Converting cassette tapes to digital format

Here's some information for anyone who wants to digitize music from vinyl, cassette or any other analog device with RCA outputs.
The Alesis phono link RCA to USB adapter has finally become available. This device digitizes analog input from a cassette player or turntable and uses a USB connection to your Mac for input of the digital audio. GarageBand works well with this device.
Information about the Alesis phono link adapter is here.
It's available from B&H in NYC.

I did a search on this but was unable to find anything.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1015944
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1284669
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1557705
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1161010
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1809629

Similar Messages

  • Problem converting cassette tape to digital

    Hi.  I’m looking to convert a cassette tape to digital using my iMac, a Walkman,  a male/male 3.5mm-plug cable, and Audacity.  I hooked the cable up to the iMac’s line in / mic jack and the Walkman’s headphone jack, set Audacity’s input to “Built-in Input” and hit “Play” on the Walkman.  Nothing.
    I know the Walkman is working because I can hear the sound through headphones.  I went through these troubleshooting steps:
    1. Tested the iMac’s line in / mic jack with a microphone.  Good signal.
    2. Opened System Preferences, Sound, set the input to “Line In” and played the Walkman.  No signal picked up there, either, so the problem doesn’t seem to be the settings in Audacity.
    3. Tried everything using my iPhone instead of the Walkman.  No signal picked up, so the problem doesn’t seem to be with the Walkman.
    Other than a bad cable (it worked last time I used it, less than a year ago), anyone have any ideas about what could be going wrong?
    Thanks.

    Never mind -- problem solved.  All I had to do was turn up the volume on the Walkman.  It never occured to me that it could be too low, since it was at a comfortable level when listening with earbuds.  But that was it.

  • Converting VHS tapes to Digital format to burn on DVD

    Hi folks...
    I did a search on this but was unable to find anything. So maybe some of you can help me out.
    I have a number of VHS tapes that I want to get onto DVD. I do not want to spend hundreds of dollars though. Are there any in-expensive way of doing so??
    Thanks

    I did a search on this but was unable to find anything.
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1015944
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1284669
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1557705
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1161010
    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1809629

  • How to convert cassette tape to macbook pro

    hi
    i have a 2009 macbook pro and want to convert cassette tape of me giving a lecture to cd so I don't lose it. the cassette is 35 years old and still works well. my mbp does only has a headphone out jack outlet, not anything for input so I can't see how to connect a cassette player.
    any info very wanted and welcome - with thanks

    Probably has a combo port.
    ⌥ > System Profiler…
    (ie, hold down Option and choose System Profiler… from the  menu) and post what you get for Hardware Overview > Model Identifier. That will tell us exactly what machine you have. Or you can find out the specs for yourself in Mactracker
    <mactracker.ca>
    You should also check the user guide which came with your machine.
    My guess would be that you can connect your tape player with a 3.5 mm analogue jack and switch to input.
    As for the rest, if you search the forum you'll find several threads about digitising audio tapes.

  • Converting record albums to digital format and importing to iTunes

    I'm trying to convert record albums to digital format using a USB turntable and import the tracks to iTunes.  I have upgraded to the latest versions of software for the turntable and iTunes (10.5), but keep getting a message "unable to export to iTunes."  When iTunes opens up, it indicates that it is converting a temp file (e.g., temp6) rather than the individual tracks. 
    Confession:  I did something really dumb that may well have contributed to my problem.  The first time I started using the turntable, I recorded the album side; typed in the artist, album, and names of individual tracks; and clicked on the button to begin the export to iTunes.  When the iTunes windows opened up, things seemed to be working well.  I could see the individual tracks listed as they were being converted.  Then, a popup screen came up asking if I wanted to upgrade to the latest version of iTunes (I didn't have the 10.5 version at the time).  I temporarily lost control of my body (and mind) and clicked on yes.  This halted the conversion in process and I have never been able to get things working again, despite uninstalling and then reinstalling both the turntable software and iTunes software (including iTunes, Quicktime, Apple Software Update, Apple Mobile Device Support, Bonjour, and Apple Application Support).
    I would really appreciate some help with this!

    Do not use the "export to..." feature.  Let the conversion program create a file in an iTunes compatible format (such as WAV, AAC, or MP3) and then add that file to iTunes.

  • Convert Cassette Tapes to MP3's / CD's

    I have about 200 tapes that I'm looking to convert into MP3's to ultimately burn to DVD's. I have an 2008 MP as well as a cassette player with an optical and analog line out. What's the best way to go about converting these tapes into a digital format? I would ultimately like to get each song on the cassette onto its own MP3 file, but I am fine with just having each tape as a single file. Any help is appreciated.

