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Cassette to Digital

C

content

Guest
I'm trying to convert some old cassette airchecks to a digital platform (CDR, Windows Media Player, iTunes, or Adobe Audition are available on my computer).

I've purchased an RCA connector which will connect my cassette deck to the Audio In on my PC. I've confirmed Source audio is playing, but can not hear sound in my speakers, and can not access audio through adobe audition.

Can anyone give me any tips on how to proceed?

Thank you, if you can help.
 
Use the Volume Control app in Start->All Programs->Accessories->Entertainment->Volume control. Make sure that Line In and Mic are not muted and are potted up. If you don't see these inputs, go to options->properties and tick the box for those inputs.

Then switch to recording mode in the Preferences Box, and select the appropriate input (probably line in) and make sure it has volume.

The first will make it play through your speakers, the second is for AA.
 
PTBoardOp94 said:
Then switch to recording mode in the Preferences Box, and select the appropriate input (probably line in) and make sure it has volume.

The first will make it play through your speakers, the second is for AA.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your help! I confirmed that the Line in and Mic are not muted, and they are potted up. Where would I find the Preferences Box? I did not see this when performing the previous step.

(Also, I tried plugging cassette audio into the microphone input in my speaker, as well as the computer. When I plug it into the speaker, I hear audio, but can not route signal to AA)

Thanks again.
 
Double check that you have audio out by playing something from the PC to the speakers (say from Windows Media Player). That will confirm that audio out is working.

Next for audio in. Asuming that you hear some small audio level from the microphone input, means one of two things. First that maybe the cassette audio output level is low, or second, that the record master is still off. The boxes on the mixer run backward for record if I remember correctly. To enable the input you have to uncheck the box.

Are you coming out the cassette preamp output or speaker output? You need to come out the preamp out if you have been using the speaker outputs. I also assume you are using an RCA output on the cassette to 3.5 stereo input on the soundcard. If it is a commercial cable, then it should not be an issue. Try a different input source (say an iPOd with 3.5 to 3.5).

My setup uses a small amp and the preamp outputs as a buffer between the inputs and the sound card. Makes sure that the audio level stays consistent between sources.

But most likely the audio input is not enabled.

John
 
Thanks John. Still no success.

-I've confirmed ability to play audio from Adobe Audition program and streaming audio.
-Does not appear to be a case of low output for cassette audio
-I've been to Sounds/Devices on my control panel and experimented with enabling recording for various options (including microphone, auxilliary, and audio in)
-Coming from Cassette Audio OUT into single connection rca plug (designed for this purpose)

With that, how would I confirm audio input is enabled? (I thought I had done so from control panel)

Thanks very much.
 
What I would try is to unplug the RCA and touch the center conenctor. You should hear some 60 Hz hum from the computer speakers. Or if you have a VOM handy, set it on the higest resistance scale (to limit current) and try to measure center to ground. You should also hear the clicking sound out of the speakers.

If you hear the sound, it is the cassette deck. No sound says that it is the cable, or not being plugged into the correct jack (I have done that since they are hard to see or read) or we have still not maanged to correctly enable the input record function.

You do not need an application running to hear the input from the source out of the speakers.

I seem to remember that it may also be an issue of having to reload the mixer. That caused me a problem quite a while ago but I don't remember all the datails.

John
 
Thanks.

Since my last posting, I've loaded Adobe Audition into one of my other computers and was able to successfully get the connection to to feed the analog audio. So, I obviously have some configuration issue with the audio/soundcard of the initial PC I tried to use.
 
content said:
I'm trying to convert some old cassette airchecks to a digital platform (CDR, Windows Media Player, iTunes, or Adobe Audition are available on my computer).

I've purchased an RCA connector which will connect my cassette deck to the Audio In on my PC. I've confirmed Source audio is playing, but can not hear sound in my speakers, and can not access audio through adobe audition.

Can anyone give me any tips on how to proceed?

Thank you, if you can help.
Click to expand...


Your best bet is to skip using the internal card altogether.

If you plot a solid mono input with an oscilloscope plug-in (I use the one in WaveLab, not sure if AA has one), you will probably not get a decent vertical plot (which be solidly on the center graph axis). Rather, you will get an expanded plot that looks binaural because the cards that PC manufacturers isntall often have phase issues.

My suggestion: Get a USB input card and ditch the drivers for the internal soundcard. I use a Yamaha UW-10. It is probably decent enough for cassette transfers. And it's about $100. Not bad. There are others out there as well.
 
If these are intended for broadcast, you might want to keep in mind channel-phasing of the cassette deck's play head. If it's not correct, listening in stereo will sound fine, but the mono mix will have varying degrees of high frequency degradation. I've done this a few times and before recording to the computer, I always listen to the cassette deck output in mono, and adjust the head for brightest sounding signal. You need to do this for each individual cassette.
 
wkbam1690 said:
If these are intended for broadcast, you might want to keep in mind channel-phasing of the cassette deck's play head. If it's not correct, listening in stereo will sound fine, but the mono mix will have varying degrees of high frequency degradation. I've done this a few times and before recording to the computer, I always listen to the cassette deck output in mono, and adjust the head for brightest sounding signal. You need to do this for each individual cassette.
Click to expand...

Best done if you can find a decent (meaning inexpensive) deck that has a way to easily adjust the playback head. My friend has a Tandberg that has this and I've seen a lower-end Nakamichi that had a manual head adjustment as well. The Nach had funny record EQ but played back pretty decent. Of course, the older affordable decks on the used market may need attention like pinch rollers or caps replaced but it could be an investment if you trade alot of cassette airchecks.

You could be in my situation and still have Otari reel decks kicking around!


Bill
 
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