[rockadanny]

My wife has some recordings on cassettes (10 tapes) which are not on CD. Looking for a way to get them onto CD.

[sfox7076]

http://www.tapetocd.us/

[JLM]

Keep in mind that cassette only sound good on the machines they were recorded on.  I had that problem with a very good Nak 700 versus on cheap players (which I expected) but also on a Nak 1000 (electrically identical to the Nak 700).

[Phil A]

I used to have a Pioneer Elite CD Recorder which made it easy (gave it away a couple of years back).  If you're not looking for quality then there is stuff like - http://www.walmart.com/ip/25246464?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227017991039&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40344643712&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78310070552&veh=sem

[rockadanny]

At $16 / tape ... hmm ...
Sound quality not too awful important, as long as it is satisfactory.
Interesting info and sources. Thank you.

[Phil A]

I probably should have looked at my cassette tapes a few years back (I probably have about 35-45 which were made from audiophile records which are sitting in a closet and probably most were made from nice cassette decks - I owned a Nakamichi 680 at one point) before I gave away my (Pioneer Elite) CD recorder but I used it just twice over the last 5 or so years I owned it (being it is so easy to make a CD on the computer) and once was for one song I had on a cassette (which I wrote).  I don't even have my cassette deck hooked up now (but I could as I have an old VHS recorder sitting on a shelf in one sitting not hooked up so I don't have a shelf with nothing on it).  I'm probably due for another PC in the near future (not that there is anything wrong with my current one) and may look at sound card options.  The other thing one can do I suppose is if they have a cassette deck and a stereo minijack input on the PC.

[Mag]

My wife has some recordings on cassettes (10 tapes) which are not on CD. Looking for a way to get them onto CD.

I could do that, but that could take at least 10 hours. I have a Nakamichi in storage and have a professional cd recorder. I can also re-master it if the music is any good, but you'll probably hear the tape hiss.

[Russell Dawkins]

http://www.tapetocd.us/

$16 per tape is a very good price—hiss removal, too. I'm able to do this, but I couldn't touch it for that price.

To get a good playback of cassettes recorded on other decks, adjustable azimuth is invaluable, as that's the most significant variable between decks. Most decks, even Nakamichis, come from the factory needing adjustment. I know. A friend works in a high end shop and they used to offer this service free with the purchase of any Nakamichi, and most were out of adjustment. It is easy to hear when azimuth is correct on headphones with most material.

[JLM]

Yes, my Nak had head alinement, bias, and azimuth adjustments that it was recommended to be made prior to recording.  Cheap CDP (circa 1977) did not use Dolby properly (basically it acted simply as a high frequency filter) and car decks didn't use it at all, so none of the recordings I made for that use (I knew better and tried to warn before hand) sounded any good.  But it disturbed me greatly when my recordings wouldn't play properly on a another Nak of the the exact same design. 

That's when i was told cassette recordings only worked properly on the same machine they were recorded on.  (This may only apply to better machines, as poorly quality machines couldn't differentiate.)

[Phil A]

That's when i was told cassette recordings only worked properly on the same machine they were recorded on.  (This may only apply to better machines, as poorly quality machines couldn't differentiate.)

That was my understanding.  When I had the Nakamichi 680, I had a second deck pretty much all the time.  That's the other reason I have not rushed to transfer my cassettes to CD, although at some point I may look into it as I do have (or had as I have not played one of those recordings in about a half dozen years) some nice recordings.

[Russell Dawkins]

It may be worth mentioning that adjustment of the azimuth (lateral head alignment) can be made quite easily, even on most decks that do not have azimuth adjustment knobs. It usually involves detaching the cover over the cassette door and using a jewelers screwdriver to turn the appropriate screw holding the head while a tape representative of the azimuth you will be dealing with is playing, and listening on headphones to the result. The sound snaps into focus quite nicely when the right azimuth is found. Most cassettes from big name labels come with correct azimuth, by the way.

[rockadanny]

Found this on youtube which shows how to do this with cassette player, double ended stereo mini-jack, and laptop (using MS Sound Recorder or Audacity software). Think I might see if I can get ahold of a player and try this myself. If it sounds too crappy I might try the $16/tape service and only do maybe 4 or 5 tapes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxwwqRwQI10

Thanks for the suggestions peeps! 

[Phil A]

Found this on youtube which shows how to do this with cassette player, double ended stereo mini-jack, and laptop (using MS Sound Recorder or Audacity software). Think I might see if I can get ahold of a player and try this myself. If it sounds too crappy I might try the $16/tape service and only do maybe 4 or 5 tapes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxwwqRwQI10

Thanks for the suggestions peeps! 

That's what I mentioned a few posts back.  "The other thing one can do I suppose is if they have a cassette deck and a stereo minijack input on the PC."

[rockadanny]

Doh! Sorry Phil    Must have skipped over that.

[SteveFord]

I always used a CD burner; my old Hhb has been slowly turning itself into a player only so I'll be looking at a Tascam as a replacement sooner or later.

[FullRangeMan]

My wife has some recordings on cassettes (10 tapes) which are not on CD. Looking for a way to get them onto CD.

We are on 2015, as cassete tapes are made w/ferrous dioxide oxidation may ruined these recordings.

[rockadanny]

Yes, thank you FRM, that is what I fear will (or already has) happen. I will try to borrow a deck and see if I can record these to CD myself, if they are not yet ruined.