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How can I get the audio from a cassette tape into my computer?

by TimothyW
17 replies
How can I get the audio from a cassette tape into my computer?

I'm told if I just use a cord from the headphone jack on the tape player into the mic jack on my comp, it will NOT work because the headphone jack output is apliphied and therefore too loud ("hot") for the incoming mic jack on the comp. Also, I have no tape player that has an aux output jack (which I'm told WOULD work).

Please advise.

Thanks!

-- TW
#audio #cassette #computer #tape
  • Profile picture of the author goalpower
    You could just use a microphone from your pc in front of the speakers of your cassette player and record it that way. The audio quality won't be great, but if you're just trying to capture some old cassettes to burn them to cd it will work.

    I know of no solution to convert cassettes to cd through computer directly though. Maybe do a search on google for cassette to cd converters.

    Hope this helps
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    • Profile picture of the author xiaophil
      Are you sure your computer doesn't have a line input?

      Although mine only has one input with a microphone icon, when something is plugged in a window pops up and I can select line or mic.

      Anyway you could start with the tape volume at zero, hit record on your recording software (Audacity is pretty good, and free) then slowly turn your tape volume up while keeping an eye on the level meter (on the software).

      Even with a (mismatched) mic input, keep the input levels low and you should get acceptable results.


      Phil
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      • Profile picture of the author bluet
        If you don't have a line input jack then you can try to lower the input by adjustment.

        Option A, if your tape player has a volume control for the headphone, try lowering that until you get a pleasant recording.

        Option B, most computers have a means of adjusting the recording volume level. In my case there is a speaker icon on the task bar. Double clicking on that brings up a dialog box which has playback level adjustments. From a menu I can select recording levels and a dialog box allows adjustment of all inputs as well as the master volume input level.

        Many recording softwares have a VU meter which allows you to see the recording levels. Using the meter during test recording you can make adjustments to keep the loudest sections of the recording below the peak VU meter levels.

        If you don't have a VU meter you use your ears to adjust the recording levels so that you don't hear any noticeable distortion in the loudest portions of the recording while monitoring the test recording.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jamie Iaconis
    Originally Posted by -- TW View Post

    How can I get the audio from a cassette tape into my computer?

    I'm told if I just use a cord from the headphone jack on the tape player into the mic jack on my comp, it will NOT work because the headphone jack output is apliphied and therefore too loud ("hot") for the incoming mic jack on the comp. Also, I have no tape player that has an aux output jack (which I'm told WOULD work).

    Please advise.

    Thanks!

    -- TW
    What you explaining is true to some degree and I've done it before...

    I hooked up the AUX output of the cassette deck
    to the input on my (Soundblaster) sound card.

    It worked very well and I was happy! :-D

    Jamie
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  • Profile picture of the author TheCren
    Why did you post this in the "Main Internet Marketing Discussion Forum?" It has nothing to do with making money... not even on the topic of IM. Strange.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve Taylor
      Originally Posted by TheCren View Post

      Why did you post this in the "Main Internet Marketing Discussion Forum?" It has nothing to do with making money... not even on the topic of IM. Strange.
      How do you know that the question has nothing to do with IM or making money?

      For all we know the OP has lessons they recorded on tape and want to convert and maybe even turn it into a podcast.

      This is a valid question and I'm sure worth the digital space that it took up.

      I have hundreds of hours of tape (Before the iPod days) that could be useful when digitized

      Regards,

      -Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
    Originally Posted by -- TW View Post

    How can I get the audio from a cassette tape into my computer?

    I'm told if I just use a cord from the headphone jack on the tape player into the mic jack on my comp, it will NOT work because the headphone jack output is apliphied and therefore too loud ("hot") for the incoming mic jack on the comp. Also, I have no tape player that has an aux output jack (which I'm told WOULD work).

    Please advise.

    Thanks!

    -- TW
    Your cassette player's headphone jack to your computers mic OR line in should work just fine, assuming you are using a typical (cheap) computer soundcard with 1/8" connections.

