How to Transfer Cassette Tape to Computer
Gather your materials., Connect to a headphone jack., Connect to the line output jacks., Connect balanced line outputs., Check your sound input levels., Set your input and adjust levels on a Windows PC., Set your input and adjust levels on a...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Gather your materials.
In addition to a cassette deck and a computer, you will also need a cable that connects your cassette deck to the line input on your computer.
The particular bits you will need depend primarily on your cassette deck.
See the Things You'll Need section below for a comprehensive list of options.
Almost all cassette decks have a
3.5mm headphone jack.
If your computer has a headphone jack, you will need a cable with a
3.5mm stereo plug on each end, or a cable with suitable adapters so that both ends have a
3.5mm stereo plug.
Many cassette decks have unbalanced line outputs.
You'll recognize those as having red and white plastic rings.
You will need a cable with two RCA plugs on one end, and a
3.5mm plug on the other.
You can also use adapters.
High-end cassette decks may sport balanced line outputs, with dual 3-pin XLR-F connectors or balanced 1/4" phone jacks.
For these, you will need cables that have XLR-M or a 1/4" phone plug on one end, and plugs to match your computer sound input hardware on the other end.
If you're using a balanced-output cassette deck, it's likely your computer sound hardware has balanced inputs.
If not, you will need an adapter to turn your balanced signals into unbalanced ones.
Consult with your local audio supply store for the best fit for your hardware setup. -
Step 2: Connect to a headphone jack.
Plug one end of your cable into the headphone jack of your cassette deck, and the other to the line input (not microphone input) of your computer.
Most line inputs are blue with what looks like arcs or waves spreading outwards above it.
They are usually next to the speaker/headphone output (green) and the microphone input (pink).
If you will be using Audacity, make sure it's set to "line input" by clicking on the menu next to the microphone icon.
Make sure the plugs are inserted completely and are secure, or the sound won't be clear.
If your PC or laptop does not have a line-in, you may also be able to use the microphone-in port.
Note however that the microphone-in port is probably monophonic, not stereophonic. , Connect the red and white RCA plugs on the cable to the matching red and white jacks on your cassette deck or receiver. (Note that some receivers have a special "recording output," which is fine to use as well—it delivers the same output levels as the line out of a cassette deck).
Insert the
3.5mm plug into the line in jack on your computer.
Make certain the plugs are inserted completely and are secure.
If your PC or laptop does not have a line-in, you may also be able to use the microphone-in port.
Keep in mind however, that the microphone-in port is usually monophonic, not stereophonic. , Plug in the XLR or phone plugs into the left and right outputs, and the other end of the balanced cables into your computer's sound input.
If you are plugging into an unbalanced
3.5mm line input jack, you will need an adapter that converts the balanced outputs to unbalanced outputs, and matches the connector of the line input of your sound card.
Note: under no circumstances connect your speaker outputs to any input of your sound card.
This will, in all likelihood, destroy your sound card, and could possibly damage your amp as well. , In order to get the best recordings, you will want to ensure that you have just the right amount of signal coming in.
Too loud, and your sound will be distorted.
Too quiet, and there will be a lot of hiss and muffled sounds. , Open the Sound control panel by clicking the Start button, then clicking Control Panel.
Type "sound," and then click Sound in the results.
Click the Recording tab, then click Line In, then click Set Default.
Click Properties, then click on the Levels tab.
Move the volume slider to the right to increase the recording volume, then click OK.
When you're returned to the Sound dialog box, click OK. , Open the Sound control panel in System Preferences.
Click on the Input button at the top of the window, and ensure that Line In is selected in the list.
Set the Input volume control in the Sound control panel to about 75%.
Set the headphone output of your cassette deck to
0.
Locate a loud passage on the tape you're going to record from, then press "Play" on your cassette deck.
Keep an eye on the meters as you slowly increase the output volume on the cassette deck.
When the meters in the Sound control panel are flashing regularly around 80% (about 12 "LEDs" lit), you have a good recording level.
If you need more level after the cassette deck output is at maximum, increase the Input volume in the Sound control panel.
If you need less volume, reduce the level from the recorder.
This will give you the cleanest signal overall.
Note: unless you have a very high output from your headphone jack, there is little risk of damaging your sound card using this method.
By setting the output of your cassette deck to zero, then increasing gradually, you ensure that your sound card is not damaged. , This will depend on how many cassettes you want to convert, how good you want the quality to be, and how you plan on playing your recordings on the computer.
