short and to the point,how do I transfer audio cassette to a cd?

Answer 1

Not so short....
You will need a cassette player (!), PC with a stereo input to soundcard, conversion software, CD writer.
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, friends of mine at: http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk for one. There are plenty to choose from out on the web, this type of job is perfect for a 'virtual' studio.
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 and even comes with a stereo cable – try ebay. There are loads more, some even free downloads ('audacity' available from download.com)– listen to folks who have used the software then have a go….(Audacity will convert to digital, but I don't think it does the burning...Magix does it all)
Oh yeah, and 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 will use up loads of hard-drive space, so don’t try this if you are pushed for space…You may need to purge the huge files every so often (10MB per minute WAV files, 1MB per minute MP3). You could save some space recording directly into MP3 at the sacrifice of a little sound quality.
If it's backup you're after, then MP3s at 128kbps would give good quality, MP3 at 192kbps will apparently give you a recording quality which is virtually indistinguishable from CD (WAV files) - worth considering as you will be able to get a lot of tapes backed up onto a single CDROM. If you want to play it in a conventional CD player then you will have to go with the WAV file option.
One last thing, there are copyright issues here - if they are your own (commercial) cassettes it's fine as long as you don't sell off the cassette and keep the digital version. Obviously if the music is you and your mates playing in the garage, then that's fine too!
Well hope it was to the point if a little laboured
Hope this helps

Answer 2

My aproach will be to go on the old-shaped way: a million.- Get a good cassette deck 2.- Get a pc with a good sound card; or get absolutely one of those "exterior" sound playing cards that convert from analog to digital and deliver the guidance to you pc by the USB port. 3.- Get a good audio editor software (i love Adobe Audition) 4.- Hook all of it up 5.- Play your tapes and "list" on your pc; in .WAV format. 6.- Burn your CD's or make copies of the archives in MP3 format once you've a conveyable participant. 7.- till now you burn; you should use the software to reduce noise; upload some equalization; and optimize the point (volume) of the recorder tracks. I have achieved this with tapes of stay performances of my overdue father; who became an extremely good singer himself. i'm not particular if there is any stand on my own CD participant/burner; yet when there is; i anticipate it would want to have an A/D converter integrated in it. If there si this kind of gadget; and also you may arise with the money for it; purchase it.

Answer 3

Below are two devices that can do just that.

(Search thinkgeek.com with the word cassette)