My dad wrote and recorded hundreds of beautiful songs on cassettes. He just passed away and I want to share his music. I got a cassete player I'm going to digitize all of his music and post it onto youtube and other platforms. I'm hearing songs I've never heard him singing before. Thank you so much for helping me share his music.
Thanks for this. The 'instructions' that came with my device were hopeless. This was super helpful, even if some things are not quite the same in my version. I now have music files on my computer, due to this film and the one on separating song files linked below. Cheers!
I've connected my cassette deck to the laptop and Audacity is picking up the signal. Problem is, when I click on record, I get less than a second of recording and then it stops. Any idea what is causing this?
A bit of a problem: I can't adjust the input. At 0:32 you clicked a drop-down menu next to the microphone. My software doesn't have anything in the drop-down menu next to the microphone. Also, my software doesn't look like yours. Maybe I have an older version. (2.0.0 Unicode?) It has round control buttons (play, stop record, etc) yours are square if that tells you anything. Also, when I hit "record", I get an error message, "Error while opening the sound device. Please check the input device and the project sample rate." I found a sample rate adjustment but not an input device adjustment. Little help?
Thank you for posting this. I just got all the stuff I need to start digitizing my tapes. In your video, it looks as if the bottom track kind of gets blown out at the end. Is the sound affected as well, or is that just some visual weirdness? I also just saw IM in early September in Portland!
I'm not sure what happened on that last track. I was using a pretty old boom box for the tape player and I wonder if it was an issue with the head or maybe the tape. Gotta love IM!
Nice! I've done this with many of my LPs. Did I miss it, or did you decide not to go into splitting the recording into separate songs (and labeling them)?
How about answering some of the questions below .I see there are quite a few but your lack of answering them really bother me to how good of a teacher you may not be
How do you set Audacity to detect the silence between tracks and create EACH SONG as it's own individual recording, so you don't have to spend hours manually splitting and saving the songs individually after the full album/cassette is recorded?
All my cassette players were built in the 1980s. I don't see any way to connect them to my computer so I can begin converting audio tapes to digital files. Is there an adapter I can buy that plugs into my old Sony cassette tape deck? The only options I've seen are the cheap cassette converters sold by Amazon, but they tend to have QC issues, not the least of which is introducing added noise.
Cassette players from the 1980s are fine. If you have one with RCA outputs then something like this Behringer interface should work well and is cheap: www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-UCA222-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3BD8C25VYNIOQ&dchild=1&keywords=behringer+audio+interface&qid=1628435901&sprefix=Behringer%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-4.
@@bsicotte Yes, it's a Sony TC-FX44 cassette deck with four RCA connections in back. I have it hooked up to a Sony STR-VX750 FM/AM receiver and a Sony PS-LX55 II turntable Thanks for the recommendation.
@@bsicotte I bought the Behringer, despite the negative reviews that warned potential buyers that the promised software was not included with the unit. I had my brother-in-law (who is telecom specialist) install it for me. He too had trouble getting it to work. After all else failed, he rebooted the computer and the program began working. We were able to successfully transfer the recording from an old 1975 cassette tape interview to a data file on my computer.
I'm sitting on over 200 8-tracks and I'd love to digitize them (most) all. (Not a big fan of Polish Polka, but when you buy the lot... well...) And who the hell is this Humperdink guy?
I just bought the Behringer UM2. I can't seem to download the driver; I only get ads for driver updates. I want to transfer audio cassettes to computer. Tape player outputs are RCA connectors. Seems the other end of the RCA connectors only could go to the OUTPUT ports on the UM2. I need RCA out from tape deck to RCA in to the audio interface to USB to computer. Can you explain how to set the UM2 for this purpose?Thanks.
Interesting. I don't remember having do download a driver for Windows or for my Mac. I use RCA to 1/4" mono cables (port 1 on the UM2 accepts 1/4" or XLR) and go into port 1 and port 2. RCA goes to the tape deck. If you have trouble with the driver just go to Behringer's site and download the driver. I never use those pay for driver update programs.
@@bsicotte Thanks. Your explanation of how to use Audacity is great, but it would be helpful to describe the actual setup using the Behringer UM2. RCA cable come out of the the tape deck. Then what? How to connect to the UM2 and then to the laptop (no Line In, only mic port in, which is not recommended) via USB. What goes into the UM2 ports and what goes out. Thanks.
