional done at a company. idk.