converting audio tapes to MP3

[anotheoldgit]

Could anyone please tell me how I can convert my cassette audio tapes to MP3's using a small portable tape deck? Would I need any special software?

[strugglin']

You should be able to connect your tape player to the line in on your sound card. Presss record on your sound card software. Then press play on your player. When transferred, convert to mp3 with any reasonable mp3 converter software (CDeX). Hope this makes sense.

[james412]

The Gadget Show covered this earlier this year. This was on their website at the time, hope it's useful.

How To... Convert your cassettes to digital - 17/4/06

Remember the Sony Walkman? It was the gadget giant of its time back when cassette tapes were the format of choice. But since the dawn of iTunes and mp3, it's a fair chance your poor old tapes haven't seen the light of day in a long time. Here's how to convert them into digital.

1. Get Connected

First off, you'll need the right cable to connect your stereo to your computer's sound card. A 3.5 mm stereo jack lead is ideal. Just plug one end into the output of your portable cassette player, and the other end into the line in of your PC. Generally the line in port is coloured blue.

If your computer doesn't have a line in, use the Griffin iMic Audio Interface from Apple. Plug the stereo jack into the iMic, and the iMic into your computer via the USB port.

2. Check your setup

Make sure your PC speakers are not on mute, adjust your stereo volume so it's not too high, then if everything's connected properly, press play and you will hear your tunes. Open your volume control on your taskbar, and check that the line in Option is included. If not, go to Options and Properties, and you can choose which inputs are available. Set the line in volume for playback and recording, and the master volume at about two thirds capacity.

To be continued...

[james412]

Part 2.

3. Get Recording

Once you're connected, there are loads of sound recording programmes to choose from. Microsoft have their own easy-to-use recorder as part of the Microsoft Plus! Digital Media edition, or use the free, open-source programme Audacity. Download and install the software and you're good to go.

To start recording, press play on your stereo and Record on the Sound Recorder. It's a good idea to make a test track so that if your sound levels are off at this point, you can fix them. The recording level should be peaking with a little bit to spare.

When you're happy, start a new file and do the real thing. Once the track has finished, press Stop and export the track as a WAV file.

4. Clean it up

Audacity and other programmes allow you to remove unwanted noise from your cassette recordings. So that it knows what's unwanted and what's not, highlight a part of the recording between tracks, select "Noise Removal" from the effects menu, then get noise profile. Then highlight your recording, and remove the rest of the noise, and save.

5. Export it

Most sound recorders will automatically record in uncompressed WAV format - which gives better quality audio than mp3 or AAC but munches up a lot more space. To turn your tracks into mp3s, you can import them into iTunes, and right-click on a track to choose convert to mp3. Then move them over to your mp3 player and let your tapes live again!

[anotheoldgit]

Thanks very much to both of you, you have been most helpful. james412 you went above anything I expected thanks once again, but being a novice I have to ask about the method of converting the tracks to MP3s when it refers to importing them into iTunes, what is this please?

[oligopoly]

iTunes is a media player, from Apple Computer, for playing and organizing mp3s. it is mentioned above in James' post presumably as the original source descibed how to convert cassette music to an iPod. You can convert a file to mp3 from a whole host of free programs. Just google it!