Converting old audio cassettes

mjl660 · Post by **mjl660** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:59 pm

Does anyone have a quick way, (with reasonable qualtiy) to convert old audio from cassette tapes? I have some old band tapes from the mid-late 80's that I would like to convert to digital before they degrade any further. I've inputed the audio from one tape years ago through my Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro mixer into DP, but it took so long and with my old machine it was crashing. I would like the ability to EQ things as well. I also have a stand alone componet VHS to DVD converter (cheap one, Lite-On brand LVC9006) that has RCA audio inputs on the front. Would it be easier to convert it to digital first this way, then import the file to DP? I.m using an old Mac G400 (yeah, I know...upgrading soon to either a Mac Pro or and old G5 as I still would like to use Mach five), DP 4.12, and a Motu 828 mkII. Any sugestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:51 pm

I don't know of a tape player with a USB output, if that's what you mean, though it wouldn't surprise me if one exists. All I know is to record it the way you would any other hardware device in your rack. Route the outputs to your audio interface; record with DP or your favorite DAW.

Shooshie

mjl660 · Post by **mjl660** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:40 pm

Thanks Shooshie. I'll give it a try. I'll just run the L & R RCA audio out from the cassette deck split to a 1/4" stereo jack into my Motu 828's input and see how DP handles it. If my G4 400mhz chokes on all the audio, I'll wait until I purchase a Mac Pro xeon dual 2.66.

Thanks again

Pappy725 · Post by **Pappy725** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:46 am

I don't think a stereo plug will work going into your 828. I would run separate line for each channel and link the two tracks you record to as a stereo pair.
Stephen

emulatorloo · Post by **emulatorloo** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:52 am

mjl660 wrote:Thanks Shooshie. I'll give it a try. I'll just run the L & R RCA audio out from the cassette deck split to a 1/4" stereo jack into my Motu 828's input and see how DP handles it. If my G4 400mhz chokes on all the audio, I'll wait until I purchase a Mac Pro xeon dual 2.66.

Thanks again

In case you have Adaptec Toast (A lot of people round here have that CD Recording software) it comes with a little app to record and enhance records and cassettes. Called CD Spin Doctor. Worth looking at for this application if you already have it lying around.

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BTW A google produced this odd device for PC's

http://www.meritline.com/meritline-digi ... sette.html

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npatton · Post by **npatton** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:06 am

Spin Doctor's great. I've converted a few items to CD with some nice results. Even took a VHS of a rehearsal for a show I was creating with some actors, routed it to Spin Doctor, split it into tracks and burned a CD in Toast from it. I did have to import it into DP to do some EQ surgery on it, but it was a usable result for their future pianist to have a guide.

n

BTW, at the time using a Single 1gHz G4. Just needed some HD real estate to handle the large file.

rockitcity · Post by **rockitcity** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:51 am

mjl660 wrote:... I'll just run the L & R RCA audio out from the cassette deck split to a 1/4" stereo jack into my Motu 828's input and see how DP handles it. If my G4 400mhz chokes on all the audio, I'll wait until I purchase a Mac Pro xeon dual 2.66...

828 does not have a stereo input. use individual channels as previously mentioned.

Recording stereo audio into your system should be no problem. Just make sure you have your input trims on your 828 set properly. This will most likely be -10 for a consumer cassette deck. Just get a clean recording going in and manipulate the audio to your taste after you have captured it. I wouldn't do any thing other than setting level going in. Just make sure you have the right EQ and Dolby NR settings on your cassette deck on playback.