September 2016
I have a box of cassette audio tapes that I want to convert to MP3 format. What's the simplest way to do it? I have a Windows 10 PC and a Nakamichi CR-2A cassette deck.
Please log in to post an answer.
As for this, maybe you could also take a try of DRmare Audio Recorder Software. It is a tool that can help you record the audios on your computer. That is to say, you need to play your cassette audios on your computer and then use DRmare program to record and convert those audios in MP3 audio format. Hope this tool will help you.
Thre is a very good little box made just for transferring LP's and CD's to MP3 or wave format. It's made by DAK and costs $69.90. See the link: www.dak.com/reviews/2021story.cfm
The box accepts stereo input from any source (including a microphone), provides for balance and loudness adjustment, digitizes it according to the resolution you want, and prepares a file for a CD. You can name the flie and see the audio as it is played. This is especially useful in that you can ensure that the signal is not being clipped. One can then run the file(s) through a hiss and click reduction program, which is especially good as it is based on an algorithm rather than just clipping spikes. Thus, it works on low amplitude as well as high amplitude signals.
The latest software also has a feature which will automatically take out the large gap one may have between sides of tapes or LPs, leaving only, say 3 seconds. I have found the whole process very satisfactory, though time consuming, as one must, of course, pay a certain amount of attention to whether the tape or LP is finished when doing the conversion. The ideal thing is to have two screens on your computer so you can keep your eye on the conversion process while doing other work on the other screen.
I have recently downsized and moved to a retirement home. I will never use the thing again. I can't find the software disk, though I have the program on my computer, of course. I would be happy to give you the box. DAK might sell you the latest version of the software.
Quite easy to do. You need to get a cable to go from the RCA jacks on your cassette deck to a stereo mini plug to go into your PC. Very common, but if you can't find one, then Amazon has them. Dynex A20420 and many others. For your purposes practically anything will do.
Then download Audacity, which in my humble opinion is the best audio editing program out there, especially since it is free. Go to www.audacityteam.org for the details. For MP3 export, you'll also need something called LAME, available on the Audacity site. Play your tapes into Audacity, then export them either as single songs-per-file or entire sides. For that matter, you can capture both sides of the tape, use Audacity to remove the dead areas that occur while changing sides. Or if you only like a couple of the songs, just copy-and-paste what you want.
If you don't need the absolute best in quality, the easiest way is to simply plug the line out from your cassette machine into the line in on your sound card. Most PCs/sound cards come with at least rudimentary software, or you can download Audacity, which is what I use. You will most likely need a stereo RCA to mini jack adapter, which are inexpensive, and available at RadioShack among other places. If you want a better quality conversion, you can get a phono/line in USB device. Make sure it supports both phono and line in. I purchased an NAD Digital Phono/USB Pream PP4 for transcribing my vinyl.
I use a Diamond One-touch that plugs into may Audio/Video player (RCA Jacks), and into a USB port. It does a great job, and software comes with it. I bought it about 2-3 years ago for $34.95. www.amazon.com/Diamond-VC500-Touch-Capture-Device/dp/B000VM60I8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472941310&sr=8-1&keywords=Diamond+One-Touch
Assuming the cassette deck has LINE LEVEL outputs, use a stereo RCA-F to stereo 1/8" (3.5mm) adapter to directly feed the "LINE IN" (BLUE) jack on your motherboard. You'll then need a utility, like WIndows' "Sound Recorder". Load the tape into your recorder, start the recording utility, then start your tape deck. The file will be saved into, I believe, .WAV (wave) audio files, which you can convert to .MPG for use.
You can download Sound Recorder for Windows 10 from Microsoft. I suggest visiting sourceforge.net and perusing the open-source offerings ("Audacity" seems to be The Standard for audio recording).
A patch cable from the line output of the cassette deck to the line input of the computer. Should be available wherever you get stereo stuff, probably including Walmart.
Here are a couple of ways of recording your tapes.
After connecting your cassette deck to your sound card's line input and adjusting the input level on Control Panel, you can record the tapes with software. I use SoundForge 11 Pro. Unfortunately, this costs a few hundred dollars.
Another option is iZotope's line of products, but again, these are far from free. If you want open source software, download LAME. A friend of mine loves it. LAME is distributed as C source code only so you will need a C compiler. You can download GNU GCC compiler and install that.
All of these software solutions enable you to correct any audio problems after recording and save the corrected recordings in various formats. I use SoundForge to record 78 RPM records — not the 33 vinyls of the 1950s to present, but the shellac discs from 1895 to 1940s and on to 1954. The software removes ticks and pops and equalizes the frequency response appropriately.
Easiest thing to do would be to get a cable that will go between your tape deck and the computer. Usually (please check your connections) a dual male RCA plug to male 1/8" stereo plug will work. You can then plug this into your line in jack on your computer, and the line out jacks on your tape deck and get free software like Audacity to do the recording.
I recently discovered a cassette that my now-deceased father had recorded in 1998. He was whistling and playing a handmade wooden flute and I wanted to provide that to friends and family. I found the audio editing software "Audacity" after a search and it has worked well for me. It is free, open-source and will run on Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can download it at www.audacityteam.org. The documentation can be found at www.audacityteam.org/help/documentation. Very informative tutorials start at http://manual.audacityteam.org/#tutorials.
The first important part to figure out is how to connect the cassette deck to your computer. The whole process is explained well at http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/tutorial_your_first_recording.html and http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/how_to_connect_your_equipment.html. You will then, in a nutshell:
Note that: "Unfortunately, the algorithm to encode or create MP3 files is patented and Audacity would not be able to include an MP3 exporting algorithm without either charging a fee or potentially violating copyright law in some countries. As a compromise, Audacity comes with the ability to use other MP3 encoders, which you must download separately. It is up to you to make sure you are in compliance with any licensing restrictions imposed by MP3 encoders. To install LAME, see http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#lame".
I am editing my approximately 25 minutes of audio in the hopes of creating a CD. The tutorials explain that as well if you wish to try. Good luck.
