converting tapes to CD via PC

[hitendra]

<font color='#000000'>Hi

I am not sure if this is the right forum but since it said DIY - here it goes.

The idea is to convert my tapes to MP3/WAV on my PC. I know a lot of you will suggest that download the MP3 rather than convert but unfortunately, that isn't the best option. The reason is that most of my tapes are Hindi songs and not a lot of the ones I have are available on the Net.

So what I have done is to connect a small Sony tape player to my PC. I have connected the Headphone socket on the tape player to the Line-in socket of the PC. I am presently recording using GoldWave. The song records fine but it picks up only the left channel.

How do I get it to record both channels (L and R)? All help and comments appreciated.</font>

<font color='#000000'>This isn't cassette tapes, but it's generally the same. You can figure it out. If not, ask away. <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cool:'>
http://www.delback.co.uk/lp-cdr.htm

A very thorough site dealing with clean cd ripping and mp3 encoding. But it's not definitive. Again, ask away. <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cool:'>
http://mp3.radified.com/</font>

<font color='#000000'>Forgot to mention, this may have been your problem--using a mono minijack instead of stereo:
http://www.delback.co.uk/pcaudiofaq.htm#mono</font>

[hitendra]

<font color='#000000'>Hi

Thanx for your response - so far, what I have been doing is mixing the left channel over to the right in Goldwave to get the Stereo effect.

Just curious - is the headphone output stereo or mono? If it is stereo, then most likely my problem is that I am using the mono mini-jack and not the stereo one. Time to go shopping !

Thanx again</font>

[Clint DeBoer]

<font color='#000080'>Headphone outputs are always stereo (TRS) connections.

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I know a lot of you will suggest that download the MP3 rather than convert but unfortunately, that isn't the best option.</td></tr></table>I would never suggest this. You're always better off converting your own material.</font>

[hitendra]

<font color='#000000'>Thanx for that Hawke. Very few people have told me that - most always say that mp3 download is probably better quality. That's probably true if your tapes are all scratched and hiss when playing.</font>

[Clint DeBoer]

<font color='#000080'>OK, I just re-read your post and realized that your were converting actual TAPES...

You will still be better off LEGALLY if you rip your own tapes, but with regards to sound quality a rip from CD will be better quality for sure.</font>

[Yamahaluver]

<font color='#0000FF'>http://www.plusdeck.com/english/

Take a look at this device, it can convert tapes to mp3 and you can also record to tape from your PC.</font>

[hitendra]

<font color='#000000'>Yamahluver
The device you mentioned seems to record TO tape and not FROM tape.

Anyway, my problem is solved - I use a stereo mini-jack from my tape player to PC Line-in, record via GoldWave, do a bit of noise reduction and voila, its ready. Goldwave even allows me to rip to Wav or MP3, whichever I wish - so its quite good. And the general quality is more than acceptable.

Thanx to all who replied for their help

Cheerz</font>

[Yamahaluver]

<font color='#0000FF'>hitendra,

Sorry for my overshight.

BTW: if you like Goldwave, check out Cool Edit which has way more features than Goldwave. The filters are fantastic in CE, especially the cleaning ones. Converted many scratched LPs to CD with great results.</font>

<font color='#000000'>I'd recommend anyone wishing to edit old music in their PC to try the freeware program Audacity (do a search for it). &nbsp;I used Ver 1.2b beta and it is stable and excellent. &nbsp;This program is supported by a bunch of serious audiophiles who continually upgrade the program (sort of like the support for Linux). &nbsp;I transfered from my old reel tape deck, added 1db bass boost below 200 hz, and ran it through a low pass filter at 12,500 hz. &nbsp;Sounds sweet, burned it to CD. &nbsp;I plan to do transfer some old tapes where my brother and friends guitar jammed 30 years ago in college.</font>

[Unregistered]

YAMAHALUVER:

I was reading the messages from converting tapes to CD via PC, which is something I'm interested in doing, but don't know how or what componets I need to purchase to do so, but something else catch my eye with you! I'm a music colletor and have thousands of LP's I would love to convert my collection over to CD's can you help me with what's needed to do so.

I tried to login but somehow it's telling me the four attempts has failed with users name, which I can't see how when it's actually my first time tring to login. please contact me @ atlarue48@aol.com with information as to the above request.

Your assistants in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Music Lover.
Anthony

[Unregistered]

Check this:

http://www.delback.co.uk/lp-cdr.htm

LOL

[Unregistered]

and this:

http://mp3.radified.com/