Copy tapes to PC

[rick_j21]

I am sure that I could google and find an answer but I am looking for a way to copy my old cassette tapes on to my pc. Is this possible and what do I need to do?

 

[Weird Harold]

I am sure that I could google and find an answer but I am looking for a way to copy my old cassette tapes on to my pc. Is this possible and what do I need to do?

Missygail asked a similar question here: https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=469579

Essentially, you need a sound-card with a Line/Aux IN, a cassete player with a Line/Aux OUT, a cable to connect the two together, and a program to record/convert them in the format you prefer.

 

[Bubber]

Haven't used this myself, but I am told that it works great. Besides, Think Geek doesn't carry crap.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/front/instant_music_import.jpg


Image is a link silly

 

[Weird Harold]

Haven't used this myself, but I am told that it works great. Besides, Think Geek doesn't carry crap.

I don't see why that wouldn't work just great for digital recording except:

Please Note:
In addition to the InstantMusic, you will need to provide your own turntable, cassette deck, or other audio device to record from.

Finding a cassete deck with compatible Line Out connections if you don't already have one is getting to be very difficult -- it almost requires a trip to a thrift shop or second hand store or a very spendy trip to a top-end audio dealer.

 

[bighornedsatyr]

Audio Cassette Drive for Desktops

ThinkGeek sells another item that might work. It doesn't have as many uses as the USB product, but it'll do exactly what you want.

It's an internal audio cassette drive.

It might require more technical skill than you have, but it's a possible last resort.

 

[anders^g]

Line out on cassette player

Isn't really neccesary... I have done this for a few people
with my laptop and a regular walkman.

Just go to an electronics shop and buy a stereo cable
with two 1/8 inch male jacks on it, and plug it in to the
headphone jack on the casette player and into the line-
in on the soundcard of your choice. Then I use a software
like Nero Wave Editor to adjust the volume on the tape deck
(After first having adjusted the RECORDING control to 90%).

It makes a good recording as long as your tape deck is
any good...

 

[Weird Harold]

Just go to an electronics shop and buy a stereo cable
with two 1/8 inch male jacks on it, and plug it in to the
headphone jack on the casette player and into the line-
in on the soundcard of your choice.

That does work, but because a headset output is capable of about ten times the voltage a Line IN connection is designed for, it's potentially a good way to fry your sound card. It's even more potentially disastrous if you only have a MIC IN on your sound card.

Also, if you're at all concerned about "fideleity" the impedance mismatch involved in using a Headset Out to a Line IN connection will amost always cause a loss of quality. It's the kind of qualaity loss that only a real audiophile would generally notice or care about, but it's inevitable.

 

[Bubber]

I don't see why that wouldn't work just great for digital recording except:



Finding a cassete deck with compatible Line Out connections if you don't already have one is getting to be very difficult -- it almost requires a trip to a thrift shop or second hand store or a very spendy trip to a top-end audio dealer.

It just uses regular rca jacks for input. Any component tape deck will have them and even some "boom boxes" will as well. Besides, last time I was at goodwill they had at least two or three component tape decks.

 

[Weird Harold]

It just uses regular rca jacks for input. Any component tape deck will have them and even some "boom boxes" will as well. Besides, last time I was at goodwill they had at least two or three component tape decks.

The last time I was in the market for a cassete player, I couldn't find an affordable one with Line OUT/Aux OUT connections. They're still out there, but they're not cheap.

Pawn shops are another place where used tape decks can be found, but new tape decks with Line/Aux connections are getting harder and harder to find outside of audiophile haunts.

 

[Bubber]

The last time I was in the market for a cassete player, I couldn't find an affordable one with Line OUT/Aux OUT connections. They're still out there, but they're not cheap.

Pawn shops are another place where used tape decks can be found, but new tape decks with Line/Aux connections are getting harder and harder to find outside of audiophile haunts.

No kiddin? I would think that it wouldn't be too hard to find but then I haven't gone looking in years. I have tried to buy a turntable about five years ago and your looking at around $250 for a cheap one that is worth a damn. Amazing huh?

 

[Weird Harold]

No kiddin? I would think that it wouldn't be too hard to find but then I haven't gone looking in years. I have tried to buy a turntable about five years ago and your looking at around $250 for a cheap one that is worth a damn. Amazing huh?

About two years ago, I went looking for an Amplifier with dual speaker channels to replace the cheap JCV amp that drives my patio speakers, which finally gave up the ghost after about 30 years of service. The cheapest I could find that would do what I needed was over a thousand dollars!

Analog components are fast becoming extinct as digital interfaces take over and DVD/CD technology replace analog recording technology. It's even starting to get difficult to find new releases on cassette.

 

[Bubber]

Craziness.

I imagine that if rick is looking to copy tapes he has something that will play them. Hopefully. Either way, he will need to buy some kind of equipment to do this job.