Recording From Cassettes.

[Khandro]

Several years ago I recorded on to audio cassettes 10, half hour programmes on BBC Radio 3, called 'Bluebird blues', containing lots of very rare 1930's records on the Bluebird label.
The sound is still excellent, but before they start to deteriorate I want to transfer them. What would be the best option for 5 hours? (I haven't done anything like this before). I once bought, and have never used, a Wharfedale 2Gb MP3 player (still in its box), would that be better than CD? Would 5 hours fit on a CD anyway? This is probably the stuff a modern 12 year old could do!
I have a PC and a CD/Cassette system. Thanks.

[jomifl]

Worms on youtube hmm..

[jomifl]

^Don't go there if you are sqeamish...

[Khandro]

jomifl; Adding to Youtube is some distance off.
//That works Khandro you just have to specify the the microphone input (top right ish) and click the record 'button' top leftish.//
You mean select 'Realtek HD audio input mic volume'
and record as the red button 6 along which says 'Record (shift for append record)' ?

[jomifl]

If the signal is getting to your computer, in record mode the red bar on the VU meter just to the left of centre at the top should be fluctuating. Adjust the input as high as possible but so that peak volume doesn't push it past the blue bars. When you are happy with that press the yellow square stop button and dump that file. Start the tape from just before the start of the track( a few seconds) and press the red record button which you have identified. Press the stop button at the end of the track and stop the tape so that the next track is ready. Save the track as an audacity(default) file. You can convert the file to MP3 by 'exporting' it to storage media as an MP3 file. Audacity has a noise reduction facility to remove tape or interference noise from the tape for which you need a few seconds of the signal from the blank section that you recorded at the beginning of the track. You can do this if necessary before converting to an MP3 but save the cleaned up version as a separate audacity file so as not to lose your original recording which you might want to reprocess differently later. Hope this is clear if not please ask.

[Khandro]

That's very clear, thank you.
Should I electrocute myself, at least I'll go listening to some great blues :-)

[jomifl]

What kind of blues are the tracks Khandro? jazz, delta or sumthin' else?

[Khandro]

As said in the OP, they're all from the Bluebird label; 1930s-40s ; Petee Wheatstraw, Tampa Red, Sonny Boy Williamson etc. I can give you a full list if you would like. The commentary is very good between tracks by Francis Wilford Smith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Wilford-Smith the records were all from his own private collection.

[jomifl]

Ta Khandro, that will give me the flavour, good luck.

[tamborine]

I luv pic instructions

http://m.wikihow.com/Transfer-Cassette-Tape-to-Computer

[jomifl]

came across this on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Ac24bdUFM&feature=player_detailpage&list=RDhhQWOVaiudc

[jomifl]

Excellent Tambo!

[tamborine]

Have you feasted on these blues, jomfli? You can get whole albums on Grooveshark App

http://youtu.be/HkC7umeXCUU

[jomifl]

Ta Tambo :)

[tamborine]

Khandro, can you link the music mentioned. Please upload to web so we can share.

Ive got 7" tapes but no reel to reel machine to transpose to digital, of Dad's jazz sessions with Jack Parnel.

[Khandro]

That's a great track by Peetie Jom. - thanks. I like his assertive voice, and it's a great piano accompaniment.
Tambo; Jack Parnell - wow! You really should try to beg, borrow or steal a reel to reel and transpose them to digital as soon as poss. I have some cassettes I recorded in the 1970's of an old, near-blind blues man called 'Cowboy Steve Taylor' in Lexington, Kentucky. He was near penniless and swept the yards of bars and restaurants. I'm sure he is now completely forgotten. Sadly, I tried the tapes recently and they have deteriorated so badly as to be useless, it seems the magnetic coating on the tape fails with time.

[jomifl]

Ok :-)

[Khandro]

Jomifl; Good, I've been putting it off for long enough and I'm determined to have a stab at it today. That's a great link from Tambo, - thanks if you're still around.
First problem is that when I insert cable into tape deck the sound (in the room) quits. But I guess I'll manage that. I'm just going to record the whole cassettes as they are with Francis Wilford-Smith's commentary between tracks, which no matter how many times I hear it is always interesting.
As far as I can ascertain, the BBC haven't kept a recording of the programmes, Francis is now deceased (Rip) and as the 78s were all from his private collection a lot of these tracks are extremely rare, if it all goes to plan I'll see you get a copy somehow. :-)

[Khandro]

I've got so far as to transfer a test track to the computer, I can listen to it played back, (it sounds great), but only through headphones, not my computer speakers. I'm now uncertain where to save it. When I click on 'Save project'. I have a drop down menu which includes as well as all my files, DVD RW Drive (D:), and also Local Disc (C:) would it be one of these?

[jomifl]

On my version of audacity (in French) there is an option just above halfway in the dropdown menu for 'save under'. Cick on this and a box will appear for you to enter a file name and below that there is a box bearing the word 'audacity..' which means it will be saved as an audacity file. So, save it as an audacity file then you can 'export' it as an MP3 file next or later.

[Khandro]

jomifl; Hey!! I seem to be getting there. I've recorded a test track, called it 'First Blues Recording' and saved it as an Audacity file. To playback I click on 'Recent Files' it appears, click on it, [I]et voila tout[I[!
The only problem now is I can only hear it through headphones from my pc and not my pc's speakers, any thoughts on that please, and would you record the whole 10 x half-hour tapes in this way, - as audacity files ?
Also, I think there is a way to listen to the recording as it is happening so as to know when to stop etc. because inserting the jack into the tape deck cuts out its speakers.