Tape recorder to computer

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Hi………..got loadsa cassette tapes I am in the process of transfering to computer, can this also be done -and that safely- by making a connection from the “Phones” socket on the tape recorder to the “Mich” [Blue] input socket on the back of the base unit. I have an ION turntable with EZ Vinyl converter software which I have already used to transfer numerous cassettes but space is limited so if the turntable can be done without it would free up space for other things? Thanks S Fox

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Although I tried that once but I used the “Out” on the tape, and the “In” on my computer. I think I used the Sound Recorder and it worked rather well. the only problem I recall was that for some reason there was no pause in between tracks but those were easy to insert. The sound quality wasn’t the best either.
Bottom line, is that if you have the software to convert, I would use it. Back when I did it the software and the interface needed was cost prohibitive.
As for space, why not save them to an external drive, and not on your computer?

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Hi ……just a couple of points… most all of the cassettes I want to copy to the computer contain sermons so -unlike music tapes- there are no pauses between tracks, the only break is when I have to turn the tapes to side B. Transfering to computer is only phase A as my ultimate goal is to burn them to CD in mp3 format seeing cassettes are out of fashion & can deteriorate. Besides, tape recorders are becoming less visible in stors and the one I have is on crutches so I want a more up to date medium which can easy lend itself to back-up copies. The question of “Space” relates to that taken up by the LP turntable rather than space on the HD so an external drive is not relevant though I do have a Seagate 170 GB one. I guess I will carry on using the refered to software and tollerate the turntable even though it clutters the shelf space seeing the EZ Vinyl Converter – besides transferring the dat to HD – also converts it to mps format so I am able to copy dozens of sermons to each CD thus minimising storage space. Thanks for the reply S Fox…

A good maxim…..Happiness depends NOT one what one has to live WITH but what one has to live FOR…
and a poignant proverb…A soft answer turneth away wrath but grevious words stirr up anger.

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You might try the free “audacity” software. Available at the following site:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

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Thanks……..will have alook and see what is available…Regards Dave. S Fox

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I’ve been converting vinyl and tape to digital for a while now. Does your tape machine have a line out jack? If so, you might want to look at the Behringer U-Control. I know this available on your side of the pond (Amazon UK). Lots of musicians use Behringer’s equipment. It converts line level audio to a USB interface so that your PC can record it. It has a built in codec for Windows XP so it works out of the box. A driver is needed for Win 7 and Win 7 x64. It also works on MAC. You will need a cable with the proper connectors to interface between your tape player and the U-Control. I can’t say if this will work with the “phones” socket as that is not a line level output. Its possible that Behringer may have another interface for that.

I use the U-Control to pipe the audio to my laptop, Audacity to record and edit, and Media Monkey to tag, catalog, and burn music to CDs, both standard format and .mp3. Its a pretty slick setup and doesn’t break the bank.

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Thank Chuck…………..will probe into what Behringer U-Control offers and see where I go from there. Sadly my old tape recorder does not have an Output socket only that of the Phones. Seems Like I will have to persevere with the set up I have as it works ok but would still like to dispense with the turntable which takes up valuable shelf space. What I can’t make sense of is, if I connect the Phones output socket on the tape recorder to the turntable, then the output socket on the turntable to a usb socket on the base unit, the “EZ Vinyl converter by MixMeister” software recognises the connection and allows me to transfer the cassette data to the HD in mp3 format, this even if the turntable is not connected to the mains. This seems to suggest that there is something within the turntable curcuitry that the software needs to recognise before it will activate. Anyone else out there got an ION turntable with the said software that comes with it? Regards S Fox
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