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SimeyTheLimey · Oct 28, 2002, 03:12 PM

I have a bunch of class review tapes on cassette. They are usuful to listen to, but I hate mucking about with cassettes. The problem is they are not available on CD.

Is there any way I can load them on my mac and then burn them onto CDs?

scaught · Oct 28, 2002, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
I have a bunch of class review tapes on cassette. They are usuful to listen to, but I hate mucking about with cassettes. The problem is they are not available on CD.

Is there any way I can load them on my mac and then burn them onto CDs?

you can do it the same way one would do it with a record.

you need either a mac with an audio-in jack or a griffin imic type audio input and some sort of audio capture software (i like www.felttip.com/soundstudio )

cassette player into audio-in.
record with soundstudio (or audio capture program of your liking)
burn to CD.

starman · Oct 28, 2002, 03:19 PM

Just remember that you can't have the volume too low (hiss) or too high (overmodulation).

Mike

PorscheBunny · Oct 28, 2002, 03:22 PM

SimpleSound works quite well for audio-capture, but I don't think there is an OSX version of it.

SimeyTheLimey · Oct 28, 2002, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by scaught:

you can do it the same way one would do it with a record.

you need either a mac with an audio-in jack or a griffin imic type audio input and some sort of audio capture software (i like www.felttip.com/soundstudio )

cassette player into audio-in.
record with soundstudio (or audio capture program of your liking)
burn to CD.

This sounds pretty good. Apparently I can then burn the CDs using iTunes.

Thanks!

I assume my Quicksilver has the audio-in jack. I've never looked.

raskol · Oct 28, 2002, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:

This sounds pretty good. Apparently I can then burn the CDs using iTunes.

Thanks!

I assume my Quicksilver has the audio-in jack. I've never looked.

No your Quicksilver does not have the audio-in jack that is the problem. You have to buy a Griffen iMic. Unless you have the MDD model (they finally put the jack back on.

)

SimeyTheLimey · Oct 28, 2002, 03:33 PM

Originally posted by raskol:

No your Quicksilver does not have the audio-in jack that is the problem. You have to buy a Griffen iMic. Unless you have the MDD model (they finally put the jack back on. )

Grrr!

That's an odd oversight. Was there a good reason not to have a 50 cent jack on the computer?

Thanks.

raskol · Oct 28, 2002, 03:36 PM

I am sure they had some reason but I don't care what it was cause I want the damn thing back! I sold my Powerbook and got a tower and suddenly couldn't use my TV tuner anymore.

zigzag · Oct 28, 2002, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:

This sounds pretty good. Apparently I can then burn the CDs using iTunes.

Thanks!

I assume my Quicksilver has the audio-in jack. I've never looked.

What kind of cassette machine are you using? If it has a mini-plug output, then all you need is a miniplug-to-miniplug cable from the cassette machine into the Mac (or iMic).

If you're using a stereo cassette deck, you'll need an dual-RCA-to-miniplug converter to go from the cassette deck to the Mac (or iMic). However, if you don't care about stereo, you just need to convert one of the RCA inputs to a mini-jack. You can get converters at Radio Shack for a few bucks.

If you have SimpleSound (check apps/utilities in OS 9 if you have OS 9 on your machine - it used to come standard), that will do for voice recordings. Otherwise, like scaught said, you'll need audio input software. I think that in addition to felttip, a few simple, freeware ones can be found at versiontracker.com.

PorscheBunny · Oct 28, 2002, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by zigzag:
If you have SimpleSound (check apps/utilities in OS 9 if you have OS 9 on your machine - it used to come standard), that will do for voice recordings. Otherwise, like scaught said, you'll need audio input software. I think that in addition to felttip, a few simple, freeware ones can be found at versiontracker.com.

I've transferred my entire cassette collection using SimpleSound. iTunes can rip the output file to .mp3 just fine.

You do need something to get the sound into the machine, and the built-in microphone won't cut it.

ReggieX · Oct 28, 2002, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by PorscheBunny:
You do need something to get the sound into the machine, and the built-in microphone won't cut it.

You mean not using a PlainTalk mic, or the line-in jack on the back? I use the line-in for doing LPs from my stereo all the time, and it works fine.