This article will cover basic sound recording, such as Audacity and QuickTime, as well as professional sound recording apps. , It's easily available, well-supported, and is an excellent choice for doing basic, high-quality conversions.
There are no frills, and has relatively simple editing capabilities, which means it's super easy to use.
That makes it a great option if you're bringing lectures, audio books, or other long, unbroken blocks of audio.
For Macintosh users, QuickTime X, which ships with OS X
10.6,
10.7, and
10.8, is able to record external sources.
For Windows (and older versions of the Mac OS), QuickTime 7 Pro is available for purchase from Apple.
Start with this link: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/extending/ then pick the OS that is applicable to you.
Whether you use QuickTime Player X, or QuickTime Pro, it's the same process when you're ready to record. , Ensure that your tape player is plugged in, and that you have set the levels properly.
If any cables are loose or insecure, your sound won't have very high quality. , This will open a simple control strip (QuickTime X) or preview window (QuickTime Pro). , Press the red button in the middle of the control area, then press the play button on the cassette deck. , Your file will be automatically saved to the desktop. , When you finish recording, your file will be automatically saved to the desktop.
You may prefer to save the file in a new location, such as a special folder.
How you do it will depend on what version of QuickTime you are using.
If you are using QuickTime Player X: click on the menu on the right side of the control strip to select a different destination for the file.
If you are using QuickTime Pro: choose a different default location in the Recording pane of QuickTime Player Preferences. , Every PC ships with Sound Recorder, and for a free little utility, it's become quite useful.
There are no frills, which means it's super easy to use, and also completely basic when it comes to editing.
Like QuickTime Player X, it's a great option to use if you're bringing lectures, audio books, or other long, unbroken blocks of audio. , Click the Start button, and in the search box enter "Sound Recorder." In the list of results, click Sound Recorder. , Click "Start Recording," then press the play button on the cassette deck. , Press "Stop Recording," then press the stop button on your cassette deck. , After this, you can use other editing programs to further enhance our recordings, such as trim off silences, enhance the sound, etc. , If you do not have it, then you will need to download it.
Audacity is a free, open-source application that is loaded with features and capabilities.
It's also far more flexible than many commercial applications! , Make sure it's set to Line Input by clicking on the menu next to the microphone icon. , The record button is shaped like a red dot.
The recording my take a while, so consider doing some other tasks in the meantime.
To avoid forgetting about your recording, run a reverse line out of the computer back to your stereo system's room speakers.
You have to click the monitor box in Audacity for this to work.
This way, when the cassette is done recording, you hear the room go silent, and you can rush over and click the stop recording button in audacity. , When you are done recording, stop both the recording and the cassette player.
The stop button in Audacity is usually shaped like a gold square. , Trim silences, normalize so you get maximum volume, break into tracks, etc.
For more information on using Audacity, click here. , This will allow you to edit the metadata of the MP3 for things like: track, author, decade, album, etc.
It will allow music players, like iTunes and Android, to recognize what kind of MP3 it is, such as: country, jazz, and what era , 70's, 80'. , For even greater flexibility and professional cleanup, there are a number of apps ranging from about $50USD to over $500 USD.
The details of operation vary, but they all follow the same essential process as even the most basic sound recorder:
Make sure that Line Input is selected in the software setup. , Press record in the software and hit the play button on the cassette deck.
Record your piece, then press the stop button in the software, and finally the stop button on the cassette deck.
How you start and stop recording in the software will depend on the program itself.
Each one will have a slightly different layout. , The benefit with professional apps is that they allow you to split your audio into regions (for CDs) and perform many professional mastering functions using high-quality plugins.
Options in the professional category include Sound Forge by Sony—an excellent choice for this type of work—as well as PolderbitS and Cubase on the PC, Garage Band and Logic Pro on the Mac, and ProTools on either. , Before you transfer your entire tape collection over to your hard drive, make sure you're getting a good recording.
Record what you did, then give it a listen.
If you set up your signal chain correctly, you should have a fairly clean digital copy of your old analog tapes.
If the recording is too quiet or too noisy (the music is quiet but there's lots "fuzzy" noise), the output was too low and the recording did not have enough signal to offset the noise.
If the recorded sound sounds like it's being played through a broken speaker or a meat grinder, your recording was too loud, and the sound's distorted.
