[Plant7575]

I tried searching for answers to this, but most of the topics were way over my head. This is all new to me, so I am starting from the beginning.

I have years of accumulated cassette tapes of music that I would like to transfer to CDs. I have an external CD burner at work, and we are ordering a new G5 imac for home, which comes with a CD/DVD burner. The stereo system and computer are too far apart to cable together, but I also have a G4 Powerbook (which can not burn CDs). I also have an external 100 Meg Zip drive that can be plugged into any of these computers.

What I want to do is hook the Powerbook up to the stereo, record the music onto the Powerbook HD, transfer the files to the new imac (via ZIP?), then burn them onto a CD.

Questions:
(1) What kind of cable do I need to transfer the music to the Powerbook?
(2) What software do I need to capture the music on the Powerbook?
(3) Will the music files fit on a 100 Meg ZIP, or is there some other way to transfer them from the Powerbook to the imac?
(4) Is there some better way to accomplish what I am trying to do?

[Amorya]

When you get the G5 iMac, it can be moved so easily that you won't need to use the Powerbook.

Music will fit on the zip disk if you use a few disks - seven per CD - or if you compress it with MP3 or AAC (which of course will reduce the quality marginally).

As for cables and software, you need a phono-to-minijack cable. Apple sell one, but don't get that 'cos it's expensive. It's the same sort of cable you'd use to plug a portable minidisc player into a hifi - ask at a hifi store and they'll point you to one.

Software, GarageBand can probably do it. If not, something like SoundStudio (search VersionTracker). Once the music is on the Mac, import it into iTunes and use that to make your CD.


Amorya

[Plant7575]

Originally posted by Amorya:
When you get the G5 iMac, it can be moved so easily that you won't need to use the Powerbook.

Music will fit on the zip disk if you use a few disks - seven per CD - or if you compress it with MP3 or AAC (which of course will reduce the quality marginally).

As for cables and software, you need a phono-to-minijack cable. Apple sell one, but don't get that 'cos it's expensive. It's the same sort of cable you'd use to plug a portable minidisc player into a hifi - ask at a hifi store and they'll point you to one.

Software, GarageBand can probably do it. If not, something like SoundStudio (search VersionTracker). Once the music is on the Mac, import it into iTunes and use that to make your CD.


Amorya

Thanks for the response.

Next question: I assume that the phono end of the phono to Minijack cable is what I have heard called standard RCA jacks -- the same thing that I hook all of my stereo components together with. But where does the minijack end go into the Powerbook G4? The ports that I have are: fire-wire, ethernet, 2 USB, video monitor (for external projectors), something called S (which I think is an older video format???) and phone jack for the modem. There is also a single headphone jack on the side. That's it.

I also currently have an imac G3. (This is the one that the new imac G5 will be replacing.) In addtion to the same USB, ethernet, modem and fire-wire ports, this computer has a microphone input and a single speaker output port on the side and two unidentified small connectors on the front -- look like two headphone jacks.

So where does the minijack input go?

[Amorya]

yeah, sorry - phono == RCA. I think RCA is the American term or something.

But where does the minijack end go into the Powerbook G4? The ports that I have are: fire-wire, ethernet, 2 USB, video monitor (for external projectors), something called S (which I think is an older video format???) and phone jack for the modem.

You've gotten hold of one of the powerbooks without audio input. You could either buy an imic, or you could wait for your G5, which will have built in audio input.

Your microphone port on the imac G3 would also take the minijack end of the cable.


Amorya

[Plant7575]

Originally posted by Amorya:
You've gotten hold of one of the powerbooks without audio input. You could either buy an imic, or you could wait for your G5, which will have built in audio input.

Amorya

Gee, that's a bummer. Macs are supposed to the best A/V machines. And this was the top-of-the line Powerbook when I bought it -- not the cheaper, plastic ibook -- or whatever they called it. Somebody missed the boat on this one.

The imic looks like a good deal, though. Thanks for the help.

[vanb8hoven]

i use Griffin's Imic. it's about $35. connects to your stereo and to the usb port on your mac. then i record the tapes or records using cd spin dr. (part of the bundled software with toast)
this has worked great for me. good luck!!!!