I have casette tapes that are very important to me and would like to convert them to MP3 format. How can I do this as someone who is not tech savvy.
2006-10-30 23:45:08 · 7 answers · asked by Logunleko 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
Get a stereo jack cable (it looks like the headphone jack - but it's on both ends'
Plug this into your PC (line in on your sound card) and your cassette player. You can then use Windows Sound Recorder (Start, Run, SNDREC32) to save the recording as a WAV file, Then use a program called CDEX to convert to MP3.
2006-10-30 23:48:29 · answer #1 · answered by mark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will need a cassette player (!), PC with a stereo input to soundcard, conversion software, CD writer. Yep that’s about it, oh yeah and a lot of time…..
Note: if you are using a laptop, you may need a USB external soundcard (mine has only a mono mic input – not good enough!) – you can get cheap, simple but effective ones (from Hong Kong) via ebay…
You could get someone to do it for you if you are not tech-minded: www.cassette2cd.co.uk for one - do a search...
The software is probably the thing you really want to know about.. you will find loads out there. Personally I use Magix Audio Cleaning Lab – primarily for lifting vinyl, but will take any analogue signal. It has loads of features including cleaning filters, effects and editing… it’s cheap too – try ebay. There are loads more, some even free downloads – listen to folks who have used the software then have a go….
Magix has automatic track recognition based on silence between tracks and auto-stop recording so you can go out for the day and it will stop at the end of your tape – really useful!! You may use up loads of hard-drive space, so don’t try this if you are pushed for space (approx 1MB per minute MP3 at 128kbps). You can record directly into MP3 and configure the files at your desired 'bit-rate'. The higher the bit-rate, the higher the quality - popular consensus is that 128kbps is fine, however to match CD quality 192kbps is recommended. You won't hear that much difference, but if you are concerned at conserving your tapes at best quality (bearing in mind you can always produce other copies at lower bit-rates) go for high quality MP3 or even WAV files for transfer to a CD.
I have just realised that I have answered similar questions without addressing copyright issues!! Please note, just 'cos you can, don't mean it's legal!
Check copyright issues on www.cassette2cd.co.uk/copy.htm
Hope this helps
2006-10-31 00:49:52 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to add to the above, Windows sound recorder will save the file in mp3 format at different sample rates.
2006-10-30 23:57:28 · answer #3 · answered by Tempest 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take the headphone output of your cassette deck and plug it into the mic or line input of your PC.
Then you can use the built in sound recorder, or get other free tools of t'internet.
Fiddle about with the volume on the tape deck to get the best vol without clipping.
I do it all the time, fedelity is not fantastic, but its ok to carry on using that bootleg tape you made 20 years ago by putting it on a CD.
2006-10-30 23:54:06 · answer #4 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally I call my Dad and ask him in a sickly sweet voice if I can borrow his pc for a bit as he has some software which turns tapes into MP3's.
Unfortunately I have no idea what it's called.. maybe I should call Dad?
2006-10-30 23:57:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nero has a great interface to collect cassette or record audio.
It comes with all of thier "platinum" or complete packages.
It does a nice job of breaking the audio into tracks and cleaning it up too. no need to record and convert.
You'll need the 1/8" jack as well.
2006-10-31 00:42:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
have a look at intel INport if you search for it on yahoo you will find it I`vedone all records and tapes onto cd with it they doone for mp3 players as well
2006-10-31 01:04:07 · answer #7 · answered by angie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