cassette recording into an mp3?

[Lvis]

Hi,

I have a rather old recording of my grandfather from the 1970's on cassette. Mom would like me to put it on cd's to send family at Christmas.

I don't know how to do it. Do I need special software to encode/capture it?


I'm using xp btw.

thanks

 

[jackschmittusa]

Audacity is a free download and should do the job.

Connect the cassette player to your line-in jack and record with Audacity. You can correct hiss, volume, etc., then just export it as an mp3 at the bitrate you choose.

edit: I forgot that you will need to download LAME for Audacity to make mp3s, but it is a free download too.

 

[Spikesoldier]

I did this in the past. Use a RCA out on the cassette player and get a RCA to 1/8" mini jack adapter. Put the 1/8 into your line-in on your soundcard and use sndrec32.exe. It is in your system32 directory if you are using XP or earlier.

Im sure there is a much simpler way now but this will work.

 

[corkyg]

I've done what is described above - it works. But, if you are going to use a CD to send copies to family members, MP3 may not be the best format. It may be better as a standard audio CD due to the fact that not all CD players can handle MP3 files.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I've done what is described above - it works. But, if you are going to use a CD to send copies to family members, MP3 may not be the best format. It may be better as a standard audio CD due to the fact that not all CD players can handle MP3 files.

I think he meant that rip to mp3 to prep for burning to audio CD.

Using sndrec32.exe will record in PCM (uncompressed, lossless) the same as CD audio and will bypass the extra step of MP3 encoding/compression and decompression to burn. Using MP3 codec will result in a degraded sound compared to just ripping the tape lossless.

Almost any burning software should let you burn a cd using PCM (.wav) audio.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Spikesoldier
I did this in the past. Use a RCA out on the cassette player and get a RCA to 1/8" mini jack adapter. Put the 1/8 into your line-in on your soundcard and use sndrec32.exe. It is in your system32 directory if you are using XP or earlier.

Im sure there is a much simpler way now but this will work.

You can go from the player's headphone jack to line in. It might take a couple of practice tries to get the levels right(adjust with cassettes volume knob), but it's pretty straight forward.

Also, don't forget to turn off any EQ you might have on the cassette player. I recorded a cassette once, and didn't realize I had bass boost, and fake surround on until after the recording. It really sounded Like ass and I had to redo it.

 

[corkyg]

It's much easier and more direct to go from WAV to CDA - MP3 is a more lengthy process.

 

[Blain]

Yes, do your recording in wav format.
There's no need in adding the compression of mp3.

I use a double 1/8" male cable Like this one to record from cassettes.
If you're recording from a cassette deck, you might need a cable Like this.