Do I need that interface if I’m transferring from an OG tape deck like a tascan? Audacity won’t recognize my tape deck it seems the interface is the solution
If the interface is recognized by windows/mac then I think Audacity should recognize it but I'm not sure. Sometimes the power up sequence is important like you have to have the interface on and plugged in before you open Audacity, etc.
Hey...I am plugging my tape outputs into my audio interface inputs but I still get no sound when I play back the cassette deck. But the audio records. Any tips how to fix this?
Audacity can be a little finicky sometimes. Make sure you have the correct audio output selected in the pull down box next to the little speaker (just below the tool bar). I hope this helps.
Thanks for doing this. However, it would be very helpful to tell us what to do if things don't work the way they did for you. For example, doesn't seem to recognize my microphone. Doesn't show option. Or tell us when things don't look like they do on your system, what might happening. "If your system isn't doing xyz, then maybe ABC is occurring.
That's a good point. If Audacity doesn't recognize your microphone or sound interface then usually that's more of a system problem like the driver isn't installed or the microphone/sound interface isn't recognized by the system.
most commercial tapes are not worth converting, just buy them cheaply in high quality from the streaming services. Where this comes to play is for all those self-made recordings you want to save.
Nice work , I have a problem that I want to capture audio from cassette , and I connected phone with solo jack to separate rca connected to I/O interface , then usb to pc ,,, but it is only capture the L channel . Why ? It recorded L channel and make it a stereo “ left and right “ same sound which L channel . And left channel has low music bot like R channel . What is problem and how to record them L and R separately
Is there a way to record the whole thing but cut it up so it exports as multiple recordings so when I put them on itunes itll be the whole album with example song #1 #2 #3 etc
I did another video on titling and splitting up into individual songs here: czcams.com/video/12dAgeCvtc0/video.html but I need to update with some new things that I've learned.
Garry Murphy core audio is only going to show up on a Mac computer. Codec is specific to the Behringer audio interface. You should have different options on that pull down if you are using different equipment.
Like to your video very basis. Thank you. I'm having trouble using the cassette to load the music to my computer. I have Mac computer. The error I'm getting is 9997 invalid sample rate: It said "make sure that you have matched the sample rate in Audacity with that set on your device = both for playback and recording. How do I go about it to match the sample rate in Audacity with that set on my device? I do not know how to fix this problem. Thank you.
You can set the sample rate in Audacity by going to Audacity->Preferences->Quality and select the sample rate that works with your audio interface. If you have trouble let me know and I will do a little video on it. Also, what audio interface are you using?
@@bsicotte Still having trouble. How I'm getting an error 9986. The interface I'm using is "Super USB Cassette Capture". I am using a MAC computer. Thank you for your help. Cheers.
@@phillipgonzalez784 It looks like many people are having trouble with the MAC recognizing the USB Cassette Player. Try: forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?t=106113 and agptek.com/download/IT39-Manual.pdf. Unfortunately I don't have that device so I can't test it out.
My dad wrote and recorded hundreds of beautiful songs on cassettes. He just passed away and I want to share his music. I got a cassete player I'm going to digitize all of his music and post it onto youtube and other platforms. I'm hearing songs I've never heard him singing before. Thank you so much for helping me share his music.
That is wonderful. I look forward to hearing his music and I'm sorry for your loss.
aw bless. lovely x
Very sorry for you're dad's lost
Finally Some one who goes slow enough for a new person trying to capture cd tapes.
How do I get the USB audio mic tab? It does not show on my audacity.
Brad Thank you so much for putting a Amazon link in for the converter. These converters seem to have became harder to find.
Thanks for this. The 'instructions' that came with my device were hopeless. This was super helpful, even if some things are not quite the same in my version. I now have music files on my computer, due to this film and the one on separating song files linked below. Cheers!
This is a great service to humanity, my friend. Thanks so much, you rock!
You're a master teacher. Not too slow, not too fast, and a calming voice. Many thanks.
Awesome choice of source material if I may say so!!! First time ever hearing someone use Maiden for a tutorial. Good work, Sir!
Excellent video. I've got a big box full of cassettes I want to preserve. Your info will be extremely helpful in doing that. Thanks.
I've connected my cassette deck to the laptop and Audacity is picking up the signal. Problem is, when I click on record, I get less than a second of recording and then it stops. Any idea what is causing this?