Gene Jockey · Oct 28, 2002, 05:02 PM

I put a few of my cassettes on CD using my G3 desktop and Sound Studio and the built-in mic, but it was a pain getting rid of a ground-loop I had. I assume you don't get those with USB mics?

Oh, and Simey, if you want the best sound quality, record to AIFF, edit that way and burn the CD using the uncompressed file. Then rip the completed CD into iTunes. That way your CD will sound a little better...

--Josh

scaught · Oct 28, 2002, 05:34 PM

i liked the felttip soundstudio cause it gives you a "soundwave" view type thing where you can easily edit the beginning and end of tracks.

an imic is a pretty good purchase anyways. i dont have all the technicals to explain it, but i think the USB audio input/output of the imic is better than an internal method because of less electrical interference...or something.

Demonhood · Oct 28, 2002, 05:59 PM

moving to digital video/audio.

zigzag · Oct 28, 2002, 07:40 PM

Originally posted by scaught:
i liked the felttip soundstudio cause it gives you a "soundwave" view type thing where you can easily edit the beginning and end of tracks.

Yeah, I agree that it's more versatile for music. For simple voice recording (or basic music transfers), I think SimpleSound would do.

an imic is a pretty good purchase anyways. i dont have all the technicals to explain it, but i think the USB audio input/output of the imic is better than an internal method because of less electrical interference...or something.

I've seen debates on this. Some feel that the analog audio-in is more natural sounding but more vulnerable to noise, while others feel that USB is not as natural-sounding but is less vulnerable to noise. Some are also concerned that the iMic's frequency range is too limited (although I don't expect that this would matter with mp3's). Obviously, for an ordinary voice recording, either method would do fine. Even with music, I suspect that most people wouldn't notice any difference.

Griffin just introduced an OSX app that allows you to record LP's through the iMic without a phono preamp/receiver. In other words, you can hook your turntable directly into the iMic, and the software takes care of the RIAA EQ. Nice idea if it works.

scaught · Oct 28, 2002, 07:54 PM

i downloaded that app and had a look at it..

nothing much to see yet, and hardly holds a candle to my soundstudio, but theyre supposed to be making some improvements (like a visible waveform for editting and whatnot). the price is certainly good (no $), and getting a piece of software to use with the peripheral you purchased is a good thing.

SimeyTheLimey · Oct 28, 2002, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by Demonhood:
moving to digital video/audio.

Wow! I didn't even notice that this forum existed. Sorry about that.

PorscheBunny · Oct 28, 2002, 08:42 PM

Originally posted by ReggieX:
You mean not using a PlainTalk mic, or the line-in jack on the back? I use the line-in for doing LPs from my stereo all the time, and it works fine.

Use the line-in jack.

zigzag · Oct 28, 2002, 11:21 PM

Originally posted by scaught:
i downloaded that app and had a look at it..

nothing much to see yet, and hardly holds a candle to my soundstudio, but theyre supposed to be making some improvements (like a visible waveform for editting and whatnot). the price is certainly good (no $), and getting a piece of software to use with the peripheral you purchased is a good thing.

I've been using CD Spin Doctor, which comes with Toast Platinum and has plenty of editing features for my needs (digitizing LPs). But it requires me to use my receiver, which is hooked up to my turntable and a billion other components in another part of the house. It would be nice to be able to hook my turntable directly to my Mac in my office, so I'm hoping this new iMic software works out.

Of course, for $25 bucks I could buy a little phono pre-amp at Radio Shack, but I'd rather shell out for the iMic.

buddhabelly · Oct 29, 2002, 12:19 AM

As far as software goes, if you want a cheap (free) audio capture, I'd look at Audacity. It works w/ OS X and is free. Has VST support, though I can't imagine you need that here. It's a good app. Find it here:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/

or I'm sure you could search versiontracker.

red rocket · Oct 29, 2002, 03:20 AM

As for capturing software, I've been using a little freeware app called Audio In (on versiontracker). Highly recommended. It only captures to .aiff but, as has been said b4, you can convert it w/ iTunes. I've also been using Audacity for adding fades and such.