transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?

transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?

Hello,

I am trying to transfer some cassette tapes to a vista notebook to be burned
to an audio CD. I have a 20+ year old Denon tape deck. I have a y
connector running from the output rca jacks on the tape deck to the mic jack
on the notebook. I attempted to record using Windows Sound Recorder. It
worked, but the quality was bad - sounded distant and a little distorted.

Any advice would be appreciated. Do I need different software? My notebook
doesn't have an audio line in jack, just the mic jack. Should I have a USB
interface of some kind for the line from the cassette deck? The Denon
doesn't seem to have a volume or level control for the output, it has input
level and bias fine controls.

Thanks,
Joe

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:23:53 GMT, "JoeM" <joenopsam4257@gmail . com >
wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I am trying to transfer some cassette tapes to a vista notebook to be burned
>to an audio CD. I have a 20+ year old Denon tape deck. I have a y
>connector running from the output rca jacks on the tape deck to the mic jack
>on the notebook. I attempted to record using Windows Sound Recorder. It
>worked, but the quality was bad - sounded distant and a little distorted.
>
>Any advice would be appreciated. Do I need different software? My notebook
>doesn't have an audio line in jack, just the mic jack. Should I have a USB
>interface of some kind for the line from the cassette deck? The Denon
>doesn't seem to have a volume or level control for the output, it has input
>level and bias fine controls.
>
>Thanks,
>Joe

This won't work. Find a PC with Line Input sockets.

d
--
Pearce Consulting
* w w w .pearce.uk . com

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?


"Don Pearce" <nospam@nospam . com > wrote in message
news:47ef3e0c.229314906@news.plus . net ...
> On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:23:53 GMT, "JoeM" <joenopsam4257@gmail . com >
> >I am trying to transfer some cassette tapes to a vista notebook to be
burned
> >to an audio CD. I have a 20+ year old Denon tape deck. I have a y
> >connector running from the output rca jacks on the tape deck to the mic
jack
> >on the notebook. I attempted to record using Windows Sound Recorder. It
> >worked, but the quality was bad - sounded distant and a little distorted.
> >
> >Any advice would be appreciated. Do I need different software? My
notebook
> >doesn't have an audio line in jack, just the mic jack. Should I have a
USB
> >interface of some kind for the line from the cassette deck? The Denon
> >doesn't seem to have a volume or level control for the output, it has
input
> >level and bias fine controls.


> This won't work. Find a PC with Line Input sockets.


Yeah right, buy a new PC when USB adapters, that outperform nearly all
notebooks that do actually have a line in, are FAR cheaper.

MrT.

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?

On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:39:29 +1000, "Mr.T" <MrT@home> wrote:

>
>"Don Pearce" <nospam@nospam . com > wrote in message
>news:47ef3e0c.229314906@news.plus . net ...
>> On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:23:53 GMT, "JoeM" <joenopsam4257@gmail . com >
>> >I am trying to transfer some cassette tapes to a vista notebook to be
>burned
>> >to an audio CD. I have a 20+ year old Denon tape deck. I have a y
>> >connector running from the output rca jacks on the tape deck to the mic
>jack
>> >on the notebook. I attempted to record using Windows Sound Recorder. It
>> >worked, but the quality was bad - sounded distant and a little distorted.
>> >
>> >Any advice would be appreciated. Do I need different software? My
>notebook
>> >doesn't have an audio line in jack, just the mic jack. Should I have a
>USB
>> >interface of some kind for the line from the cassette deck? The Denon
>> >doesn't seem to have a volume or level control for the output, it has
>input
>> >level and bias fine controls.
>
>
>> This won't work. Find a PC with Line Input sockets.
>
>
>Yeah right, buy a new PC when USB adapters, that outperform nearly all
>notebooks that do actually have a line in, are FAR cheaper.
>
>MrT.
>

I didn't say anything about buying a new PC. Anyone who can't lay
their hands on a PC with line inputs at an hour's notice has no
friends.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
* w w w .pearce.uk . com

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?


