[AcaCandy]

I have a Fisher CR-110 cassette player (I can't find any links for it on the internet, other than a link to a user's manual for purchase, or I'd post a picture of it) --- I thought I could somehow hook it straight to my laptop, but, obviously it is wanting an amplifier connection.

I've managed to do that, but, now, I don't know what to do next to hook it to the laptop. I have the red/white/mini stereo? cable that will plug inito the headset? jack of my laptop. However, I don't know where to plug the other end? Into the amp somewhere, I'm assuming? There is another set of inputs (red/white) on the cassette player too, but, I'm figuring that they don't go there?

Oh, and the cassette is playing through my sound system now, so, I've managed to get that connected correctly *whew*

[vicks]

The way I transferred the cassettes to my pc is.....
Used my Sony Walkman with RCA cables plugged into headphone socket, the other into the microphone on the computer. (I used a splitter so I could also listen with headset at the same time.) then used the free program Audacity to do the transferring thru. Works great....
Hope this answers it for you.
vicks

[AcaCandy]

Wow, there are Sony Walkman Cassette Players?

Thanks for the tip. I'd really like to get this silly cassette player connected though. It's become a challenge now

[telecom69]

Hi Candy, There should be a tape output socket/s on the amplifier,that is what you need ...

You are putting the signal from the tape player into the amp to be amplified and now you have to get it back out again and the tape output sockets serve this purpose, you then connect the tape output to your computer ..thats how I do it anyway

[Soundy]

You actually don't need an amplifier. Just connect the PLAY OUT jacks on the deck to the LINE IN jack on your laptop. Or if you want to leave it connected to the amp, use the amp's TAPE OUT or REC OUT jacks.

The catch is getting the sound into your laptop: some only have MIC IN jacks, and you MUST use a LINE IN for this, as most MIC inputs are mono only, and will be overloaded by the cassette's signal.

As a last resort, you could get something like this:

[AcaCandy]

Hi Soundy, thanks for the repy

I have a headphone jack on the laptop, wouldn't that be a better place to connect it?

But, in any event, you are saying I don't need the amp? If I don't need the amp, then I can connect it to my desktop sound card? There are two sets of red/white connectors on the tape deck. Record and playback.

[AcaCandy]

Originally Posted by telecom69

Hi Candy, There should be a tape output socket/s on the amplifier,that is what you need ...

You are putting the signal from the tape player into the amp to be amplified and now you have to get it back out again and the tape output sockets serve this purpose, you then connect the tape output to your computer ..thats how I do it anyway

Hi Bob, Thanks for the reply. There are a whole lot of connectors on the back of the amp I think there is also a DVD or VCR running "through" it. I don't want to mess up how it's working now, for sure, as I could never figure out how to make it work again. I have enough trouble with my 3 remotes to control my DVD and TV in the bedroom Not real sure why I need 3 remotes either

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

Hi Soundy, thanks for the repy

I have a headphone jack on the laptop, wouldn't that be a better place to connect it?

No, because a headphone jack is an output; you're trying to get sound INTO the laptop.

But, in any event, you are saying I don't need the amp? If I don't need the amp, then I can connect it to my desktop sound card? There are two sets of red/white connectors on the tape deck. Record and playback.

You don't need the amp; just use the RCA-to-mini-TRS cable to connect the PLAYBACK jacks on the deck to the LINE IN plug on any sound card, be it your desktop or your laptop.

[AcaCandy]

Thanks again. I'll give it a shot in a few minutes. I take it that I should be able to hear it then? Through the computer, once it's connected correctly?

[AcaCandy]

Also, you mentioned that the mic in might be an overload? Will it damage anything? Should I use the line in on the computer? I guess if I have to move the cassette deck anyway, that will probably be the wiser choice? No?

[vicks]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

Wow, there are Sony Walkman Cassette Players?

Thanks for the tip. I'd really like to get this silly cassette player connected though. It's become a challenge now

Yes, it is bordering on antique!!!!
Vicks

[Soundy]

It likely wouldn't damage anything on the mic input, it would just be noisy and distorted, and the sound would only be in mono (probably just the left channel). Microphones generally output at a much lower level than line signals, so mic inputs often boost the signal significantly, which can distort the line signal.

Mics also often require a much lower input impedance (600 ohms or less), whereas line inputs present a much higher impedance (10k or more); the low impedance of a mic input can present too high a load to a line driver, which will also result in distortion.

It also depends somewhat on the sound card - newer computers' onboard sound usually allow all jacks to be selectable, so any of them can be used as a mic input, a line input, or an output... but those inputs that are mic-only will have a problem with it, which is the case with most laptops' mic inputs, in my experience. If the laptop has a designated LINE input, or if the MIC input can be configured as a LINE input though, you're okay.

[AcaCandy]

Thanks again. I have to run out to pick up a new video card (free after rebate ) so, I'll try to get to testing this when I return.

[telecom69]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

Hi Bob, Thanks for the reply. There are a whole lot of connectors on the back of the amp I think there is also a DVD or VCR running "through" it. I don't want to mess up how it's working now, for sure, as I could never figure out how to make it work again. I have enough trouble with my 3 remotes to control my DVD and TV in the bedroom Not real sure why I need 3 remotes either

I shall be watching to see if this other way will work,I was just going on the fact you said "obviously it wants an amplifier connection" assuming that you had tried it without the amp ...yes there are lots of connections on amplifiers but they should all be clearly labelled and you shouldnt have to remove anything already connected....waiting patiently now to see if it works for you

[AcaCandy]

Ok, I'm testing this now. I'm not sure if I should hear anything on the laptop? I have it connected to the mic in?

Playback red/white connectors are going to the amp, I can hear that it's playing through those attached speakers.....the record red/white connectors are attached to the laptop mic in.