Audacity

[codswallop]

Further to a previous post on this topic I'm trying to d/load some taped music using Audacity but when I play it back it sounds as though someone was singing through a sock.Of all the drop down edit choices which one would "sharpen up" the sound?? Thanks!!!

[ChuckFickens]

What are you using as a source? is it a line level output or from a headphone socket?

[codswallop]

Its from an old Grundig tape recorder!

[ChuckFickens]

Are you able to listen to the recording directly from the tape? and if so does it sound OK then?

If it does then the chances are you've got to adjust your levels and you may find there are several different levels you will have to balance out before you'll get a good recording, this is going to be even more important if you are able to adjust the levels of the recording outputs on the tape deck it's self. the other level is your sound card drivers, if you open the card mixer you should be able to enable playback through the speakers and then adjust the levels to sound OK.

[flobadob]

Have you got a DVD recorder?

[codswallop]

Hi there CF I made these recordings almost 50 yrs ago and if my memory serves me right I copied the music via a micro phone,which probably explains the inferior sound quality which I was hoping to improve upon before burning to a disc.
Flobadob this is an audio tape recorder.

[ChuckFickens]

I wouldn't hold out too much hope then, you're never going to be able to add quality to a low quality recording.

But, as I asked, are you able to listen to the tape playing directly? you should be able to play it directly through your computer speakers if it's connected to your computer to record, if you say which version of windows it should be possible to direct you how to do that.

[carlton23]

I shall watch any further developments on this thread, as I also have some very old tapes from an Uher tape recorder that are very precious to me.

[codswallop]

Hi C/F I'm using Win. Vista and I can hear it PLAYING BAcK through the PC speakers Thanks!!!!! I half expected your comment about little or no chance to improve the quality.

[ChuckFickens]

Well what's it sound like if you play the tape back through the speakers?

If it sound's loads better when you are listening to the tape rather than the recording then there is something to work on.

If it sounds muffled and bad direct from the tape then you are not going to make it sound much better, you can try playing about with the equalisation to try and make it sound a little better, but as said, you can't add quality that isn't there to start with.

[codswallop]

Hi it's about the same inferior quality from the the tape recorder as the d/load.Please bear with me on this there are several sliders on the equalisation can you suggest which is the most likely ones to make any difference?? Also does the "equaliser" only affect the d/load or will it make a difference as you hear it coming through the PC????

[flobadob]

codswallop, the reason I asked is because some DVD recorders can record audio via the red/yellow/white connection and then you could rip the audio from the DVD to your computer then onto a CD. Don't know about enhancing the audio quality though.