Need help recording from analg tape to computer

[ernwaeo]

Hello all,
A newbie I am.
I am trying to record from a tape deck to my computer. I have heard numerous ideas, and they all don't jibe!

What do I need and what do I need to do with it in order to make this happen?

Also.......I am also trying to put audio files on my website available for download only. I have heard that I should use Windows Media would probably be best. Any sugestions?

Thanks!

Ernest

 

[manning1]

1. tape deck to computer. please be a bit more specific.
a multitrack tape deck or stereo deck.
if a multittrack tape deck. eg an 8 track tascam 38 say.
then record the 8 tracks into 8 line inputs of a pc sound card.
if you dont have one. and only have a stereo sound card its very difficult
playing in the tracks one at a time and lining them up due to possible speed variances.
if a stereo deck - say a cassette deck - go through sound card line input.
you coulduse the free audacity software to record and it includes a noise reduction algorithm for cleaning up tape hiss etc. but apply gentle NR.
2. web site. having got your music into wav format you could use the free lame mp3 encoder (and there are many others at hitsquad.com)
to produce an mp3 for uploading to your site if mp3 is what you want.
some more details on the format you want on your web site would help.

 

[JasonBird]

hey there Ernest,
well, you need a computer and a tape deck. Let's assume that you're talking about a home stereo cassette deck. Just run the outputs from your tape player to the inputs on your soundcard. You will need some kind of recording software installed and configure it so that it knows you're going to record with your soundcard. Pretty straightforward.
Musicmatch jukebox does a good job of converting wav files into mp3 files.
Hope that helps.
Jason

 

[Oldwood]

Make sure to use "Line In" on your sound card, and not "Mic In". Also be aware that too high of an input level (2 volt max on most systems) can cause clipping (distortion), and quite possibly damage your sound card.

Rule of thumb: Start with all levels on zero.

 

[hi555]

Make sure to use "Line In" on your sound card, and not "Mic In". Also be aware that too high of an input level (2 volt max on most systems) can cause clipping (distortion), and quite possibly damage your sound card.

Rule of thumb: Start with all levels on zero.

hi friends,

i want to do the same but for some reason i am not able to record when the tape is playing, Althought the sound of the tape comes out from the PC speakers but it does not record in the audio programe?

what shall i do?

thanks,

hi555

 

[manning1]

1. you need recording software if you dont have any.
2. you need to check you have line in enabled and not muted
in the windows volume applet.
3. you need to enable a track to record stereo then click record.
and of course stop.
the best bet is to start the computer first in recording mode then a split second later start the outboard player playing.
peace
ps - remember computers are dumb beasts. they have no way of knowing your thought processes. yet anyway - until comm chips are implanted in people. heh - i think record - therefore i am.

 

[Rokket]

What programs do you have on your computer for recording? I use Roxio Creator 6, and it has a tab for capturing analog recording in the sound editor. Then I just connect my 8 track to the computer through the stereo out. Make sure you zero out the levels and bring them up slowly, like Oldwood suggests. If you don't have some type of recording software, there are ways to do it. Check out the tutorials on this site, they are pretty good.

 

[Darrell2]

Ta Rockket

That was simple advise which suits me perfectly. ! thing please rockket; I imagine i would want to put my songs onto a cd from my 8 track to pc via my mixer, is this just stereo out. I ask as Im not sure y people would want to make a cd direct from an 8 track without mixing it first on analogue. As I do want to use a mixer can you suggest the best software (I have windows XP) Cheers from Cornwall.D2