| Author |
Message |
    
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 915
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |     |
This may have been discussed before...
Does anyone know of a place (or an inexpensive purchase for one-time use) where I could take a cassette tape and have it turned into a MP3 file?
My only cassette player in the house is a boom box! I have CD burning capabilties on my PC....but that doesn't help. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1071
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 4:02 pm: | |
What are your quality needs? How much do you want to spend? Are you willing to do the work yourself? How much time do you want to invest into this project? Are you technologically savvy? When do you need the project done by? |
upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 510
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 6:51 pm: | |
I use a program called Musicmatch Jukebox 10 that allows me to jack my boombox into my PC and convert cassettes into CD's. I can also do LP's and radio programs, but bear in mind that the cassettes and LP's have to be converted in real time. I'm not sure what the program costs as I've had it for a few years, but upgrades have been free. |
Dogbert
Citizen
Username: Dogbert
Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 11:09 pm: | |
Does your boom box have RCA jacks? Consider the ADS Instant Music box. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 916
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 9:10 am: | |
Dogbert,
That looks like a great solution...it is a bit pricey for this one-time deal but I could find other uses for it too.
Alleygater,
1) My quality needs are average
2) I would prefer to spend under $50 (this is for the kid's school)
3) Yes I could do the work myself - but I don't want to buy all new software.
4) I would like to invest a maximum of 5 hours in this project.
5) I am technologically savvy in everything but Music editing etc.
6) I need the project done ASAP - unfortunately.
Uponaroof,
I think my kid has Musicmatch on her laptop!
Finally,
I saw a website http://www.cassettes2cds.comor something.
The price is right - around $10.00 but turnaround time might be too long....
I am going to dig out the boombox now! |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1077
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 4:47 pm: | |
The actual procedure is actually quite simple PROVIDED you have the hardware already that converts the analog sound to the digital file. To figure that out just check the computer you will be using and see if it has a stereo mini jack (it looks like a normal headphone jack) with an icon that looks like a microphone (it isn't always listed like that but very often it is). If it has an icon of a speaker than it is sound out and can NOT be used. If there are two stereo mini jacks then you are probably in business.
If you don't have that jack then you need to either buy a sound card for your computer or use someone elses computer who has one. Alternately you can keep googling and find a company that will do it for you but as you stated time is of the essence.
If you do have the sound in jack then the issue is merely connecting the cassette player to the sound in jack. If you don't have the cable go to Radio Shack and buy one.
Now the last issue is downloading some software that lets you record a sound from the Sound In port on your machine. There is a huge number of shareware/freeware applications that can do this.
I don't know if you are on a PC or a Mac for me to help you choose one. These same applications will let you edit the audio to eliminate portions you won't want. You will then be able to open that sound file in Apple's Itunes to convert the file into an MP3.
This is a fairly simple project if you have the audio in port. Most computers have sound cards built in to them and if you know someone on a Mac who likes you they probably wouldn't be intimidated to do this sort of thing for you. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 919
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 7:07 pm: | |
AlleyG,
Thank you very much for your advice. As it happens I have two laptops with the "microphone jacks" and I have a friend with a Mac.
I should be golden once I find the right freeware!
Thanks |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1082
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 9:04 pm: | |
So your on a PC?
Ummmm... anyone want to suggest a good freeware audio package that's easy to use for editing on a PC?
Needless to say you could go to shareware.com and search for freeware and type in audio editing. |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 1883
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 9:29 pm: | |
see my post here, http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=3135&post=522988#POST5229 88
AudioGrabber will do the capturing and conversion for you, & it's free.
If you use the Mac, chances are that your friend already has the required software.
Audacity is a cross platform freenapp, http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/
Quicktime Pro
Garageband
Audion, http://www.panic.com/audion/
Audio Recorder, http://homepage.mac.com/benshan/
Audio Hijack Pro, http://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/
Sound Studio (I like this one), http://www.freeverse.com/soundstudio/
Final Vinyl (for use with Griffin's iMic), http://www.griffintechnology.com/software/software_imic.html
Roxio Toast, http://www.roxio.com/en/index.jhtml
WireTap (I like this), http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/wiretap/
there's more, but I've got to go do some other things.... |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 921
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 9:41 pm: | |
Folks,
Thanks!
I will begin to tackle this in the AM (when Radio Shack is open!)
K |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 926
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 8:33 am: | |
I would like to post this "public service announcement".......
There is a local company which helped me with the audio transfer.
It was less than $40 and the turnaround was just one day!
The company's website is www.captivadigital.com |
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