[halcour]

My computer has an "Input" port as part of the onboard audio. Using this, would I be able to plug in my old portable cassette player and copy a tape to my hard drive, then convert that to mp3? If so, what software would I need to do this?

Thanks much,
Harold

[jsparky77]

As the sound files on cassettes and tapes are not stored digitally, (they are stored magnetically), this can not be done. The only way i can think of to do this, is to play the music through the cassette player and use a microphone or a sound recorder to record that.

[Noyb]

The freeware Audacity can record and edit the audio from an external player (or anything your computer is playing) and export to MP3 ... http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

You'll also need to get the Lame_enc.dll encoder also from the above link to export the recordings to MP3.
Copy this dll to the Audacity folder after Audacity is installed.
The first time you try to export to MP3, you'll be asked where it is.

It also has a powerful editor .. can even remove a tape hiss (noise profile) if you have any.

[jsparky77]

im not sure if that will work. it might. i guess it useing the principle of screen recorders.

[Noyb]

I'm sure .. Use it all the time ... No, it's not like a screen recorder.
Audacity is very popular here at TSG .. There should be no problem getting help with it.
Try it - You might just love it.

May have a small problem if you have Vista, But we can work around that.

I even have the expensive Adobe professional version, Audition .. But use Audacity instead.

[jsparky77]

oh no, i like audacity, its just i wasnt sure that it would work. And i can use it in compatibility mode in vista.

Oh, and do you know if there is an audio editor that comes with adobe cs3 master collection?

[Noyb]

Haven't messed with CS3 yet .. but would probably use Audacity instead.
Not much you can't do with it.

Audacity works just fine in my Vista .. (to my surprise) .. compatibility mode not required.
Wish the rest of Vista did the same.

[Parsons123]

Found this, don't know if it will help but it is worth a try:
http://www.foxpop.co.uk/elisa/general/technics.htm

[halcour]

Great, guys. I'll be doing it on XP, so shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks,
H

[vicks]

I have used the Audacity program doing just what you describe for about 3 years. It has worked great for me (I even have used it with my little Sony walkman via RCA cables) Good luck. (Oh, I later burned the musice to cd's to save so I wouldn't have to go thru the process again.)
Good Luck
vicks

[halcour]

Ok, I finally got around to trying this out. But Audacity is not recording in stereo. I've looked thru the help file and tried a couple of things but it ain't working. I have to have stereo. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Harold

[Noyb]

Is the cable to the line in .. a stereo cable (connector) ??
Edit >> Preferences set for Stereo ??

[halcour]

Well, that's weird. My version doesn't have those choices in Edit/Preferences, the only tab is for mouse button assignments.

H

[Noyb]

Audacity ... Edit >> Preferences ???

Version 1.2.6 ???? .... http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

What's the Make, Model and OS of your computer ??