how to record from cassette to standalone dual cd recorder through PA system?

Question

i have a dual cassette player/recorder and a dual cd player/recorder along with a PA system with speakers and microphone....i want to hook up everything to run through the PA system and microphones to be able to record from cassette to CD and also i want to be able to record me singing along with accompaniment tapes or cds and record the music with me singing with them...i have tried every hook up that i know of......can anyone give me specific instructions without all the electronic talk...i understand the in and out on the systems but other than that, i get lost.....

Answer 1

I think you probably need a mixer.
Feed your sources (cassette/mic etc) into the mixer and output to your recorder (tape or CD) and PA system. You may need adapters for the outputs from your sources to the mixer - small mixers are not expensive and would allow you to control the relative volume of each channel. Good idea to use headphones as well to prevent feedback.
A suggested layout would be:
RCA outputs from tape out into mixer (some mixers may allow you to connect RCA's otherwise you can get a cable to convert to RCA's to two (stereo) 1/4" jacks
Microphone into separate channel on mixer
Output from mixer into your CD recorder (you could use headphones from CD recorder or mixer to monitor your recording)
When you have made the recording, connect RCA ouput from the CD recorder to the PA system to hear the recording played back. It will help to prevent feedback if you use headphones to monitor the recording, but you can only properly judge what it will sound like when you play it back through the PA.
one more point...Cd recorders are not great at recording analogue signals over prolonged periods of time (ie. more than 30mins in my experience) so record one track at a time, otherwise you may lose several tracks all at once...
hope this helps