audio tape conversion to digital

[NutmegCT]

Good morning all.

What hardware/software system are you using to convert audio tapes and LP records to WAV/mp3?

I'd prefer not having to get a "digital" tape player and "digital" turntable, just to convert the output.

Seems there should be some gizmo that takes the tape player (line out) or turntable (phono out) signal and feeds through a USB device into some conversion software.

Thanks.
Tom

 

[leecreek]

I use a line output of a Kenwood 8060 receiver to the inputs of the Audio card in my computer.
Recording software is Cdex. free. and a digital level meter. also free.

Done hundreds with excellent results. I also use DAK wave editing software for the features there.

HTH

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks Lee. I've actually tried that, but the signal is so distorted it's unusable.

It's as if it's always max volume, even when set to just above minimum in the Sound control panel. Seems to move from zero to overload with barely a nudge on the slider.

And that's just from the Line Output of the playing device.

Haven't tried CDex however.

Tom

 

[leecreek]

CDEX 1.51 will control the audio level pretty well. It is under tools on the menu. Pick record from Analog input. Quality also depends on what audio card you are using and the purity of the analog signal to the computer. Use the digital level meter too. And let the levels low, -8 or -12 peak. If you get peaks in the red you cannot get rid of the distortion once it goes digital. Also set the CDEX output to WAV output encoder. At this stage you want the biggest file type with no compression.

HTH

 

[Brooklands]

Before I got my USB turntable (ION), I had used software from Diamond Cut. https://www.diamondcut.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1
It was a bit pricey, but excellent. At that time I had the output from my home stereo system hardwired into the computer, but that required some pretty long connections which I no longer use since I switched to my iMac.

 

[aeronca65t]

I have one of ~These~

Called a capture card.

Bought to convert VHS tapes, but it has RCA audio jacks. Video transfer isn't great.....I forget about the audio quality.
I really haven't used it much but maybe if you look at some of the reviews on Amazon (there are several similar types).

 

[aerog]

It's as if it's always max volume, even when set to just above minimum in the Sound control panel. Seems to move from zero to overload with barely a nudge on the slider.

I've done tons of recording like that using just my audio card. The only problem I ever had was ground-loop hum that was taken care of by isolators that are easy to find.

Are you sure you're trying to record using the line-input and not mic-input on the sound card, and if that's not available have you made sure the +20db-gain option is unchecked on the mic-input?

If all else fails you can try a couple of line attenuators.

 

[NutmegCT]

I've done tons of recording like that using just my audio card. The only problem I ever had was ground-loop hum that was taken care of by isolators that are easy to find.

Are you sure you're trying to record using the line-input and not mic-input on the sound card, and if that's not available have you made sure the +20db-gain option is unchecked on the mic-input?

If all else fails you can try a couple of line attenuators.

Yep - 1/8" stereo plugs cable from line output of tape player to blue "line input" of audio card. Very weird. Audio will "stutter" and freeze, as tho' from overload, even at lowest setting. But software is only using about 25% of cpu; total cpu use is 40% - total ram use is 15%.

Thanks.
Tom

 

[Banjo]

I have a Behringer U-phono uf0202. made for both Phonograph pre-amp and line level input. It came with some software including "Audacity" that seems to work pretty well.