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]

Khandro, you can get a cassette player that plugs into a usb socket and stores the tape output as a digital signal via a free audio softwar such as 'audacity'. If you are interested I can post a link to one available on ebay. I don't think 2gb is enough for 5 hours of audio. You can get an 8gb usb stick fore very little.

[jomifl]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Super-USB-Cassette-Capture-Tape-to-MP3-PC-iPod-CD-Converter-/190704998702?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_PortableAudio_MP3PlayerCarKits&hash=item2c66e7592e

[VHG]

Note MP3 format is a compressed format, so to make the file small the file is compressed so some sound quality is lost.

But there are different quality levels of mp3 so if you do make them into mp3 format then choose the highest quality your can (320kbps for example).

When mp3 files are put on to CD they can be put on in one of two formats:

1) As mp3 files. These just go on the CD as "data" files so you can usually fit many hours of mp3 files onto a single CD.

But this CD cant normally be played in a standard CD player, though many CD players do allow you do play mp3 files..

2) As Audio files. You can burn a set of mp3s onto a CD as "Audio" files.

This is the same format as CDs sold in the shop, but you can only fit an hour of "Audio" files on to a CD. But you can play this type of CD in any standard CD player.

Note there are formats that are different from mp3 called "lossless" where no quality is lost, but the files are bigger.

FLAC is one lossless format (I think there are others), so if you do want to keep the quality of these cassette tapes consider copying them to your computer in a lossless format

https://xiph.org/flac/

[Khandro]

Jom. Just reading the instructions for the CD/Cassette stereo system ("When all else fails"!) I see it has its own USB socket, but I think that might be to record the other way round, ie from USB to cassette where the sound is already digitalised, which is presumably what audacity does is it? I've no idea what I'm talking about of course!
I do have an empty USB stick though.

[tamborine]

Has your MP3 got connecting jacks for tape player? I dont see jacks listed on the spec

[jomifl]

If you already have a cassette tape player you should be able to feed the output into the mike socket on your computer and then process it with 'audacity'. I'll look into it. :o)

[tamborine]

I have this; note the jacks

http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/21/samsung-yp-t7-mp3-player-mini-review/

[jomifl]

That works Khandro you just have to specify the the microphone input (top right ish) and click the record 'button' top leftish.

[murraymints]

You can invest in one of these machines that transfer tape and vinyl to disc....it would mean multiple discs....and they can be quite expensive...but on the plus side you would have a quick and easy method and a nice new player....usually see them advertised in the Sundays...

[murraymints]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation



Or this maybe ?

[jomifl]

I just used a microphone to record from the TV into audacity and saved it on my hd as an mp3 file. If you want to try this I can give you more detailed info.

[Northernpopquiz]

See how you get on Khandro, if you have no luck and don't want to shell out for a CD recorder then I am willing to do it for you on mine. I transferred all my vinyl and rare tape recordings onto CD using my recorder, they all sound fantastic. Discs are 80 minutes long but if you wanted to put two half hour shows on each disc that would work ok I'm sure. Anyway, see how you go, if you don't have any joy I'd be happy to help.

[Khandro]

Thanks to all, inc. north's kind offer.
Jomifl; As I already have Audacity installed on my PC, are you saying take a lead from the output on the cassette player (which must be the headphone jack I guess) to the "mike socket", is that the pink one on the PC?
Assuming that works, I could then record onto several discs? Would I first store the whole 5 hours onto my computer's hard drive?
Thanks for you patience!

[tamborine]

Have you got a lead with compatible jacks from tape to pc?

[jomifl]

Hi Khandro, the pink socket should be the microphone socket, and yes you will need a lead with a stereo jack on each end. If you are familiar with using audacity then it's quite simple. Once you have copied it onto your hard drive as an audacity file you can convert it to an MP3 file by 'exporting' it as such, either as another (MP3) file on your hard drive or to some other form of storage media. I recommend saving it on your hard drive then you can copy it to USB drive, CD orDVD discs according to your wishes.

[jomifl]

I also suggest that you copy each track and save it separately. This means that you can sort them how you wish at a later date and if you want to do any processing to a particular track you can find it easily and not interfere with other tracks. This is particularly good for shuffling MP3 files to your taste. If you copy and convert a whole tape it has to be treated as one immutable MP3 file unless you can possibly edit it later.

[Khandro]

Thanks jom; I've only got male/female leads here, I'll get a m/m one, and have a go.
It's my long term plan to try to put some tracks on Youtube, - but that's another future can of worms :-)

[tamborine]

MP3 I linked recorded 6hrs that I burned to one CD.

[Khandro]

^ Was the sound as good as the original?

[tamborine]

Sound was perfect, absolutely no distortion. Check ebay for cheaper sale