Cassette tapes into iTunes library

Please can I ask for your advice on the best way to acheive optimum quality when converting/transferring cassette tapes into my itunes library.
Thank you in advance for your assistance,

I'm not sure what you need covered here. Do you already have a mechanism by which you can convert the cassettes to digital files on your computer or are you asking that too?
Tapes will have hiss. Some of this is deliberate as Dolby Noise Reduction technology of the time, some will just be the tape. Dolby NR is probably best handled at the tape end of things if you make sure you use Dolby filtering on your player for tapes on which it was used originally (you'll only know if it was marked at the time of recording). If you don't have it you can try using computer filtering. I did a bit of this with a program called Amadeus many years ago. It let you sample a bit of the digitized recording which is supposedly blank to get the background noise, then apply it acrosss the whole file. There's always a bit of risk in doing this because you may have something in the recording that looks like the noise signal but is part of the actual sound. Audiophiles can have a field day discussing this.
If you're being really picky, I found I had a bit of noise just produced by my equipment I was using. I would record a few seconds with no tape playing at all just to see what was being produced by my equipment.
Audacity is a free audio editor, but I have never had time to figure it out.
Obviously you are going to want to record your files and edit them in a full-quality lossless format such as AIFF. I archive mine in FLAC format (you could use Apple lossless too), then create a mp3 or AAC version for everyday use.

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Importing cassette tapes into iTunes

I may be stupid here, but is there a simple way to get my cassette music library into iTunes? I've got some great stuff from "way back when" and don't want to have to buy the CD's (many probably aren't even available now).
Thanks!

This isn't really an iTunes question and you might want to try over at the iMac forums or the OS 10.4 forums. It is more a matter of getting your cassette deck interfaced to your Mac and being able to record the stuff from tape onto the Mac. You may be able to interface directly from the cassette player to the Mac with a patch cord or you might need something like the Griffin iMic to help with hardware and signal conversions.
Then you need software to capture the audio, clean it up, break it into tracks etc. Some things you can do with iTunes (like breaking up the tracks) but is probably faster and easier, plus the other stuff you will want to do, with a third party application like Audacity (free download).
Once you get the tracks into the Mac, then it is simply a Drag & drop operating to add them to iTunes.
Good luck,
Patrick

Importing a cassette tape into I tunes

Can I import and save a cassette tape into itunes thanks

You can't import the audio from your tape directly to iTunes you need software to digitise the audio first. One way is to connect your Cassette deck (through the Tape out sockets of your amplifier) to the audio in socket of your computer. On the computer you'll need audio editing software to capture and edit the resulting long file into individual tracks that can be added to the iTunes Library. There are a number of commercial programs for this (I use Sound Studio for the Mac). If want to try out the process first you could try the open source program Audacity which has Linux, Mac and Windows versions at this link: Audacity
In addition to the software you'll need RCA to 3.5 mm audio plug cables to connect the Tape Out sockets of your amplifier to the audio inputs of your computer. There's a short guide to recording here: How to record from vinyl and cassette to a computer also from the BBC Copying Vinyl Recordings to CD
If your Mac or PC hasn't got an audio in socket you can have a look at the Griffin iMic which connects to a USB port and comes with some software of it's own: iMic USB audio interface

How do I import just PART of a song from a CD into iTunes Library?

I am trying to get just a little bit of one of my songs from my CD into iTunes Library so I can use it on a website. I do not want the entire song. Can this be done?

No, not as far as I know.
You can, once imported, change the 'Start Time:' and 'Stop Time:' (Get Info, Options tab) and convert it, using the converter of your choice.
The copy will have the length between start and stop times.
Beware of copyright issues before putting (parts of) songs on a website.
If you own the copyright, it's no problem of course.
Hope this helps.
M

After downloading music and dragging into iTunes I end up with multiple copies of the album on my hard drive. I do have the "copy files into iTunes library" checked. When I try to erase one of the copies I end up with red ! in iTunes library.

Please Help! After downloading an album and dragging it into itunes I end up having multiple copies of the album on my hard drive. I do have (under Itunes preferences, advanced) copy songs into itunes library "checked". I'm sure this is the reason for the multiple copies. When I try to delete one of the copies of the album and go back to itunes and try playing a song, I get a red exclamtion point next to the song with an error message saying itunes cannot locate file. My questions are, Does Itunes literally make a copy of the song? If so , How do you know which file to delete?

Sony's own entertainment software on the Vaio plays merry **** with iTunes, worse there's no telling when it will kick in.
First head over to the Sony Vaio site and get the update for the software, that will stop it from messing with the iTunes database/library files when you connect your iPod.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2715
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNP588EQ&updid=4526&osid=28
With that stopped you can add the music back without fear of this happening again.

HT4914 drag and drop file into itunes library

I am no longer able to drag and drop a song file on my Mac desktop into iTunes library..anyone know why?

JollyGeri, after I installed the 10.5.3 version a few days ago I began to have the same problem. The first time i used iTunes after the new install is when the problem of not being able toI manipulate my music by dragging and dropping began. My computer is a Mac and it appears you are using Windows Vista so the solution to my problem will likely be different than yours. I'll just mention that on a mac there is a program called disk utility and with that we mac users can have it repair permissions. After a second attempt yesterday to repair permissions I was able to move music by dragging and dropping as I previously could. However, when I opened itunes today and tried, the same problem was back. I've used the disk utility program to repair permissions again but so far the problem persists. I hope someone is able to help you with your situation. If there is a similar type of program on your windows pc, perhaps by repairing the disk permissions you may be able to get your problem solved. This is very frustrating and I believe there is something in the new version of iTunes that has caused this because I have not installed any other upgreades, etc. since downloading and installing the itunes upgrade. Good luck!