Back off the output level from the tape player, and try again. , You may not need to do any editing, but if you want to cut out silences, erase some tracks, or change the volume, for example, most sound recording programs will allow you to do so.
This procedure is quite complex if you have no experience with sound editing, and is beyond the scope of this article.
When editing, it is a good idea to keep the original file as a backup and change the names of edited files when you save them in case you find you made a mistake.
When you’re sure you like the edited file, you can delete the original to save drive space on your computer. , Once you have a basically good recording, you can improve it through judicious use of software tools.
Chief among those is Normalization.
Basically, it works by making sure the loudest peaks are at or near 100% of full scale—when all the meters are lit (or 0dB, depending on your metering). , This is not something you will use for every recording you make.
It can render a lot of music lifeless.
It works by keeping the loudest sounds about where they started, and bringing up the level of the quieter passages.
You lose the difference between the highs and lows—or dynamics—and in return, you get an apparently louder recording.
When listening at home, this isn't necessarily desirable, but if you're making a CD for your car, it can be very useful. , Depending on your speakers, how they're set up, and the quality of your overall playback system, adjusting the EQ to taste can be helpful.
A word of caution, though: like compression, "good" EQ is subjective.
While you may adjust the EQ so it sounds great on your system.
But if you loan your CD to a friend with a different speaker system, it may come out sounding thin, or muffled, or honky, or just plain wrong. , Once you've gone through the trouble of converting your old cassettes, Make saving a copy of your recording the first thing you do before you start doing destructive edits (normalization, EQ, compression, etc.) -
Step 3: Connect to the line output jacks.
-
Step 4: Connect balanced line outputs.
-
Step 5: Check your sound input levels.
-
Step 6: Set your input and adjust levels on a Windows PC.
-
Step 7: Set your input and adjust levels on a Macintosh.
-
Step 8: Determine what software you will use.
-
Step 9: Consider getting QuickTime.
-
Step 10: Make sure everything is connected.
-
Step 11: Launch QuickTime Player and select "New Audio Recording" from the File menu.
-
Step 12: Begin your recording.
-
Step 13: Press the button again when you are finished recording
-
Step 14: then shut off your cassette deck.
-
Step 15: Save the file to a new location.
-
Step 16: Take advantage of Sound Recorder.
-
Step 17: Launch Sound Recorder.
-
Step 18: Start your recording.
-
Step 19: Stop your recording when you have recorded what you wanted.
-
Step 20: Enter a file name for the recorded file
-
Step 21: then click "Save."
-
Step 22: Open up Audacity.
-
Step 23: Set the sound input in Audacity.
-
Step 24: Press the "Record" button
-
Step 25: then press "Play" on your cassette deck.
-
Step 26: Press the "Stop" button
-
Step 27: then stop your cassette deck.
-
Step 28: Edit your audio for best results.
-
Step 29: Consider using the LAME plugin to export your music to MP3 format.
-
Step 30: Use a professional app.
-
Step 31: Make your recording.
-
Step 32: Edit your audio.
-
Step 33: Record a small amount at first.
-
Step 34: Edit your recording.
-
Step 35: Normalization.
-
Step 36: Apply compression.
-
Step 37: Equalize (EQ) the audio.
-
Step 38: Always work with a copy.
Detailed Guide
In addition to a cassette deck and a computer, you will also need a cable that connects your cassette deck to the line input on your computer.
The particular bits you will need depend primarily on your cassette deck.
See the Things You'll Need section below for a comprehensive list of options.
Almost all cassette decks have a
3.5mm headphone jack.
If your computer has a headphone jack, you will need a cable with a
3.5mm stereo plug on each end, or a cable with suitable adapters so that both ends have a
3.5mm stereo plug.
Many cassette decks have unbalanced line outputs.
You'll recognize those as having red and white plastic rings.
You will need a cable with two RCA plugs on one end, and a
3.5mm plug on the other.
You can also use adapters.
High-end cassette decks may sport balanced line outputs, with dual 3-pin XLR-F connectors or balanced 1/4" phone jacks.
For these, you will need cables that have XLR-M or a 1/4" phone plug on one end, and plugs to match your computer sound input hardware on the other end.
If you're using a balanced-output cassette deck, it's likely your computer sound hardware has balanced inputs.
If not, you will need an adapter to turn your balanced signals into unbalanced ones.
Consult with your local audio supply store for the best fit for your hardware setup.
Plug one end of your cable into the headphone jack of your cassette deck, and the other to the line input (not microphone input) of your computer.