"Don Pearce" <nospam@nospam . com > wrote in message
news:47ef83b7.13433656@news.plus . net ...
> >> >I am trying to transfer some cassette tapes to a vista notebook to be
> >burned
> >> >to an audio CD. I have a 20+ year old Denon tape deck. I have a y
> >> >connector running from the output rca jacks on the tape deck to the
mic
> >jack
> >> >on the notebook. I attempted to record using Windows Sound Recorder.
It
> >> >worked, but the quality was bad - sounded distant and a little
distorted.
> >> >
> >> >Any advice would be appreciated. Do I need different software? My
> >notebook
> >> >doesn't have an audio line in jack, just the mic jack. Should I have
a
> >USB
> >> >interface of some kind for the line from the cassette deck? The Denon
> >> >doesn't seem to have a volume or level control for the output, it has
> >input
> >> >level and bias fine controls.
> >
> >
> >> This won't work. Find a PC with Line Input sockets.
> >
> >
> >Yeah right, buy a new PC when USB adapters, that outperform nearly all
> >notebooks that do actually have a line in, are FAR cheaper.
> >
> >
>
> I didn't say anything about buying a new PC. Anyone who can't lay
> their hands on a PC with line inputs at an hour's notice has no
> friends.


Or friends who need their computers themselves. However he already asked if
he should have a USB adapter, (IMO yes) so presumably he is prepared to buy
one rather than bot from friends.

MrT.

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?


JoeM said...

> The Denon
> doesn't seem to have a volume or level control for the output,
>
That would appear to be the problem. the tape output is too high for the
microphone socket.
Using a USB adaptor such as
* uk.europe.creative . com /products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=
207&product=15911

Would be one way round the problem. it adds analogue in and out on rca
at a level to suit your tape deck and also digital in and out on optical
plus some useful software. I have one and it works very well and is quite
cheap.
--
Ken

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?

"JoeM" wrote ...
> I am trying to transfer some cassette tapes to a vista
> notebook to be burned to an audio CD. I have a 20+
> year old Denon tape deck. I have a y connector running
> from the output rca jacks on the tape deck to the mic jack
> on the notebook. I attempted to record using Windows
> Sound Recorder. It worked, but the quality was bad -
> sounded distant and a little distorted.

1) The pink mic input jack on compuers is monaural,
so you will get only the left channel of your sound.
If it is a low-quality mono recording (i.e. speech, etc.)
then it might met your needs.

2) The output from your cassette machine is line level
and the input to the pink mic input jack is ~mic level.
The audio levels will almost certainly overload the mic
input circuit and cause significant audible distortion.

3) The ring terminal on the 3-circuit mini-phone jack
of a computer pink mic input jack sends a DC voltage
to power condenser electret microphones. In your lash-
up, that is sending a DC voltage back *into* the right
channel output of the cassette machine. This is not a
good idea, and possibly destsructive to the cassette
machine. I wouldn't try this again if I were you. At the
very least, do NOT plug the right channel RCA jack.

> Any advice would be appreciated.

We don't know whether you are transcribing old,
scratchy lectures, or pristine stereo music? Lacking
that information, it is up to you to make the tradeoff
decisions about what the task is worth.

> Do I need different software?

You need some way of setting the recording levels in
the computer properly. If Windows Sound Recorder
and your audio drivers support that, then you may not
need any other software. OTOH, for simple recording
a simple application like Total Recorder might be what
you need. (w w w .highcriteria . com )

> My notebook doesn't have an audio line in jack, just
> the mic jack. Should I have a USB interface of some
> kind for the line from the cassette deck?

If you are just recording low-quality speech (etc.) then
the mono mic input jack may be sufficient. Radio Shack
in the US (we don't know where you are?) sells a cable
with a built-in attenuator to cut the line-level ouput from
the cassette machine down to mic-level for the computer.

