From cassette tape to MP3?

[MisterRaven]

Hello, All.

Is there any piece of hardware out there that would allow me to somehow record the contents of a cassette tape as an MP3 file? I suppose that any other type of audio file would be fine, actually.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[bendixG15]

Friend of mine uses Roxio...........

 

[Matthias99]

Yes, it's called a sound card. I'm almost certain you have one in your computer right now.

Plug the cassette player into the line-in jack, fire up any kind of recording software (there's one bundled with Windows, and many others you can record), and hit "record". Free MP3 encoders are widely available if you want it as something other than a .WAV file.

 

[LTC8K6]

If your sound card has a line in jack and your software will record from that, you should be good to go with just about any source. I have made CD's from radio broadcasts using the radio's headphone jack and the soundcard's line in jack.

 

[MisterRaven]

Okay, okay--I should've known that. Forgive me, everyone, I'm just an idiot.

Thanks though.

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

what type of cable do you need? to connect the cassette?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE
what type of cable do you need? to connect the cassette?

2.5mm stereo minijack (from the player's headphone jack or line-out) to 2.5mm stereo minijack (the sound card's line-in).

WTF else are you going to use???

 

[Cook1]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE
what type of cable do you need? to connect the cassette?

2.5mm stereo minijack (from the player's headphone jack or line-out) to 2.5mm stereo minijack (the sound card's line-in).

WTF else are you going to use???

I did not know this! Now I can have the Traveling Wilbury's from my old cassette...if I can find it to an MP3!

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE
what type of cable do you need? to connect the cassette?

2.5mm stereo minijack (from the player's headphone jack or line-out) to 2.5mm stereo minijack (the sound card's line-in).

WTF else are you going to use???

excuse me as i hardly know anything related to this can someone tell me what that looks like not quite sure

 

[Matthias99]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be insulting or anything. I was just a bit incredulous is all. I don't know how anybody could operate a cassette player (or any piece of sound-related electronics) and not know what a 2.5mm or 3.5mm 'minijack' headphone plug looks like, but: link to picture of a stereo minijack cable.

A cassette deck (as opposed to a boombox-type unit or walkman) might have RCA jacks for its outputs. In this case, you would need a dual-RCA->stereo minijack adapter: link to picture of a stereo RCA->minijack adapter.

Both of these are available at Radio Shack, or any store that sells electronics or stereo equipment.

 

[Sheriff]

Actually you can get it all in 1 long cord as seen here.
If you go the 2 cord route then make sure that there is a female and male end on the 2 seperate 3.5mm jacks so they will connect together.

 

[Blueopticalmouse]

A great free program for recording is Audacity. Sourceforge Project Audacity It is what I use, works awsome. Easy to adjust input strength which is good for doing tapes. The noise removal effect works awsome to clean up tapes. Good luck!