Most line inputs are blue with what looks like arcs or waves spreading outwards above it.
They are usually next to the speaker/headphone output (green) and the microphone input (pink).
If you will be using Audacity, make sure it's set to "line input" by clicking on the menu next to the microphone icon.
Make sure the plugs are inserted completely and are secure, or the sound won't be clear.
If your PC or laptop does not have a line-in, you may also be able to use the microphone-in port.
Note however that the microphone-in port is probably monophonic, not stereophonic. , Connect the red and white RCA plugs on the cable to the matching red and white jacks on your cassette deck or receiver. (Note that some receivers have a special "recording output," which is fine to use as well—it delivers the same output levels as the line out of a cassette deck).
Insert the
3.5mm plug into the line in jack on your computer.
Make certain the plugs are inserted completely and are secure.
If your PC or laptop does not have a line-in, you may also be able to use the microphone-in port.
Keep in mind however, that the microphone-in port is usually monophonic, not stereophonic. , Plug in the XLR or phone plugs into the left and right outputs, and the other end of the balanced cables into your computer's sound input.
If you are plugging into an unbalanced
3.5mm line input jack, you will need an adapter that converts the balanced outputs to unbalanced outputs, and matches the connector of the line input of your sound card.
Note: under no circumstances connect your speaker outputs to any input of your sound card.
This will, in all likelihood, destroy your sound card, and could possibly damage your amp as well. , In order to get the best recordings, you will want to ensure that you have just the right amount of signal coming in.
Too loud, and your sound will be distorted.
Too quiet, and there will be a lot of hiss and muffled sounds. , Open the Sound control panel by clicking the Start button, then clicking Control Panel.
Type "sound," and then click Sound in the results.
Click the Recording tab, then click Line In, then click Set Default.
Click Properties, then click on the Levels tab.
Move the volume slider to the right to increase the recording volume, then click OK.
When you're returned to the Sound dialog box, click OK. , Open the Sound control panel in System Preferences.
Click on the Input button at the top of the window, and ensure that Line In is selected in the list.
Set the Input volume control in the Sound control panel to about 75%.
Set the headphone output of your cassette deck to
0.
Locate a loud passage on the tape you're going to record from, then press "Play" on your cassette deck.
Keep an eye on the meters as you slowly increase the output volume on the cassette deck.
When the meters in the Sound control panel are flashing regularly around 80% (about 12 "LEDs" lit), you have a good recording level.
If you need more level after the cassette deck output is at maximum, increase the Input volume in the Sound control panel.
If you need less volume, reduce the level from the recorder.
This will give you the cleanest signal overall.
Note: unless you have a very high output from your headphone jack, there is little risk of damaging your sound card using this method.
By setting the output of your cassette deck to zero, then increasing gradually, you ensure that your sound card is not damaged. , This will depend on how many cassettes you want to convert, how good you want the quality to be, and how you plan on playing your recordings on the computer.
This article will cover basic sound recording, such as Audacity and QuickTime, as well as professional sound recording apps. , It's easily available, well-supported, and is an excellent choice for doing basic, high-quality conversions.
There are no frills, and has relatively simple editing capabilities, which means it's super easy to use.
That makes it a great option if you're bringing lectures, audio books, or other long, unbroken blocks of audio.
For Macintosh users, QuickTime X, which ships with OS X
10.6,
10.7, and
10.8, is able to record external sources.
For Windows (and older versions of the Mac OS), QuickTime 7 Pro is available for purchase from Apple.
Start with this link: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/extending/ then pick the OS that is applicable to you.
Whether you use QuickTime Player X, or QuickTime Pro, it's the same process when you're ready to record. , Ensure that your tape player is plugged in, and that you have set the levels properly.
If any cables are loose or insecure, your sound won't have very high quality. , This will open a simple control strip (QuickTime X) or preview window (QuickTime Pro). , Press the red button in the middle of the control area, then press the play button on the cassette deck. , Your file will be automatically saved to the desktop. , When you finish recording, your file will be automatically saved to the desktop.
You may prefer to save the file in a new location, such as a special folder.
How you do it will depend on what version of QuickTime you are using.
If you are using QuickTime Player X: click on the menu on the right side of the control strip to select a different destination for the file.
If you are using QuickTime Pro: choose a different default location in the Recording pane of QuickTime Player Preferences. , Every PC ships with Sound Recorder, and for a free little utility, it's become quite useful.