Thank You. Clearly presented.
Thank you for sharing! Saved my sanity!
Thank you for the helpful presentation.
A bit of a problem: I can't adjust the input. At 0:32 you clicked a drop-down menu next to the microphone. My software doesn't have anything in the drop-down menu next to the microphone.
Also, my software doesn't look like yours. Maybe I have an older version. (2.0.0 Unicode?) It has round control buttons (play, stop record, etc) yours are square if that tells you anything.
Also, when I hit "record", I get an error message, "Error while opening the sound device. Please check the input device and the project sample rate."
I found a sample rate adjustment but not an input device adjustment.
Little help?
Thank you for posting this. I just got all the stuff I need to start digitizing my tapes. In your video, it looks as if the bottom track kind of gets blown out at the end. Is the sound affected as well, or is that just some visual weirdness? I also just saw IM in early September in Portland!
I'm not sure what happened on that last track. I was using a pretty old boom box for the tape player and I wonder if it was an issue with the head or maybe the tape. Gotta love IM!
Nice! I've done this with many of my LPs. Did I miss it, or did you decide not to go into splitting the recording into separate songs (and labeling them)?
Did that in the next video: czcams.com/video/12dAgeCvtc0/video.html. Audacity is great!
Great, work's, & explaination, thank"'
No need for any audio interface. You can do it with the Audocity and an EP to EP cable.
How about answering some of the questions below .I see there are quite a few but your lack of answering them really bother me to how good of a teacher you may not be
This was great. Thanks.
Where is the MP3 part as you named in the title?
Hi how good can I get a cassette tape to sound in your view, would the hissing go away at times yes
I have audio cassette with talking on them from radio stations in the 80s that'd I want to make so I can put on a USB or a cd 💿
How do you set Audacity to detect the silence between tracks and create EACH SONG as it's own individual recording, so you don't have to spend hours manually splitting and saving the songs individually after the full album/cassette is recorded?
There is a way to detect silence between songs automatically. I might do a video on that eventually.
All my cassette players were built in the 1980s. I don't see any way to connect them to my computer so I can begin converting audio tapes to digital files. Is there an adapter I can buy that plugs into my old Sony cassette tape deck? The only options I've seen are the cheap cassette converters sold by Amazon, but they tend to have QC issues, not the least of which is introducing added noise.
Cassette players from the 1980s are fine. If you have one with RCA outputs then something like this Behringer interface should work well and is cheap: www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-UCA222-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3BD8C25VYNIOQ&dchild=1&keywords=behringer+audio+interface&qid=1628435901&sprefix=Behringer%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-4.
@@bsicotte Yes, it's a Sony TC-FX44 cassette deck with four RCA connections in back. I have it hooked up to a Sony STR-VX750 FM/AM receiver and a Sony PS-LX55 II turntable Thanks for the recommendation.
@@bsicotte I bought the Behringer, despite the negative reviews that warned potential buyers that the promised software was not included with the unit. I had my brother-in-law (who is telecom specialist) install it for me. He too had trouble getting it to work. After all else failed, he rebooted the computer and the program began working. We were able to successfully transfer the recording from an old 1975 cassette tape interview to a data file on my computer.
I'm sitting on over 200 8-tracks and I'd love to digitize them (most) all. (Not a big fan of Polish Polka, but when you buy the lot... well...) And who the hell is this Humperdink guy?
Polka is pre-punk!
I just bought the Behringer UM2. I can't seem to download the driver; I only get ads for driver updates. I want to transfer audio cassettes to computer. Tape player outputs are RCA connectors. Seems the other end of the RCA connectors only could go to the OUTPUT ports on the UM2. I need RCA out from tape deck to RCA in to the audio interface to USB to computer. Can you explain how to set the UM2 for this purpose?Thanks.
Interesting. I don't remember having do download a driver for Windows or for my Mac. I use RCA to 1/4" mono cables (port 1 on the UM2 accepts 1/4" or XLR) and go into port 1 and port 2. RCA goes to the tape deck. If you have trouble with the driver just go to Behringer's site and download the driver. I never use those pay for driver update programs.
@@bsicotte Thanks. Your explanation of how to use Audacity is great, but it would be helpful to describe the actual setup using the Behringer UM2. RCA cable come out of the the tape deck. Then what? How to connect to the UM2 and then to the laptop (no Line In, only mic port in, which is not recommended) via USB. What goes into the UM2 ports and what goes out. Thanks.
@@kobrienaaa That's a great idea actually.
@@bsicotte Thanks for all the Audacity info. I finally got the connections figured out for using the W2, and the recording went fine. Thanks.
Most important, how did you connect the cassette to the computer?
I use a LogiLink 'cassette digitizer' player that looks like a Walkman. It just plugs into a USB in my laptop. Super easy.
I dont need a Behriner interface if I use the sound card from my computer tower right ? It has a "Line in", "Microphone" and "Line out" connection
That is correct. If you have a decent sound card in your computer with a Line in and Line out you should be good. Try it for quality.
Do I need that interface if I’m transferring from an OG tape deck like a tascan? Audacity won’t recognize my tape deck it seems the interface is the solution
If the interface is recognized by windows/mac then I think Audacity should recognize it but I'm not sure. Sometimes the power up sequence is important like you have to have the interface on and plugged in before you open Audacity, etc.
@@bsicotte thanks. tried RCA Line out to an Apollo Twin interface and it worked perfectly
Hey...I am plugging my tape outputs into my audio interface inputs but I still get no sound when I play back the cassette deck. But the audio records. Any tips how to fix this?
Audacity can be a little finicky sometimes. Make sure you have the correct audio output selected in the pull down box next to the little speaker (just below the tool bar). I hope this helps.
You left something out. What did you leave out that is important? .......I will follow up......later.....thanks! John
Thanks for doing this. However, it would be very helpful to tell us what to do if things don't work the way they did for you. For example, doesn't seem to recognize my microphone. Doesn't show option. Or tell us when things don't look like they do on your system, what might happening. "If your system isn't doing xyz, then maybe ABC is occurring.
That's a good point. If Audacity doesn't recognize your microphone or sound interface then usually that's more of a system problem like the driver isn't installed or the microphone/sound interface isn't recognized by the system.
most commercial tapes are not worth converting, just buy them cheaply in high quality from the streaming services. Where this comes to play is for all those self-made recordings you want to save.
Nice work , I have a problem that I want to capture audio from cassette , and I connected phone with solo jack to separate rca connected to I/O interface , then usb to pc ,,, but it is only capture the L channel . Why ? It recorded L channel and make it a stereo “ left and right “ same sound which L channel . And left channel has low music bot like R channel . What is problem and how to record them L and R separately
May I ask which cables you use for this?
For the UM2 interface I used RCA to 1/4" mono (male) cables (2 of them). For the UCA222 you can use 2 RCA to RCA cables.
Is there a way to record the whole thing but cut it up so it exports as multiple recordings so when I put them on itunes itll be the whole album with example song #1 #2 #3 etc
ok just saw the next video nvm thank you so much ill be able to export my Thin Lizzy and Dio tape :)
I did another video on titling and splitting up into individual songs here: czcams.com/video/12dAgeCvtc0/video.html but I need to update with some new things that I've learned.
Oh it’s iron maiden maiden japan
Running free
Why cant I choose the core audio and codec, its not showing as an option
Garry Murphy core audio is only going to show up on a Mac computer. Codec is specific to the Behringer audio interface. You should have different options on that pull down if you are using different equipment.
Like to your video very basis. Thank you. I'm having trouble using the cassette to load the music to my computer. I have Mac computer. The error I'm getting is 9997 invalid sample rate: It said "make sure that you have matched the sample rate in Audacity with that set on your device = both for playback and recording.
How do I go about it to match the sample rate in Audacity with that set on my device? I do not know how to fix this problem. Thank you.
You can set the sample rate in Audacity by going to Audacity->Preferences->Quality and select the sample rate that works with your audio interface. If you have trouble let me know and I will do a little video on it. Also, what audio interface are you using?
@@bsicotte Still having trouble. How I'm getting an error 9986. The interface I'm using is "Super USB Cassette Capture". I am using a MAC computer. Thank you for your help. Cheers.
@@phillipgonzalez784 It looks like many people are having trouble with the MAC recognizing the USB Cassette Player. Try: forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?t=106113 and agptek.com/download/IT39-Manual.pdf. Unfortunately I don't have that device so I can't test it out.
Is that iron maidens first album?
That was a live EP that they did after their 2nd album.
Yeah Maiden Japan