    Always start by adjusting the volume level of the source (the cassette player), until it's plenty loud, but not distorted. Then adjust the "audio in" level of your recording software until you have a good healthy level there, but not too high, as it will distort if it ever goes over 0 db.

    You can use any audio recording app for this. Audacity is a good free option.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stevecyr
    u can connect ur audio system to ur computer through wire or any appropriate source and then use any recording software to record the sound...
    Later on u can either listen to that or download that...
    Chheeeersssssss....
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  • Profile picture of the author st0rm
    Well if it was me and u have a few quid to spend or u have a lot of tapes i would be going for this bad boy at lease u'll get good covertion quallity and its faster



    buy it here..! in Japan
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    Thanks to all!

    I'll just try hooking it up + seeing if it all works out (level-wise).

    Note to TheCren... Audio is a big part of iming (or can be). How to get audio from various formats (tapes included) into a usable form is a perfectly legit question to post.

    -- TW
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    • Profile picture of the author Bcrewse1
      There are tons of cheap cassette player/cd player combo's out there that you can get
      at any department store. Most, if not all will record your cassette directly onto a CD...then just upload from your CD into your computer...simple...easy...quick...cheap...=)
      Oh and...if you can't find one at your store...Ebay has loads of them.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve Taylor
        Originally Posted by Bcrewse1 View Post

        There are tons of cheap cassette player/cd player combo's out there that you can get
        at any department store. Most, if not all will record your cassette directly onto a CD...then just upload from your CD into your computer...simple...easy...quick...cheap...=)
        Oh and...if you can't find one at your store...Ebay has loads of them.
        Ha...now that's a classic example of keeping it simple and can't see the forest...why didn't I think of that...right under your nose...etc...

        -Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
        Originally Posted by Bcrewse1 View Post

        There are tons of cheap cassette player/cd player combo's out there that you can get
        at any department store. Most, if not all will record your cassette directly onto a CD...then just upload from your CD into your computer...simple...easy...quick...cheap...=)
        Oh and...if you can't find one at your store...Ebay has loads of them.
        That's a good idea too -- I'll look into that. But -- most cd players are not also cd recorders. Two different animals. I have 5 of the former, and none of the latter.

        Also, the format such a device would record the cd in, would that also *play* using the computer's cd/dvd drive?

        -- TW
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  • Profile picture of the author Johnny Slater
    What I would do is just use the standard headphone from cassette out going into the computer mic input.

    There are a few things you can do that make sure that even though the headphone output is amplified that you can get a clear recording.

    First, adjust the volume level on the cassette recorder. This can lower the volume of the sound going into the computer.

    Second, adjust the mic recording level. This will also adjust the sound level of the incoming sounds.

    Third, and most important, is to make sure if your mic has a volume boost ( most computers have this these days) that it is turned off. The volume boost is great for amplifying your voice when using a headphone/mic combo for online communication but it plays havoc on trying to patch audio directly into the computer using the mic input.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
      The solution to this problem is much simpler than what many people here are suggesting. All you need is a 1/8" to 1/8" phono plug ($5 at Radio Shack), going from your cassette's headphone out to your computer's line in or mic in. In other words, no mic required.

      You could use a mic for this, but unless you're using a high quality mic (one that requires a preamp), and recording in a quiet environment, the resulting recording will not sound very good.
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      • Profile picture of the author Raydal
        Originally Posted by Brandon Tanner View Post

        The solution to this problem is much simpler than what many people here are suggesting. All you need is a 1/8" to 1/8" phono plug ($5 at Radio Shack), going from your cassette's headphone out to your computer's line in or mic in. In other words, no mic required.

        You could use a mic for this, but unless you're using a high quality mic (one that requires a preamp), and recording in a quiet environment, the resulting recording will not sound very good.
        I bought that same connection a few months ago and it does work.

        There is also a cassette to computer deck you can buy and add
        to your computer in a CD/DVD slot if you are planning to do a
        lot of these. I think it runs about $100.

        -Ray Edwards
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    yes, Brandon -- that's what I originally thought/assumed -- but as I said in the op, I had been told that would not work after all -- but now I think it WILL work after all.

    Thanks.

    -- TW
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