There are no frills, which means it's super easy to use, and also completely basic when it comes to editing.
Like QuickTime Player X, it's a great option to use if you're bringing lectures, audio books, or other long, unbroken blocks of audio. , Click the Start button, and in the search box enter "Sound Recorder." In the list of results, click Sound Recorder. , Click "Start Recording," then press the play button on the cassette deck. , Press "Stop Recording," then press the stop button on your cassette deck. , After this, you can use other editing programs to further enhance our recordings, such as trim off silences, enhance the sound, etc. , If you do not have it, then you will need to download it.
Audacity is a free, open-source application that is loaded with features and capabilities.
It's also far more flexible than many commercial applications! , Make sure it's set to Line Input by clicking on the menu next to the microphone icon. , The record button is shaped like a red dot.
The recording my take a while, so consider doing some other tasks in the meantime.
To avoid forgetting about your recording, run a reverse line out of the computer back to your stereo system's room speakers.
You have to click the monitor box in Audacity for this to work.
This way, when the cassette is done recording, you hear the room go silent, and you can rush over and click the stop recording button in audacity. , When you are done recording, stop both the recording and the cassette player.
The stop button in Audacity is usually shaped like a gold square. , Trim silences, normalize so you get maximum volume, break into tracks, etc.
For more information on using Audacity, click here. , This will allow you to edit the metadata of the MP3 for things like: track, author, decade, album, etc.
It will allow music players, like iTunes and Android, to recognize what kind of MP3 it is, such as: country, jazz, and what era , 70's, 80'. , For even greater flexibility and professional cleanup, there are a number of apps ranging from about $50USD to over $500 USD.
The details of operation vary, but they all follow the same essential process as even the most basic sound recorder:
Make sure that Line Input is selected in the software setup. , Press record in the software and hit the play button on the cassette deck.
Record your piece, then press the stop button in the software, and finally the stop button on the cassette deck.
How you start and stop recording in the software will depend on the program itself.
Each one will have a slightly different layout. , The benefit with professional apps is that they allow you to split your audio into regions (for CDs) and perform many professional mastering functions using high-quality plugins.
Options in the professional category include Sound Forge by Sony—an excellent choice for this type of work—as well as PolderbitS and Cubase on the PC, Garage Band and Logic Pro on the Mac, and ProTools on either. , Before you transfer your entire tape collection over to your hard drive, make sure you're getting a good recording.
Record what you did, then give it a listen.
If you set up your signal chain correctly, you should have a fairly clean digital copy of your old analog tapes.
If the recording is too quiet or too noisy (the music is quiet but there's lots "fuzzy" noise), the output was too low and the recording did not have enough signal to offset the noise.
If the recorded sound sounds like it's being played through a broken speaker or a meat grinder, your recording was too loud, and the sound's distorted.
Back off the output level from the tape player, and try again. , You may not need to do any editing, but if you want to cut out silences, erase some tracks, or change the volume, for example, most sound recording programs will allow you to do so.
This procedure is quite complex if you have no experience with sound editing, and is beyond the scope of this article.
When editing, it is a good idea to keep the original file as a backup and change the names of edited files when you save them in case you find you made a mistake.
When you’re sure you like the edited file, you can delete the original to save drive space on your computer. , Once you have a basically good recording, you can improve it through judicious use of software tools.
Chief among those is Normalization.
Basically, it works by making sure the loudest peaks are at or near 100% of full scale—when all the meters are lit (or 0dB, depending on your metering). , This is not something you will use for every recording you make.
It can render a lot of music lifeless.
It works by keeping the loudest sounds about where they started, and bringing up the level of the quieter passages.
You lose the difference between the highs and lows—or dynamics—and in return, you get an apparently louder recording.
When listening at home, this isn't necessarily desirable, but if you're making a CD for your car, it can be very useful. , Depending on your speakers, how they're set up, and the quality of your overall playback system, adjusting the EQ to taste can be helpful.
A word of caution, though: like compression, "good" EQ is subjective.
While you may adjust the EQ so it sounds great on your system.
But if you loan your CD to a friend with a different speaker system, it may come out sounding thin, or muffled, or honky, or just plain wrong. , Once you've gone through the trouble of converting your old cassettes, Make saving a copy of your recording the first thing you do before you start doing destructive edits (normalization, EQ, compression, etc.)
About the Author
Janet Gray
Enthusiastic about teaching DIY projects techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: