[mlundy57]

I need to transfer music from some cassette tapes to digital files. I have a JVC dual cassette deck stored in the closet from my analog days so this would be the source.

What sound card, software, method, etc. do you recommend for a high quality capture and what digital format?

I am going to make the assumption that using the sound card integrated on the motherboard is not a good idea. Is there such a thing as a sound card optimized for the input signal or does it not matter?

CDs are easy since the files are already digital, just load them in and rip into JRiver. Going from an analog tape is going to be more complicated.

Thanks,

Mike

[Phil A]

Here's one article - http://www.computershopper.com/software/howto/how-to-convert-lps-and-cassettes-to-cds-and-mp3s2

Never tried it.  I do have cassettes but they sit in a closet and a player that sits around.  Have not played one in years.

[barrows]

this really depends on how far you want to go.  If you feel you might be doing a lot of conversions of analog sources into digital files, and you want the best quality possible conversions, then you are going to want to invest in a high quality ADC.
For just two channel stuff, you probably cannot beat the Ayre QA-9 for this task, it will convert to DSD or high rate PCM for you, with superb (as good as it gets) quality, and connect to a computer via USB.
If you do not need the highest possible quality, there are boatloads of pro audio ADCs out there which will also interface to computer for recording the files.  Things like Motu, M Audio, etc.  Just go to one of the pro audio online stores to take a look at these ADCs.
Another option might be to split the cost of a good ADC like the Ayre with some other audiophiles and share the unit: there are many audiophiles these days interested in digitizing their LPs and analog tapes.

[mlundy57]

Phil and barrows,

Thanks for the input. The Ayre is way out of my league. Besides, once I get the tapes converted I would probably never use it again. I might keep an eye out for a used one then resell it once I've converted the tapes. In the mean time I might try this Behringer unit http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UFO202.aspx

When I tried searching for analog to digital converters I could only find inexpensive low end units ($30 for the Behringer UFO202) or $2,000+, nothing in-between.  Now that is strange.

Mike

[Phil A]

Phil and barrows,

Thanks for the input. The Ayre is way out of my league. Besides, once I get the tapes converted I would probably never use it again. I might keep an eye out for a used one then resell it once I've converted the tapes. In the mean time I might try this Behringer unit http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UFO202.aspx

When I tried searching for analog to digital converters I could only find inexpensive low end units ($30 for the Behringer UFO202) or $2,000+, nothing in-between.  Now that is strange.

Mike

There's all kinds of units and price points - here are a few:

http://www.markertek.com/product/ses-a-to-d/sescom-ses-a-to-d-analog-to-digital-audio-converter
http://www.markertek.com/product/kan-aua2dcv/kanexpro-aua2dcv-analog-to-digital-audio-converter-stereo-audio-to-s-pdif-or-toslink
http://www.markertek.com/product/hr-adc1/rdl-hr-adc1-analog-to-digital-audio-converter

[mlundy57]

There's all kinds of units and price points - here are a few:

http://www.markertek.com/product/ses-a-to-d/sescom-ses-a-to-d-analog-to-digital-audio-converter
http://www.markertek.com/product/kan-aua2dcv/kanexpro-aua2dcv-analog-to-digital-audio-converter-stereo-audio-to-s-pdif-or-toslink
http://www.markertek.com/product/hr-adc1/rdl-hr-adc1-analog-to-digital-audio-converter

Phil,

I saw a lot like the first two but they do not have USB outputs so I don't see how I would get the signal into the computer to create the digital file.

The last one looks promising. I am going to have to study it more, as well as what all I'm going to have to learn to make the transfer.

I'm about the farthest thing from a recording engineer you could possibly think of. I can make a copy of a cassette tape in the dual tape deck or rip a CD into the computer but it looks like I'm going to have to learn a whole new skill set to transfer the cassettes to digital files with any degree of precision.

Thanks,

Mike

upon further investigation, it does not appear the RDL unit has a USB output either.

Mike

[Phil A]

Mike - they would be suitable for use with a DAC I would guess.  I am not sure if you own one or can borrow one.  Years back I bought an ION VHS to USB thing on woot.com (for $29.99 with $5 shipping).  It basically is meant to transfer VHS to DVD and has a USB out but it does have audio (only mono I believe and video inputs on the front so you can transfer other sources).  I gave away an outboard DVD Recorder before a move a bit over a year ago.  I used the thing a couple of months back to create a file (it is compatible with Windows XP and I don't have a DVD drive so I had to create the file and then transfer it to a newer PC).  Not sure if they make ones with stereo inputs.

[Phil A]

I also have an MAudio 192 Sound Card on my newer PC which has coax digital in and out so I would guess with one of those devices I suggested it may be possible to capture the digital into the sound card.

