Transfering cassette to digital format

  • Thread starter Thread starter killthepixelnow
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killthepixelnow

killthepixelnow

Do it right or dont do it
I have a lot of old cassettes and, for some weird sentimental reason, I want to trabfer the music to a digital format.

My problem, what I cannot figure out, is how to split the stereo signal coming from my music equipment, and record it on my audio interface. Digidesign M-Box 2 only admits mono inserts so, how can I solve this issue?

Thanks in advance!
 
Stop thinking "Left" and "Right" and start thinking "1" and "2" --
 
There are splitter cables that will take a stereo signal input and send the left and right channels to two separate outputs. Depending on what kind of output jack you have available on your cassette player, you will probably want to look for either a 1/4" or 1/8" stereo male to 2 mono male. If you need 1/8" coming out of the tape deck but 1/4" going into your interface, you'll need a couple of adapters. All these are usually easy to find at places like Guitar Center or any good audio store.
 
Massive, I forgot to tell that my M-Box has two channels (1 / 2). The only thing that occurs me know is to use a RCA cable on one end; in the other side, an adaptor from RCA to 1/4"... does that kind of adaptor exist?
 
Go to radio shack. They have every kind of adapter you could ever want.
 
Yes, RCA-to-phono (1/4") adaptors exist. Google should help.
 
Do what DR CobWeb says, because what he said is correct. If you wanna make it easier then just take your tape deck's out put(with whatever adapters that you may need) and plug it in to your interface's input then push record with your tape deck playing.
 
i've transfered tape stuff to digital before. it can be a bit tricky cleaning up the noise but audacity has a reasonable effect to do this with destroying too much of it. good luck
 
Be sure to align the head. There's information in the recording that will not be captured if you don't. If the recording was done with a misaligned head then you need to align the playback head to match, and the only way to do that is by ear.
 
I wish I could do this. I've got tons of stuff on tape I'd like to hear again. I don't even have a way to play a cassette tape anymore.
 
time you checked ebay for deck mate some real bargains and local papers too (uk) classifieds you'd be surprised how many folk are giving away old stereo equipment. good luck
 
kip4 said:
time you checked ebay for deck mate some real bargains and local papers too (uk) classifieds you'd be surprised how many folk are giving away old stereo equipment. good luck
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+1^^

When i was looking for a new stereo i went to all the local stores and there was absolutely nothing with a cassette deck anywhere.I got a lot of tapes that i still like to listen to so i wanted a stereo with a tape deck.I went on ebay an bought a panasonic cd/cassette bookshelf stereo that sounds great.$80... but of course it didn't come with the speakers.I had to buy matching speakers from a different seller for about $15.Still not bad though.When my VCR gave out i wanted another one since i have some videotapes i still like to watch.Ebay for about $20 for a nice 4 head VCR.

I've transferred a few tapes before using my old boombox stereo headphone output into the line in of my computer's soundcard and got decent results.That was even using the Windows sound recorder.I used Audacity once too with decent results doing the same method.

I don't understand the whole alligning the head thing.Line it in,get a decent signal and press record.Some tapes are gonna have some hiss depending on how much they've been listened too.Even if you got a good sounding tape and you loose a little bit of quality throughout the process it's still cheaper than buying all that again on disc or download.

I plan on transferring some of my tape collection over in the near future.Some of the tapes that sound bad i won't bother with.
 
mcmetal said:
I don't understand the whole alligning the head thing.
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There is a small screw on the mounting of the tape head (the typically silver, square piece that raises up to the tape when you press play). Usually there is an access hole from the front. Sometimes the door will need to be removed. IME, adjust this screw until the best clarity of high frequencies is achieved evenly between L/R while playing the cassette to be transferred. Should only need to check once per cassette, unless each side was recorded on a different deck. Make sure to clean the heads and pinch roller as well.
 
jimmys69 said:
IME, adjust this screw until the best clarity of high frequencies is achieved evenly between L/R while playing the cassette to be transferred.
Click to expand...

I like to hit the mono button and crank the treble up on the receiver. Then you can hear the left and right phase against each other. The clearest sound indicates good alignment.
 
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