Transferring Cassette to PC for a relative without Sonar

My first thought was Audacity, too. But if she can use the line input on her soundcard rather than a microphone, the results will be much better. Also remind her to clean the heads in the cassette player before transferring!

Thanks guys

That's great info. I'll recommend the head cleaning for definite. Well worth it.

Regarding running the signal straight in, I've no idea what the spec of the machine she would use and, therefore, don't know about its outputs. Would a standard stereo 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable from 'Headphone' >>> 'Line Input' on the PC do the trick?


Stewart

Thanks AT

What do mean by a line adapter? I done a search and found allsorts...lol

I wasn't figuring on anything other than a cable between both parties. Is it that there may be an impedance issue between the Hi-Fi Headphone Output and PC Line Input?


Stewart

A line adaptor - I was simply talking about connectors.  A minijack to minijack, or whatever it takes.  Most consumer cards have minijack in/outs.  I don't know what kind of connector your cassette uses.  And an old cassette may or may not be mono, or have all the signal on one channel.  You need the physical connectors to match, and then have to worry about stereo signal from the cassette.

@

Jonbouy

 
...You won't actually need anything Windows sound recorder will even do the job...

It's been years since I used it but doesn't the Windows sound recorder have a 60 second recording limit? I know it used to.

Hi there

Thanks for you replies folks. Much appreciated.

Regarding attempts, I've tried two differents mics (3.5mm). An Audio Technica ATR3350 mono Lavalier and a Creative Gaming headset with and Electret Condenser. Both were not that great as some of you folks predicted. In fact, they were dreadful.

Directly, I've used what I know to be several working cables from Headphone Out to Line Input. The distrortion was unforgivable with no happy medium to be reached, regardless of the tweaking of volumes (input and output).

Therefore, I am going to advise my cousin to get the ION Device. If I could get the cassette from my cousin, I was considering using a ribbon sandwiched between two speakers with it going into one of my RND Porticos >>> RME MultifaceII >>> Sonar. However, this is no longer a possibility given that, on trying the two cassette decks on an old hi-fi I have, they chewed the cassettes and are now refusing to eject them. It now has to be the device suited to the task's purpose I reckon - ION.

Just for info regarding some of the posts:

Windows Sound recorder does in fact have a 60 second limit. However, if you record say 10 seconds and then Edit >>> Copy, it then copies 10 seconds to the clipboard. If you then go to Edit >>> Paste (multiple times), it will add 10 seconds to your recoding limit each tim. Ctrl+V x 10 = 1 min 40 secs (in this case).

Incidentally. Audacity (1.2.6) does have capacity to export to mp3.


Thanks again for your help folks. Much appreciated.

Stewart

I have to add that I have had great success in the past recording from a headphone jack/line out on a cassette deck to computer (Sound Blaster sound card). The trick is to turn the headphone volume down to about 20% volume and then to adjust the Line In sensitivity in the recording properties of the Windows Mixer. The first three videos on my Youtube page have songs that were originally done on computer, transferred to cassette and then back to the computer. They are too loud but that's because the person who made the videos for me normalized them too high. But the audio transfer itself was relatively noise and distortion free because I adjusted the levels the best I could.

Not that the ION device is a bad deal, though it is a little pricey. Using that would probably be the simplest way to do it for someone not that familiar with using the Windows Mixer.

Hey stewart
I have a way that may work....I found it on the internet when a freind of mine asked me to do the very same thing.....

I tried posting it here several times today from work but no go so I will try to PM you with it tomorrow....

Clifford

I doubt you'll get anything worthwhile from micing the cassette player. 
My vote would go towards Chappelle's turning down the output on the Line Out of the cassette deck, and making up the gain in your soundcard or Sonar.  Then EQ, Compress, etc.

Slugbaby


I doubt you'll get anything worthwhile from micing the cassette player. 
My vote would go towards Chappelle's turning down the output on the Line Out of the cassette deck, and making up the gain in your soundcard or Sonar.  Then EQ, Compress, etc.

Thanks slugbaby. I can't get anything but distortion using headphone outs. I haven't tried other types of line out because I don't have that capacity on my very old Hi-Fi. This may well be the best bet.

I would need to know the specs of the intended Hi-Fi so that I could use it as Chappel suggests in his last post. Thanks Chappel.

Incidentally, for some reason using the UA-1G in this way didn't occur to me. The UA-1G only popped into my mind when I required a mobile mic input solution. I clean forgot about all its features. I've over-thought this situation so much that my brain took a tea-break. ha ha


Thanks again

Stewart

Chappel


I can't emphasize enough how important it is to turn the headphone output down to 25% or less of max volume. If the player does not have a volume control for the headphone output then it is a very poor choice for recording directly to a computer.

Line outputs are frequently called AUX outputs on many amplifiers/tuners and other electronic audio devices.

Hi Chappel

Ah...I have written confusingly in the other post. Sorry. My Hi-Fi is just a bit old to have Aux outs and the speakers connect with bare wires into clipping type connectors. It does have a volume control though.

Yes, I turned the volume on my Hi-Fi down to 25% and used my windows recording control mixer and slowly scanned the slider's entire range, kinda like trying to tune in a radio station. It was all distorted though. I even tried the volume of my Hi-Fi lower than this and even higher. All distortion I'm afraid.

Yep...I agree. Line/Aux outputs on my cousin's Hi-Fi are the way to go. 


Thanks Chappel

Stewart

Hi Frank

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

The Headphone Outs I've tried here are far too distorted depsite following the kind advice you and others have given. I'm gonna visit my cousin in a week or two and go direct from an Aux out her Hi-Fi to the inputs my UA-1G. This should take care of it. I have Sonar LE on my laptop. Should be easy I reckon.


Thanks again

Stewart