Help! Tapes to CD's

[linzee_nc]

I really need some help. I taped the Lexington, KY show onto cassette tapes and really want to put it onto CD so I can trade. I've asked everybody I know, but unfortunately, everybody I know is technology impaired... So if anybody could tell me an EASY way to transfer my tapes to CD's, I would greatly appreciate it (and be more than happy to share copies of the concert with you).:)

[matt the fiddler]

soudn card line in/ mic in... headphoen out on the tape deck...

record on teh computer.. you won't get the best sound quality due to the medium you used... but it will then at least be burnable

[NCFreak]

Oooo!! I get to show off...kinda. My theatre tech area (which I had to teach myself...tech director didn't know a thing) should come in useful over the next few minutes.

Matt is right. However, he must've been in another one of his hurrys. I try to give more detail...

I'm not sure how much you know, so to be safe, I'll assume you're completely ignorant.

Grab the best tape deck you can find. Borrow one if you have to. Then, use one of those SONY 1/8 audio jack to RCA audio jack adaptors to plug the RCA output of the tape into the microphone or auxilary input on your computer. If you can't get a component tape desk, use a good walkman and a 1/8 to 1/8 audio cable to connect to the computer.

Next, your computer should have audio recording software on it already. If you have a Creative sound card, it'll be listed it it's respective folder in the satrt menu. As for other cards, it should still be listed somewhere in the start menu.

The sound recording software will look like a tape recorder w/ all the buttons. Basically, all ya do is hit record, then press play. The hard part is setting the audio input and gain levels. On a Walkman, set the volume somewhere between 6 and 7. The higher, the better. Just make sure you don't hear distortion. Distortion is bad. If playing from a component from the RCA output, volume level is preset and unchangable. The gain level (microphone input level) will be accessable via your audio control panel or on the volume control under \..\Accessories\Entertainment. Again, set as high as possible without distortion (probably around 5-7).

Now, you will have some options when recording. In your software's Preferences or Options or whatever, you'll see really neat stuff like 22 mhz or 44 mhz, and maybe some other stuff. 44 (or higher) is higher quality.

Now, hit RECORD on your sound recording software, then hit PLAY on the tape deck. You are now recording, and the file is being recorded to your hard drive. When you want to stop, hit STOP.

Now, you need to save the file. You may be able to save it in different formats. The choice is up to you. .WAV is best, but is a large format. MP3 is usually what you what to trade with, but you can also convert the file to an MP3 later ifyou have software to do that. So, pick a format, save the file and you're done with that.

Next, all you have to do is burn the file(s) to a cd. I assume you already know how to do that, but I wouldn't waste my time explaining it anyway.

Here's a tip: If your CD Burning software just happens to be NERO, I think you can go strait from tape deck to CD. You'll have to check on that one.

If that doesn't help, you're out of luck.

[Wade]

How did you record this show onto cassette? Did you also run microphones out in the audience? Did you patch out of the monitor or soundboard? Did you hold up a portable cassette recorder in the air?

If its either of the first two, I can help. If its the latter, have fun.

For analog cassette to CDR, here's what I use:

Sony 3 head deck > Monster RCA out/in > Oade mod-sbm-1 @ 44.1 kHz > s/pdif > Audiophile 2496 digital soundcard > Wave Lab 4.0 audio software > CDWave (tracking) > wav

Sound like a mouthful? It is. But it works, and works well.

[linzee_nc]

THANKS! NCFreak, your assumption that I am completely ignorant was EXTREMELY accurate...thank you. Now, I will just print out your instructions, and take them to somebody who has some non-sucky equipment. To answer your question Wade, I had a nice cassette recorder that is supposed to be used for business conferences...so the radio shack man told me. What do you guys use to record concerts? (yes, I am that ignorant that I don't know anything but recording onto cassttes) Is it expensive, or can poor little me afford it?

[Wade]

1 pair AKG c480 mic bodies = $1,200
1 pair matched ck61 cardiod capsules = $300
1 pair matched ck63 hypercardiod capsules = $300
1 Oade m248 pre-amp = $800
1 Oade modified sbm-1 = $700
1 Tascam DA-P1 portable DAT recorder = $1200
1 Thirteen foot Manfrotto telescoping mic stand = $120
1 pair Audio Magic 16 foot XLR cables = $100
1 pair Audio Magic 1m XLR > RCA cables = $100
1 SonicCase bag for all of the above = $80

Expensive hobby.

[NCFreak]

An hour and a half listening to Nickel Creek live in concert...

PRICELESS!!

[linzee_nc]

Right now I have four dollars... barely enough to buy a blank cd.