> The Denon doesn't seem to have a volume or level control
> for the output, it has input level and bias fine controls.

Yes, that is typical for consumer audio equipment. Levels
are typically set at the input of the next item in the audio
path.

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?

Thanks to all who responded. I got a private email recommending the
Behringer UCA202 line-level audio converter. It's relatively cheap, so I am
going to give it a try. My immediate need is to transfer some voice
recordings, but I may eventually transfer some music too. Doesn't have to
be audiophile quality I don't think. I'll try the Behringer and see if
that's good enough...

Regards,
Joe


"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xp7rt . net > wrote in message
news:13uvhvtipfrtnc0@corp.supernews . com ...
> "JoeM" wrote ...
>> I am trying to transfer some cassette tapes to a vista notebook to be
>> burned to an audio CD. I have a 20+ year old Denon tape deck. I have a
>> y connector running from the output rca jacks on the tape deck to the mic
>> jack on the notebook. I attempted to record using Windows Sound
>> Recorder. It worked, but the quality was bad - sounded distant and a
>> little distorted.
>
> 1) The pink mic input jack on compuers is monaural,
> so you will get only the left channel of your sound.
> If it is a low-quality mono recording (i.e. speech, etc.)
> then it might met your needs.
> 2) The output from your cassette machine is line level
> and the input to the pink mic input jack is ~mic level.
> The audio levels will almost certainly overload the mic
> input circuit and cause significant audible distortion.
>
> 3) The ring terminal on the 3-circuit mini-phone jack
> of a computer pink mic input jack sends a DC voltage
> to power condenser electret microphones. In your lash-
> up, that is sending a DC voltage back *into* the right
> channel output of the cassette machine. This is not a
> good idea, and possibly destsructive to the cassette
> machine. I wouldn't try this again if I were you. At the
> very least, do NOT plug the right channel RCA jack.
>
>> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> We don't know whether you are transcribing old, scratchy lectures, or
> pristine stereo music? Lacking that information, it is up to you to make
> the tradeoff decisions about what the task is worth.
>
>> Do I need different software?
>
> You need some way of setting the recording levels in
> the computer properly. If Windows Sound Recorder
> and your audio drivers support that, then you may not
> need any other software. OTOH, for simple recording
> a simple application like Total Recorder might be what
> you need. (w w w .highcriteria . com )
>> My notebook doesn't have an audio line in jack, just the mic jack.
>> Should I have a USB interface of some kind for the line from the cassette
>> deck?
>
> If you are just recording low-quality speech (etc.) then
> the mono mic input jack may be sufficient. Radio Shack
> in the US (we don't know where you are?) sells a cable
> with a built-in attenuator to cut the line-level ouput from
> the cassette machine down to mic-level for the computer.
>
>> The Denon doesn't seem to have a volume or level control for the output,
>> it has input level and bias fine controls.
>
> Yes, that is typical for consumer audio equipment. Levels
> are typically set at the input of the next item in the audio
> path.
>

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?

"JoeM" wrote ...
> Thanks to all who responded. I got a private email recommending the
> Behringer UCA202 line-level audio converter. It's relatively cheap, so
> I am going to give it a try. My immediate need is to transfer some
> voice recordings, but I may eventually transfer some music too.
> Doesn't have to be audiophile quality I don't think. I'll try the
> Behringer and see if that's good enough...

It is almost certainly at least as good as your cassette machine
and source tapes. It should work just fine.

Re: transfer cassette tapes to Vista notebook?


"JoeM" <joenopsam4257@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:FbYHj.1890$ie3.1331@trndny02...
> Thanks to all who responded. I got a private email recommending the
> Behringer UCA202 line-level audio converter. It's relatively cheap, so I
am
> going to give it a try. My immediate need is to transfer some voice
> recordings, but I may eventually transfer some music too. Doesn't have to
> be audiophile quality I don't think. I'll try the Behringer and see if
> that's good enough...

More than good enough for cassette recordings of any kind.

MrT.