Tape To MP3 Converter $99+SH at Geeks...

[WorldTraveller]

I have been eyeing the Plus Deck2 Tape-RW PC Cassette Deck - Tape to MP3 Converter for a while. It used to be $140 & it is on same for $99. It comes to $108 with shipping for me.

Tape To MP3 Link

I couldn't find any reviews on this product. It seems like a great product on paper. But does anyone have any experience with this particular one or any similar gadgets? I am very interested, but didn't want to jump in without some user experience!

Here are the selected features from Geeks website...

General Features:
**Indigo/Beige Bezel
**5.25" Cassette Deck for your Computer
**Record audio output from your computer (MP3 or internet broadcasts) onto tapes
**Listen to audio tapes on your computer
**Convert, save, and edit sounds in PC to CD, DVD, or MP3 player
**Plays and records with Auto Reverse
**Tape Speed: 4.75Cm/sec
**Frequency Response: 20 ~ 18,000 Hz
**Seperation: 40dB
**Signal toNoise Ratio: 55dB

Connection Card Features:
**Headphone in jack
**Line in
**Line out
**Microphone in
**9-pin Serial Port
**Connection card does not require a motherboard slot, just a slot opening on case

Retail Box Includes:
**Plus Deck 2 Cassette Deck Tape-RW Drive
**20-pin cable
**Mic in, Line in, Speaker Out cables
**Serial cable
**Software CD
**User Manual

 

[kof]

I just hook my mp3 player (Creative Nuvo) up to my tape deck headphone jack and record to go from tape to mp3. I'm not sure why one would want to go from mp3 to tape, but it can't be much harder.
Now do they have one for 8 track tapes?

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: kof
I just hook my mp3 player (Creative Nuvo) up to my tape deck headphone jack and record to go from tape to mp3. I'm not sure why one would want to go from mp3 to tape, but it can't be much harder.
Now do they have one for 8 track tapes?

You'd be surprised. My mom wanted me to hook up her dvd player to her tape recorder. She wanted to record the dialogs of old movies so she could listen to them while at work.

 

[WorldTraveller]

I guess the question whether one needs a dedicated player such as this depends on:

1) the quality of the recorded audio decent?
2) Does the MP3 players like NuVo give you control over the recorder quality?
3) How about removing hiss, etc?
4) I can see using the converter as a tape player so I don't need to go between home audio & PC.

None of these may be big advantages to make a case for buying a converter. But, since I have experience with either, I am just throwing it out there for people to comment on. I have over 500 cassettes waiting for a day I can archive them & delegate them to a box in my garage!

 

[gergever]

I'm no expert, but it would seem you could hook up any cassette recorder to the line out jack on the computer to record mp3, or hook it to the line in for recording, with an RCA splitter to stereo pin jack.
It appears the converter uses a pci card. One problem I had recording albums via my soundcard was the internal computer noise (some of it attributable to the turntable ground which might not be a problem with a cassette player/recorder). USB devices avoid this.
Griffin's imic is certainly not high end, but produces very good results, much better than my creative audigy platinum does.
There is lots of software out there than can remove hiss, some of it free.

 

[WorldTraveller]

Thanks for tht info. Very useful!

 

[n666]

it's $148.99 + SH

:\

 

[WorldTraveller]

Damn, it was either a price mistake or a lower price. It was listed as $149.99 - $50. Now it shows a higher price. Oh well...

 

[LukFilm]

Definitely an error. Sells for $142.99 shipped on eBay. And I found a review.
Another review

 

[gergever]

if you already have a cassette deck and can locate it near the computer, hook it up to the line in jack, or better yet buy the Imic, and use something like this or this to record.