Is there a way to import a cd into itunes library unchecked by default?

I'm in the process of importing all of my cd's into itunes library, but I want the tunes unchecked in the library so they won't automatically update into my ipod. Right now I've got itunes set up to automatically import a cd I insert and then eject on complition. Then I have to open the library, find the songs, and uncheck them. Is there a way to automate the unchecking process? Thanks.

I don't know how to automate what you are doing however if it's all the songs in your library that are affected it's quite easy to check or uncheck them all at once without searching.
To check or uncheck all the songs in a list:
Control-click the checkbox next to a song.
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts: http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/windows/shortcuts/
Also, if for a period of time you don't want your iPod automatically updated while you are importing your CDs why not change the update option?
For info:
The iPod offers three ways to transfer music from your computer. You can select one of the following update modes from the iPod Preferences menu in iTunes (Edit=>Preferences=>'iPod' tab):
1) Automatically update all songs and playlists. This is the default mode, in which your entire music library, including playlists, is automatically synced to your iPod. If the music library on your computer exceeds the iPod storage capacity, you are prompted to select a different update method.
2) Automatically update selected playlists only. With this option, iTunes automatically copies the playlists you have selected to the iPod when you connect it to the computer.
3) Manually manage songs and playlists. You can also choose to transfer music to the iPod manually. This allows you to drag and drop individual songs and playlists from iTunes to the iPod.

A friend gave me a a number of playlists in a wma format. Can't import into itunes library or convert. Any suggestions?

A friend gave me a a number of playlists in a wma format. Can't import into itunes library or convert. Any suggestions?

Switch (free basic version) - http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html - I'm not sure if this will do WMA
All2MP3 - http://download.cnet.com/All2MP3/3000-2140_4-190407.html - mixed success with WMA
Flip4mac - need the intermediate payware version which lets you convert. Use with Quicktime player.Flip4Mac - http://dynamic.telestream.net/downloads/download-flip4macwmv.asp?prodid=flip4mac wmv - The free version will let Quicktime play but not convert Windows Media files.
After installation a new Flip4Mac pane will appear in System Preferences. Make sure you set the boxes to ensure that it will play WMV files in Quicktime.

I've noticed that CDs I've loaded into iTunes library play back at 24/96. Can these now be burned to a DVD without 3rd party software?

I've noticed that CDs loaded into iTunes library play back at 24/96. Can these now be burned to a DVD without 3rd party software?

iTunes does not burn DVDs, so you will have to use third-party software regardless of the format of the tracks.
Regards.

HT2729 Steps to transfer music from flash drive into iTunes library.

What are the steps to transfer music from a jump drive into iTunes library? I am not finding where to drag a song off my jump drive and onto my iPhone.

You can't drag it from a jump drive to your phone. You can drag it from a jump drive to iTunes on your computer then sync your iPhone.

Why can t i put songs from my iphone into itunes library

why can t i put songs from my iphone into itunes library???

You can, but it may require third party software. See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

Why after loading all music into Itunes library does it erase every song on there a few days later?

Why after loading all music into Itunes library does it erase every song on there a few days later?

Welcome to AD!
Your signature line shows you have a Sony. Vaio users worldwide are seeing this.
It's some Sony software conflicting with itunes.
Older topic on that:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9345281

Cassette tapes into the G5 for clean up

I would like to clean up some cassette tapes and have them in my itunes library. So I am wondering how to get the tracks into the computer. Then I would use Amadeus ($30) or what you guys recommend to clean them up for better fidelity. So the cassette player has a 2 plug output. How do you input to the G5 dual, get recognition, etc., and then go from there?
Thanks folks for any tips.
There is no garage band on this OS.

Here's one way to do it:
Run a mini-jack (1/8th) cable from the headphone output on your hi-fi or cassette player to the line-in on your iMac.
Go to System Preferences -> Sound and under Input select the Line In
Now you need software to record the Cassette: there many options - including Amadeus but I suggest the Open Source (as in Free) Audacity. You can download it from here:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Then record each album a side at a time. The wave-form editor makes it a cinch to edit the file into tracks. You can also ue it to clean them up. I suggest that you save as Aiff files, which are large, and if you wish you can convert them to mp3 or AAC with iTunes.
Regards
TD

Cassette Tape to itunes

I would like to put my old cassette tape collection into itunes and then burn CD and also add to my ipod .
Any suggestions on the best way to do this ?
R. Addis

Try http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/mac - it's free. I've used it to import a fair amount of vinyl & cassette into mp3 format. You can record the whole cassette and normalise the volume. If you have the patience you can also identify the extent of each track & export them one at a time, otherwise you can simply leave the tracks joined together as Side 1 or Side 2.
tt2

Can't import songs into itunes library...

For some reason it isn't working. I took a couple of songs off my ipod via ephpod and i tried opening them using the import function in itunes. I open it, but the songs aren't added into the library at all. Maybe it might be the file format? Anyone have anyway to convert the songs into the accepted format?

Yep,
I have been having the exact same problem now for over a year. First, it was like six hundred songs--wouldnt play on my ipod and then wouldnt add into my itunes library. It happened to correspond with an update of itunes and the ipod firmware. It has only gotten worse and now I am in fear of updating anything further. I have been looking for answers to this problem for a long time, if you happen to get an answer that works would you let me know about it too?
Thanks!

Cassette tapes into iTunes library

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