    Well, as you can see by my equipment profile, I don't have a Mac Pro (yet), so unfortunately I can't speak to the quality level of the Mac Pro sound input. Either someone else will have to chime in or you could just give it a shot before buying the iMic. You may well get perfectly acceptable results just plugging straight into the MP's input.
    The iMic is not a powered input; it's basically a conduit with, from what I understand, RIAA specs built into it which should offer better input than the Mac's input. AFAIK, most cassette decks require amplification for proper audio, so yours probably needs an amp inbetween the deck and the Mac/iMic in order to get the signal up to Line level.
    Note that the iMic has a short cord, about 18 inches, and the cable feels a little more delicate than I'd like, so if you're going to use it, be sure it's in a place that's not going to be trafficked (sp?) at all. I don't use mine often, but I've never had a problem with it. (I bought mine because my headphone jack got damaged, and USB audio output from my mac was the only viable option. I've only recorded Vinyl LP using it, but testing mine through my G4's audio in vs. the iMic, the iMic gave me a significantly better recording.)
    BTW, you should also check out other freeware/shareware apps for recording and editing. For example, some swear by Audacity and some simply use GarageBand if they already have iLife. I think the bottom line is that you should try your recordings in the cheapest possible fashion and see if the quality is ok with you, then buy iMic & software if you feel it's warranted.

  • Converting Cassette Tapes To AIFF

    Hello all,
    I am converting my Fathers cassette tape collection to AIFF, and then to MP3 for his ipod, and am trying to retain the highest sound quality I can.
    My set up is I have a Marantz PMD 201, with a live feed into my imac. I play the tapes in real time, while Soundtrack Pro records them in AIFF and puts them into itunes. Some of the tapes are a little stretched making the voices a little too high, is there any filter that would assist in unstretching parts of the cassettes?
    Also what filter would be recommend to take out the background buzz? I have played around with a lot of different things but it seems there should be something better out thereAs always thanks for any feedback.

    Hi JArmeanio:
    If your tapes are physically stretched, the audio inconsistency will be hard to determine as the magnetic medium will be pulled across the heads in an unpredictable way; drop outs, deterioration, etc. will be evident only to you in the digital audio performance of the resulting transferred files. If the tape sounds sped up - due to old cassette player tape speed issues - either check to see if there is a tape speed adjustment knob on the MArantz, or use the very handy re-size/re-tempo features in STP.
    Likewise - for hums, unwanted 60cycle or other consistent tones interfering with your files, i cant stress enough the magic of editing the frequency spectrum of an audio file. IT IS A FEATURE MANY STP USERS ARE NOT AWARE OF. It is easy to do:
    ... in the audio file editor window, select the upper right tool in the window to show the frequency spectrum display instead of the wave form.
    Right click the left grey area of the window outside the audio file (where the frequency graph is) and select"logarithmic" view - then right click on the file itself and select "show spectrum controls" - use the minimum and maximum frequency controls to highlight your buzz - which will be visibly obvious.
    then select the frequency select tool - right next to the arrow in the upper left window of the file editor (NOT at the top of the session, which contains a different set of similar tools) - once you click on the frequency select tool, you will get a cross hair tool in the audio window. If you use that to narrow in on the visual line of the buzz, highlight it, and then delete those frequencies - you will be amazed at how clean it will sound. Its magic!
    http://www.lynda.com/ provides wonderful tutorials - and can be accessed free for a time, in demo mode. Good luck! Sounds like a bit of a painful transfer!

  • Any way to use standard VHS deck to convert VHS tape to digital file (iMac)

    I use FCE/iMovie. I've had old 8mm films converted to digital files to make family movies - very costly. Is there a way to use a standard VHS deck as a source with my newer iMac to convert old VHS tapes to digital files for editing?

    I purhcased the Canopus 55 - it is working well. You can't preview in iMovie, though, which is a challenge and was a comment in reviews on Canopus 55. I did buy the power source with it based on reviews.
    However, I am posting a question about iMovie 08 which has quit making thumbnails & writing the video even though the import screen appears to import.

  • Convert vcr tapes to digital?

    I have boxes of older, personal VCRs I want to put in digital format.
    I've been trying to use Elgato Video Capture, but it either crashes or just stops recording at random points, making it all but useless.  I've spent hours working with their tech support over a couple of months, but with no results.
    Someone told me that I might be able to get some sort of digital conversion device to pull in output via USB or FireWire on my MacBook Pro, and then use iMovie to capture and save the input on my HD....
    Can anyone recommend a device for this?  (Or even an alternative to Elgato Video Capture that is more likely to work?)   The final product does not need to be in the highest quality - just reasonable audio/video quality.
    Thanks
    Mark

