How do you convert a cassette tape to a CD using your computer?

Question

I purchased a Audio Dubbing Cable and according to the sales person all I had to do was go from the phone jack to the mic and record. Well what software records this way? It did not automatically load as he said.

Answer 1

Difficult to write all the steps down here, but you can have a look at the following for some guidance http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk/diy This is certainly 'do-able', if you have the patience....
You will need a cassette player (!), PC with a stereo input to soundcard, conversion software and 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, 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 produced 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 freely available - see link below)– listen to folks who have used the software then have a go….
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
Free download of software and complete guide to converting cassette to CD at http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk/downloads.php
Hope this helps...

Answer 2

Phone jack of your cassette player into the mic or line in of your sound card with the audio cable. Then use the recording software that should have come with your sound card. Hit the record button on the software, play button on the cassette player, when done with the song, stop on the software, stop on the cassette player, do a save as on the computer for the sound file you just recorded.

Answer 3

The sales person was correct in regards to plugging into your computers line in or mike input. The other leads will go to your cassette tape deck record (out), but there may not be enough of a powerful signal produced from your cassette player to be audible.
The sales person also miss-lead you into thinking that it is just as easy as plugging it in.
You will require some sort of recording device (program) on your computer. Such as LP Recorder or Gold Wave. These are programs for doing such and some can be downloaded from such Web Sites such as Cnet.com or Download.com just look for the free ones. Some are good some are poor depending on your knowledge of these programs.
also ...when recording (depending on the program) you may end up with the whole side of a cassette tape written as one (1) track.
or the program may be able to split it up for you by its self.
File formats will more than likely be in the "Wav" type and will need to be converted to CD audio or Mpeg which has become the standard. You cannot listen to Wav files in your player unless it is built into it, although it will play fine on your computer.
and remember making a cassette to a Wav file will consume a large amount of Hard Drive space.

Listed a site to check out, just filter for the free ones in download tab.

Answer 4

Please so back and punch her in the face for me!?

With this method from Tape -> Soundcard, you should be using the line out, or phones out from your tape deck, into the Line In of your PC Soundcard. If you use the "mic in" the recording will sound terrible, it is only designed to take a microphone's input.

You'll get much white noise from the soundcard. Tape->Minidisc->PC (via optical cable) would yeild the clearest recording.

As for software to record .wav files, use what was bundled with your soundcard, or get a copy of Cool Edit Pro.

Answer 5

there are many softwares having this function, like TOTAL RECORDER software, use a cable plug to LINE OUT jack.( from cassette ), another terminal plug into LINE IN of sound card . then setup the software, go. ....

Answer 6

NERO or ANYBURNING SOFTWARE WILL RECORD AN AUDIO SOURCE OR GET AUDACITY ON GOOGLE .IT WILL "RIP" YOUR TAPE AND SAVE IT AS A WAV FILE WHICH YOU CAN THEN BURN TO DISC OR CONVERT TO A MP3

Answer 7

with music match jukebox, from www.musicmatch.com you can rip audio tape as mp3

Answer 8

It can be done, but it always sound terrible to me. I don't know what the secret is to do it right.

Answer 9

I think you cant do it....