Cassette to MP3

[patseguin Global Moderator]

I bought this ION USB cassette tape converter and the software sucks. It has no controls and merely records the playback and puts it in iTunes. The recordings are coming out too quiet and I don't want them in iTunes. Since it's Windows compatible, is there better Windows software out there to record from these cassettes and have control of gain and save it to a file instead of iTunes?

[_neutrino Veteran]

You will laugh but this is how i have been making MP3 files out of Cassettes for years.

 

Connect a walkman or any cassette player to your computer using a double ended headphone cable. (male to male) into the line in on the computer.

install Goldwave, or any other audio style recording and manipulation program.

Record, and change values for quality.

 

and your done. no specific hardware required.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Connect a walkman or any cassette player to your computer using a double ended headphone cable. (male to male) into the line in on the computer.

install Goldwave, or any other audio style recording and manipulation program.

Record, and change values for quality.

 

and your done. no specific hardware required.

I was going to say that as well, although I was going to suggest Audacity. Apparently it seems to be quite recommended, although I don't know whether that is because it's a powerful editing program for this kind of thing or just because it is free.

[_neutrino Veteran]

goldwave is free as well however it has not been updated in years. so audacity is probably a good choice as well. (and you can get a portable version as well.

[game_over]

Sound Forge is one of the best though it's not free it has a 30-day trial. There was really no need to buy a USB device, as already mentioned just a walkman and 3.55mm jack to 3.55mm jack cable is needed.

[patseguin Global Moderator]

Yeah, I guess except I don't have anything anymore that plays cassettes. I probably overpaid for a USB device that is crap.

[MillionVoltss]

Yeah, I guess except I don't have anything anymore that plays cassettes. I probably overpaid for a USB device that is crap.

Ebay it on.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

Since your Ion device is in itself a cassette player.. does it not have an audio out? You could just use a 3.5mm jack cable with that and get more flexibility.

[Raa]

goldwave is free as well however it has not been updated in years.

Just FYI, Goldwave is updated regularly still.

I've used it for years too!

[riahc3]

Hello,

goldwave is free as well however it has not been updated in years.

It was just updated on October 21, 2013.

[srbeen]

If your tape deck/record player is really old it probably has mono outputs rather than a stereo jack. You can get a dual mono to stereo jack at radio shack/source/ebay easily. As stated direct into line-in is the best way I found, however you can't 'dub', it has to record in real-time. Software just has to support recording from line-in jack. Goldwave as mentioned is really simple and offers volume-boosts and de-crackle/hiss/pop options.