converstion to digital

[paperboy]

Greetings.

I've been trying to find a way to convert standard audio cassettes and microcassettes to digital files. Are there cords or machines that will plug my microcassette into a Firewire or USB port? Same question for a standard size cassette.

I have only a few I need to convert so I don't want to spend a ton of cashola.

Thoughts? Suggestions on what software should be used for a Mac to edit those files once they get digital?

 

[AlChuck]

Cassette and microcassette recorders usually have stereo Line Outs.

You can get a simple cable that has two RCA plugs on one end to a single stereo 1/8" miniplug on the other, and you can plug that into the Line In of virtually any computer made these days (you would probably have to try to get one without a soundcard of some kind). If you don't have a soundcard, they range in price from under $20 to close to $200 for a suitable card.

There are also USB interfaces but the cheapest one I know of is about $200 -- wait, I take that back, I've recently seen a very simple one for under $100 but I can't recall who makes it.

Firewire, nothing on the market yet that's suitable -- the only one I know is the MOTU 828 and it's a high-end multichannel card that goes for about $1000.

Whichever way you get your audio signal digitized, you need some recording software too. There's a Windows Sound Recorder accessory but I don't think it's adequate. There are a lot of inexpensive, even free, choices.

 

[paperboy]

thanks!