What is the best way to transfer cassette tapes to my computer?
First you will need a cassette plater with a headphone jack, a computer with a soundcard, free software to do it which you can download here (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/?lang=en) and a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) male-male stereo audio cable (thats the standard size of your headphone jack).
1) Plug one end of the audio cable into your cassette player's headphone or "Line out" jack, and the other end into your computer soundcard's "Microphone" or "Line in" jack. To prevent possible soundcard damage, use the "Line in" jack if possible, and not the "Microphone".
2) Start Audacity, and change the input type to "Line in" or "Microphone", depending on what soundcard jack you're using. This tells Audacity to record whatever it "hears" on the soundcard input. To do this, open the Edit menu, then Preferences. You'll then see a screen that should do what you need: Use the "Device" selector to pick your input (soundcard, microphone, audio jack, etc), and change the "Channels" selector to pick from mono or stereo recording.
3) Press the record button (red circle) on Audacity, then press play on your cassette tape.
4) Press the stop button (yellow square) on Audacity when the tape is finished playing.
5) Use the "File -> Export as WAV" menu item to save your recording. The resulting WAV file can be saved on your computer, converted to MP3, or burned to a CD. Get fancy with Audacity's audio editor features: You can cut, paste and add effects easily.
You should record a ten-second clip at first, so you can play it back immediately in Audacity (green triangle button) and make sure your volume levels are right. If the recorded audio is too loud or has too much static, decrease the volume on your cassette player.
Don't stop with cassette tapes. The same technique can import, record and convert records / LPs / vinyl, 8-tracks, and other older audio formats. You may need a different cable to match your playback device, but the actual dubbing process is the same.
6 Answers
I should specify that this question is Mac-related. (so Audacity won't work). Thanks, though!
Please disregard the above--apparently, it's available for Mac. Sorry for all the wasted space.
Hi Dave
I have just transferred a ton of cassettes to my Mac with a product from griffintechnology.com. It is call iMic. Cost me $50 Cdn. I also had to buy a male-male stereo audio cable that fit my head phone jack. It works like a charm. Very easy to set up.
I have never tried this item, but it seems tailor-made for this task: http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/digital-conversion/9778/
I had intended to get one for just this purpose, but my tape collection was damaged by water in my parents' basement. Good bye Roxette, Tribe Called Quest and Public Enemy. I'll miss you. :-)
It took some finding here in Australia but Streetwise Vic stock them, many thanks Bev
First you will need a cassette plater with a headphone jack, a computer with a soundcard, free software to do it which you can download here (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/?lang=en) and a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) male-male stereo audio cable (thats the standard size of your headphone jack).
1) Plug one end of the audio cable into your cassette player's headphone or "Line out" jack, and the other end into your computer soundcard's "Microphone" or "Line in" jack. To prevent possible soundcard damage, use the "Line in" jack if possible, and not the "Microphone".
2) Start Audacity, and change the input type to "Line in" or "Microphone", depending on what soundcard jack you're using. This tells Audacity to record whatever it "hears" on the soundcard input. To do this, open the Edit menu, then Preferences. You'll then see a screen that should do what you need: Use the "Device" selector to pick your input (soundcard, microphone, audio jack, etc), and change the "Channels" selector to pick from mono or stereo recording.
3) Press the record button (red circle) on Audacity, then press play on your cassette tape.
4) Press the stop button (yellow square) on Audacity when the tape is finished playing.
5) Use the "File -> Export as WAV" menu item to save your recording. The resulting WAV file can be saved on your computer, converted to MP3, or burned to a CD. Get fancy with Audacity's audio editor features: You can cut, paste and add effects easily.
You should record a ten-second clip at first, so you can play it back immediately in Audacity (green triangle button) and make sure your volume levels are right. If the recorded audio is too loud or has too much static, decrease the volume on your cassette player.
Don't stop with cassette tapes. The same technique can import, record and convert records / LPs / vinyl, 8-tracks, and other older audio formats. You may need a different cable to match your playback device, but the actual dubbing process is the same.