Need advice on recording equipment

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 22 Dec 2002 2:27 pm

Currently, I have an AIWA "all in one" stereo system which has no line out jacks in the back, so I'm forced to use a cable from the "headphone" jack to the "line in" jack on my computer. The positive side of this is that I can control the volume simply by turning the knob.

When transferring music from LP & cassette to the computer (and live internet shows to the cassette deck), I'm just not hearing the quality I would expect. Is it worth the money to invest in a component system for the purposes I'm using it for?

I think I would only need a cassette deck and a receiver. Does anyone know an economical but good quality brand for each?

Thanks for any replies!

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 22 Dec 2002 8:00 pm

Hi Jeff- I am looking for something like that too. I don't have a line out on my Cassette player. Now what do I do?? I want to get all my old Cassettes solos on CD"s. Help!.....Happy Holidays...al

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 23 Dec 2002 3:11 am

What Herb says here is good advice. But I am puzzled as to why you are not getting at least the same quality from the headphone out to the PC inputs. Run the volume of the headphone out as high as you can without distortion and be sure the PC recording setting ( wave file) is at 44.1 khz which is CD quality. This will allow you to burn an audio CD from any of the CD software burning programs with consistent quality. You may have to experiment and do keep a record of your settings.

Does your PC allow controlling the input volume of the wave file you are recording ?This may be a key factor here. Some PC recording programs do and some do not.

If not you may want to consider another PC software recording program such as Cool Edit.

I transfer often from cassette to PC and turntable to PC with nice results, at least equal to what the tape or LP quality is.

Do remember that the file size of a song of 4 minutes or so is about 40 meg. Be sure you have a nice big hard drive and ram to spare.
good luck

tp

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 23 Dec 2002 10:40 am

Thanks , Guys for the Info....Happy Holidays....al

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 23 Dec 2002 10:56 am

I'm assuming you are recording to your computer's hard disk and not recording directly to CD using an audio only CD recorder (which may be faster, but you won't be able to edit once it's on CD)

Several things to remember:
* recording to the hard disk is done in REAL TIME. If you have 30 or 40 hours of cassettes, it will take that long to just get it to your hard disk
* once you get it to your hard disk you will need to edit and 'normalize' (adjust the volume so that all songs are about the same overall level) THAT TAKES TIME, TOO
* anything recorded on a cassette has tape hiss that may or may not be able to be removed electronically without the high end of the music becoming dull and lifeless -- this 'hiss reduction' TAKES TIME, TOO
* then you'll have to burn the actual CD

I've been through this enough times to realize that, unless you are recording stuff that's really valuable to you AND stuff that's not already available on CD, it may not be worth the time. Plan to spend 3-4 times the actual play time to get the CD to sound at least as good as the cassette or vinyl recording.
Al,
If you do, and it's some of your playing from the past (or the present) I'd LOVE to hear it.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 23 Dec 2002 5:43 pm

I have the Sony EZ Audio Transfer and Restoration Kit. It's a great program for the price; but, I think my problem is equipment.

Although running from the headphone jack to "line in" on the sound card produces good results, when I burn the recordings to a CD, they are lacking a "fullness" that I think they should have (to my ears at least). The trebles seem to be accentuated a bit more, too. Overall, the sound is very close to where I think it should be, but I just feel as if there's a little something missing...possibly a good stand alone cassette deck? I'm sure a seperate cassette deck with line out jacks would help on the hiss, too.

However, the main problem is that when recording live internet radio to a cassette ("line out" from the soundcard to "aux in" on the stereo), the sound level is way too low. Do I need something to amplify the signal? The only reason I was trying to stay away from a mini-disc recorder, is because it's a different format from regular CDs.

My sound card is a Creative Soundblaster 64V PCI, which people tell me is a pretty decent card. ??

My goal is to put my vinyl and cassette recordings onto disc. My playing would probably put you to sleep, Larry! It keeps the dogs awake and howling though...

[This message was edited by Jeff Strouse on 23 December 2002 at 05:47 PM.]