Convert cassette tapes to CD

Al Braun · Post by **Al Braun** » 7 Dec 2004 2:23 pm

Like many of us, I have taped every country steel player's record I could buy plus records I have bought at yard sales and second hand stores. I would like to convert these to CDs. I got directions from the now defunct 'Tech TV' program that said get MusicMatch and convert the tapes to .wav and thence to CD. I'm familiar with BIAB to CD so that would be no problem. I have a Sony 2 deck player plugged into my Creative Sound Blaster, Live! or so it says.
I just downloaded the free ver. of MM and could find no reference to cassette tapes.
Please share some knowledge with me, where do I go from here?
Thanks, Al[This message was edited by Al Braun on 07 December 2004 at 02:27 PM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 7 Dec 2004 4:15 pm

Just plug your cassett player into your computer and record it on MM. Then check "wav to mp3" when you re-record it to disc.

www.genejones.com

rpetersen · Post by **rpetersen** » 7 Dec 2004 4:42 pm

Ok - Question - what is MM?

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 7 Dec 2004 4:59 pm

Ok - Question - what is MM?

MusicMatch (MM) is a jukebox program that can be used to import and export music from your computer. Similar to Windows Media Player, iTunes, and Realplayer.[This message was edited by Will Holtz on 07 December 2004 at 05:00 PM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 7 Dec 2004 6:45 pm

Argh... I bought MusicMatch Jukebox 2.0 from Wallyworld for $19 two years ago and put it onto one of my Win98 machines. I still CANT GET RID OF IT!. Every time I uninstall it it reinstalls itself. [This message was edited by Ray Minich on 07 December 2004 at 06:46 PM.]

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 12 Dec 2004 1:55 am

What I'm searching for is a program that will allow me to take a .wav file of an entire cassette compilation and insert "track markers" at the start of each song. That is, if the cassette has 5 songs on it, I'd like to easily create a CD that allows me to skip between the songs/tracks.

I know it's possible to "break out" the songs on the cassette as individual .wav files, then burn them to CD, and get the result. But it would sure save time to take a .wav of the entire cassette and simply mark where each song starts, then burn to CD.

Anyone know of a program that will do this?

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 12 Dec 2004 2:41 am

Well, it didn't take me too long to answer my own question. A quick google search using the topic of this thread revealed several programs which can break out tracks from a cassette recording.

As fortune would have it, one of those programs comes packaged with something I already own; Roxio Easy Media Creator 7. It seems that the bundled "sound editor" will do that and other useful things when converting cassettes to CD. A screenshot of this function (sound editor) can be found at http://www.roxio.com/en/products/ecdc/features_music.jhtml . Look for the item marked "preserve your old LPs" at about the middle of the page.

I also just found something from Cakewalk that might do the trick for $10. Have a look at http://store.yahoo.com/cakewalkdirect/cdwave.html [This message was edited by Dave Horch on 12 December 2004 at 08:26 AM.]

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 12 Dec 2004 8:47 am

Nero also offers this feature in their CD burning software. Very convenient feature, since you don't have to babysit the computer and tapeplayer/turntable when recording an entire album.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 12 Dec 2004 9:15 pm

Now that is interesting. Just what I was looking for.

I have old cassettes tapes, some were taken from reel to reel in 1951 and I got them in Music Match Jukebox, but cant separate them in to individual tracks and songs, so I can burn them to a CD, then find the song I want on the
CD..

I can't even name a lot of them. Will the programs mentioned do it.?

This Forum is sure great with all the expertise and experience available on it.Thanks for any help .....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 13 December 2004 at 05:22 PM.]

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 13 Dec 2004 6:20 pm

You might want to do a search here on the forum for "Ripvinyl" It gets good reviews although I haven't used it yet. It says it can record directly to mp3's. http://www.ripvinyl.com/

Ollin Landers · Post by **Ollin Landers** » 17 Dec 2004 2:43 am

I do a lot of vinyl restoration work. Check this out it's what I use. The learning curve is a bit step for doing restoration work but in a limited capacity it is not to difficult.
http://www.delback.co.uk/wavrep/

The split tracks function works better than any other software I've ever used.

PS.
It's shareware if you like it please support the author. Thats the way some of us cover our expenses.

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 17 Dec 2004 6:52 am

I have an album that I cut with Johnny Bernero's band at Sun Studio in 1954. I ran the tape recorder through my compressor which removed most all tape noise then I was able to send it to my digital recorder or pc. Results: very good. ----j-----

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 17 Dec 2004 12:06 pm

Dr.Hugh, again I ask you for advice.

I am getting a lot of noise and tape hiss from the 50 year old and up conversios from reel to reel to cassettes.

I want to get them on CD's before the tapes break or are usless to use.

I have Music-Match Plus now.
I got some into the hard drive but they are real noisy and lots of his.

I put some on CD but havent been able yet, to split them up and give them names.

I dont like the results , so far. Is there any inexpensive programs out there that I can use to help my problem? ..Thanks and Happy Holidays.......al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 17 Dec 2004 3:24 pm

Al ---- I read of one several months ago called Doctor Clean. I think they are marketed by the Edirol Corp.--a sister company of Boss-Roland -- www.edirol.com If you eM them or call and describe what you need, I'm sure they'll have a recommendation of some kind. Best, Hugh

Dan Dowd · Post by **Dan Dowd** » 18 Dec 2004 7:31 am

I have tried a bunch of these types of programs and the one I find works best is Microsofts Plus Analog Recorder. which is part of Microsofts Plus Digital Media Edition. All you have to do is hook up your tape player to the computer and press the record button on MS Plus. It break's the tape into individule tracks automatically and even stops when the tape stops so you don't have to sit and watch it. Then you can also burn a CD from this same program or save the tracks in a folder. It also works with photo and movie's. [This message was edited by Dan Dowd on 18 December 2004 at 07:34 AM.]

Ben ODell · Post by **Ben ODell** » 6 Jan 2005 6:49 pm

I recently installed a program (audio Cleaning Lab 2004), that does it all and talks language a dummy like me understands. This program rates an A plus in my book.

Just get you a sound card adapter plug, plug that baby into your tape player, and have fun. Also checks the recording and removes hiss, pops from vinyl, pumps it up, remasters, and all kinds of stuff.