    If you use iMovie to do the digitizing (and you could use other apps, it's the iMovie Discussion Group, so I'm using that as an example) you open the Import from camera. The Video digitizing device you use will be considered a 'camera' in this context. When you capture video it will ask you 'where do you want to save this stuff'. At that point if you have already have the hard drive attached and have recognized it in iMovie and also gone to the View Menu > Group Events by Disk, then your external hd (whatever it is) will be recognized as a legitimate place to store Events AS THEY ARE DIGITIZED. This is a function of iMovie, not the Mac OS or the digitizing hardware you decide to purchase. So take what the Apple sales folks and Best Buy sales folks have told you and also consider they aren't using iMovie as regularly as participants in this Discussion Group.
    Also know this, your Video Tape will playback from your VCR in Real Time (meaning 2 hours of tape material will take 2 hours to playback and subsequently 2 hours to digitize as it playsback). That is the limiting factor in ALL of this. You can digitize faster than the tapes will play back. So hard drive speed only comes into play when your moving stuff AROUND (internal <-> external). If you are digitizing straight to External HD you don't have to move anything at all. So maybe neither the hard drive nor the Mac processor speed will make any difference in this case. Save some more money, and buy more medium quality, medium speed hard drives as opposed to a Thunderbolt SSD?! Some more things to consider I guess.

  • Scanner to convert 35mm slides to digital format

    Can anyone recommended a reasonably priced scanner to convert slides to digital format?

    Check out the Canon CanoScan 9000F.  It's awsome!

  • How can i convert cassette tapes to a disc

    i want to convert a cassette to my mac and then onto a disc.  How do I do that?

    If you are using the new slimline iMacs, you will need to use a USB audio interface box that includes  stereo inputs to connect the tape deck to.
    Google's your friend.
    Do a search for USB audio interface boxes.
    For audio cables, you may need to use RCA style cables with RCA to 1/4" line level in audio adapter connectors OR 1/4" line level audio cable with 1/4" to RCA audio adapter connectors. This depends on whether the USB audio input interface box has stereo inputs that are for either 1/4 " line level connections or for RCA line level connections OR the USB interface box may have both style of audio inputs.
    I use a FireWire (instead of USB) audio interface box (with lots of different types of audio inputs and output) made by m-audio and both the free, open source  digital audio application called Audacity OR for more serious audio work, I, typically, use Apple Logic Express for most of my.own audio work.
    Audacity works great for many types of audio recording and processing.

  • Problem converting cassette tape to digi

    ?I tried to use the software that came with my Creative MuVo player to convert some songs on audio cassette to WMA files, but when I tried to play them on the MuVo the volume was so low I could barely hear, even with the player volume on max. The recording level was set on max. What am I doing wrong?

    Well you shouldn't connect a audio ouput of a device to the mic i on your computer, as the mic input designed for low voltage input. You should be able to connect the audio out (headphone jack) out of your cassette recording to the line in jack on your computer.
    Then adjust the volume out on the cassette recording should allow you to find a happy medium where you aren't over driving the the line input, and aren't getting distortion.
    The adjust the line in volume control in your computer mixer settings to get the volume up as high as you want it to be.
    When you are done recording your music, if the volume in the recording is still low there are more then a few open source wave editors that can adjust the volume after the fact. I have Nero *ultra edition) that not ony is great software for burning digital music to cd's it comes with a great wave editor application that has great features to ease the recording of music from cassette or LP.
    As well as splitting them up and cleaning up the audio, volume etc.

  • Converting cassette recordings to digital via GB - distortion problems

    I have been converting audio cassettes to iTunes via GB using the ADS Tech Instant Music box. Has worked well but has been increasingly temperamental.
    The device shows up in System Preferences/Sound/Input as USB Audio Codec but does not allow for any adjustment of the input level. And I think this is the problem - does not enable me to adjust louder recordings?
    Can I solve this? Do I need an additional line or device on the ADS Tech contraption?
    Any advice gratefully received.

    Also make sure before you share from GB to iTunes that in GB Prefs>Advanced you uncheck Auto Normalize. It can bring down the levels. Your export to iTunes should sound identical to the way it sounds in GB.
    Message was edited by: p o'flynn

  • Convert vcr movie to digital format to transfer to I-Movie

    I do have a working Canon camcorder (ZR50) that I would like to transfer a VCR tape to so I can then export to my MAC (OS10).
    I also have some older 8mm tapes that I also would like to transfer ti I-Movie.
    Any suggestions?
    Thank's
    Ralph

    Please confirm that you are running the very old Panther OS 10.3 on a G4 PPC Mac.

  • Convert VHS tape to a DVD format??

    How do I save my family home movies (VHS) to a DVD?
    In broad terms what hardware and software could make this possible?

    Ron,
    Welcome to the discussions!
    The first step is to convert the analog video on the VHS to a digital format (DV) that iMovie can understand.
    Some miniDV cameras allow you to do this using a pass through function. You hook up a VHS deck to the camera and hook the camera up to your computer. The camera then takes the analog signal and converts it and passes it along to your computer and iMovie.
    Alternatively, you can purchase a digital to analog converter. This would make it a bit easier if you have a lot of tapes to convert.
    Some examples:
    http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ADVC110/pm_advc110.asp
    http://www.miglia.com/products/video/director2/index.html
    Matt

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