[Phil A]

I am not sure of the quality of the MP3 in this (may be low - did not look into it but the ION device is like my VHS machine) - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=544917&gclid=CIiJ2qrNwsQCFWYV7AodZi0AKQ&Q=&is=REG&A=details

[Phil A]

Here's a video review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZF4xcM5Hew

[Phil A]

There's other ways to do it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxwwqRwQI10

[srb]

I've used the 16-bit/48KHz Behringer UFO202 and it did a pretty good job considering it's price.

From there at > 10 times the price you could look at the 24/192 Furutech/ADL GT40a ($529) (or if you can find one, the older 24/96 GT40 for less).

I used the free open source Audacity and used the Noise Reduction effect which lets you sample the tape hiss noise on a blank or lead-in portion of the tape and apply it to the whole recording, followed by equalization if necessary.

Steve

[mlundy57]

Phil,

Currently I do not have a separate sound card for any of my computers, just what comes integrated on the motherboard (the green stereo 3.5mm jack). This is true even on the Xeon based Windows 7 Pro workstation I use as a music server since I bypass the sound cards by using external USB DACs for playback.

Also, I am not interested in MP3's. Redbook CD FLAC is the lowest quality file I have in my digital music collection, at least half of which is either 24bit or DSD.

I am open to installing a separate sound card in one of my computers. I have no idea which ones would be good inputting signals to the PC.  The only candidates I was aware of was the ASUS Xonar Essence STX or a Sound Blaster ZxR. I'll look at the MAudio 192 sound card.

The Sound Blaster ZxR comes with a separate input card (that connects to the main PCiE output card) that has both analog and optical digital inputs. This looks like it solves the problem and would not need an external analog to digital converter since it has analog inputs and comes with recording software. However, this seems to be wasteful since I'm not interested in the output capabilities.

Are there any other sound cards I should consider for input?

Mike

[Vincent Kars]

Your best bet is probably the typical pro-brands like RME, Focusrite, Metric, etc.
They offer AD converters with USB interfaces
A couple of examples can be found on my website: http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/Vinyl.htm

The big question of course is the quality of your cassette, if it is poor a simple device like the Behringer UCA202 will do

[BobM]

Now I have nothing against cassettes. I have many that I play once in a while on my portable Walkman on the way to work. I love the music I have saved there, but the sound has deteriorated so much I just can't play them on my main rig.

You may want to rethink that transfer if the sound isn't great, and just pony up for a CD if you can find it.

[Russell Dawkins]

I think with cassettes, the weak link tends to be the player, and the main weakness is the wow and particularly the flutter. This reveals itself most on held piano notes and the like, since piano can have no vibrato (up and down pitch variation). Bottom line to me is the quality of the player completely trumps A/D conversion quality. I'd rent a top grade player for a couple of days and prepare to do nothing else for the duration!
A case of beer and a few good videos or books might also be part of the equation, since this is perforce a "real time" operation.

[Russell Dawkins]

double post deleted.

[Phil A]

I don't even have my cassette deck hooked up.  Have an old Onkyo and a DBX224.  Many of the cassettes I had were made from MoFi or other similar quality albums that I recorded the first or second play with a Nakamichi 680 deck.  If I did hook it up (last time I did was several years ago except for transferring a song on cassette that I wrote onto an outboard CD recorder before I moved and gave the recorder away about 18 months back and I just watched the levels and did not even listen), if there was music I liked and did not have on CD or higher rez discs, I'd probably just spring for the disc or download.

[dB Cooper]

IMHO, considering a cassette tape origin, anything over the price of the Behringer unit mentioned (I still have a UCA202 around here somewhere) is a waste of money. You're talking about a source that has about a ten bit (if you're lucky) dynamic range and, in the real world, useful output to maybe 12kHz (again, if you're lucky). My UCA202 will output 16 bit at up to 48 kHz sample rate (more than enough). For music not otherwise obtainable (such as my 'NPR Jazz Night At Las Vegas' tapes made in the 70's), I'll put up with the shortcomings if the music is good enough; otherwise I concur with the advice that a CD (or probably even a lossy digitally mastered download) will yield a much higher quality result.

[Phil A]

If you want something cheap there always is stuff like (they have other software too) - http://www.dak.com/reviews/2050story.cfm

It's probably about 7-8 years since I really listened to one of my cassettes.  I had it set-up in my old house in the basement system.  Listened to several songs and it sounded OK but it was more of a confirmation that what I once thought was great sound is not by today's standards.  I had an outboard CD recorder (Pioneer Elite) at the time but just concluded after listening that for the 60 or so (give or take) cassettes I had to just consider buying stuff I liked on disc.